A lively group of elderly individuals in Tianjin, a city in northern China, have recently attracted attention and admiration. Referred to as the “Tianjin diving grandpas,” these enthusiastic seniors have been transforming a local bridge into a stage for their remarkable aquatic acrobatics, mesmerizing both local residents and tourists.
Videos showcasing their audacious diving acts have spread like wildfire on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, and Sina Weibo, a popular microblogging platform in China. From their perch on the Shizilin Bridge, the seniors execute a variety of diving postures, including solo, duo, and trio dives, with some even executing synchronized maneuvers and entering the water with minimal splash.
The bridge stands approximately 7.5 meters above the surface of the Haihe River, with the water depth being around 7 meters, as one of the divers informed the Beijing Youth Daily. He also mentioned that the majority of the divers are aged over 60.
The antics of the diving grandpas have drawn a crowd of visitors from outside the city, including international tourists. Huang, a 24-year-old visitor from Beijing, was among those lured by the diving grandpas’ feats.
Huang recounted her experience, noting that by around 3 pm, a sizable group of grandpas had already assembled, forming lines in preparation for their dives. Some of the grandpas would extend a warm welcome to the visitors before diving, making them feel at home in Tianjin. Huang expressed that she was captivated by the atmosphere’s vitality.
The local cultural and tourism authorities, acknowledging the popularity of the diving grandpas, revealed to the media that they had observed the trend and were considering ways to integrate this dynamic activity into their local tourism promotional efforts.
Many online users believe that the diving grandpas are merely engaging in a daily pastime that embodies a positive and uplifting outlook on life. The sight of their spirited dives has brought happiness to many, with one Weibo user declaring, “Watching Tianjin’s grandpas dive has officially been included in my bucket list.”
To ensure safety, the local police station responsible for the Haihe River’s northern bank has implemented measures. Patrols have been organized, comprising both riverside and watercraft-based checks, and individuals attempting bridge dives and swimming are being advised to return to land.
A staff member from the police station informed the Beijing Youth Daily, “Our primary approach to diving grandpas and grandmas is persuasion. For those who repeatedly disregard our advice, appropriate action will be taken. If we receive public reports of people swimming in the Haihe River, we will respond and intervene.”
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