One of the Beijing Lakes used for drinking water.
Although many of the lakes in the Beijing area are not fit for human consumption or even irrigation (”…Water from the Guanting reservoir, Beijing’s fourth largest source of drinking water source, is not fit for human consumption or even irrigation, according to a report from the city’s environment watchdog….The report also said nearly half of Beijing’s sightseeing lakes and ponds are so polluted their water also can’t even be used to irrigate the park landscape that surrounds them. ” www.chinagate.com.cn ), the one in this picture was very pretty and serene. According to a local restaurant owner who was showing us around the lake area, there are no power boats of any kind allowed on this lake, as you can see the boat being “rowed” in this picture.
This picture was taken in April 2007 when my wife and I were in Beijing for a mission and siteseeing trip. They were busily preparing for the 2008 Olympics with workers building concrete curbs on country roads, planting trees/forests everywhere and generally cleaning up and enhancing everything. The visit to one of the greatest man-made monuments and other Chinese historic sites is well worth the trip!
China has a huge challenge and responsibility with its growth as a superpower and enormous population, that will only demand more products and capabilities that will add to the world’s pollution problems. We all want to benefit from China’s spending, but we will also pay the price in many different ways. I don’t know how you balance that out or control it in a way that doesn’t unfairly penalize Chinese citizens who are just now getting out from under communism and beginning to enjoy capitalism’s benefits….