Guangzhou Party chief Wan Qingliang (top left) and Mayor Chen Jianhua (top right) swim in the Pearl River to highlight the improvements in water quality in Guangdong province, July 23, 2013. The crossing of the Pearl River has been held for eight years and each year the city's senior officials take a plunge. It is an effective way to highlight measures to deal with pollution and improve water quality. In some other regions in the county, river pollution triggers soaring calls for leaders to swim in the river. [Photo/Xinhua]