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Shaoxing, a tourist destination in East China's Zhejiang province, is an ancient water town surrounded by clear waters. [Photo/IC]

Shaoxing's five-year campaign to improve its natural environment, particularly water quality, is now paying off, local media reported on Nov 23.

From 2016 to 2020, the city invested over 47.5 billion yuan ($7.23 billion) in improving its water quality.

Shaoxing was also the first city in the country to formulate a standard "river chief system". A river chief is made responsible for the water quality of a specific river and its branches.

In the city, over 5,600 river chiefs are responsible for watercourses, much as mayors, and county or district heads are responsible for their beats. 

Clean water has made Shaoxing an international destination for water sports, and the International Canoe Federation (ICF) has just selected Shaoxing as the host of the 2021 ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup on Nov 13.