The Beijing municipal government has diverted a river in an attempt to improve the evironment around the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

The government has spent around US$57 million on the project.

“The Wenyu River has an annual flow of 400 million cubic meters, but the Chaobai River, which runs near the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, has run out of water for nine consecutive years, due to over-exploitation,” Qin Yongjun, deputy director of the Shunyi district reform and development commission said.

Read more: Beijing diverts river to improve eco-environment around Olympic venue