For the past 11 years, office worker Zhu Biwu has successfully avoided all traffic and transit woes experienced by every commuter.
The 53-year-old man living in the southern city of Wuhan came up with a way to beat the rush hour commute – by swimming 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) across the Yangtze River to get to his office.
It takes him 30 minutes to get across the river from his home, Zhu said. The journey originally would take him an hour by train.
Zhu Biwu, 53, living in the southern city of Wuhan came up with a way to beat the rush hour commute – by swimming 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) across the Yangtze River to get to his office
Zhu carefully puts his work clothes, shoes and personal belongings into an inflatable dry bag before his journey to the north side of the Yangtze River. His commute takes half an hour
Zhu lives in Hanyang district and works as a manager of a food market in Wuchang, according to China News.
Video footage shows the man changing into his swimming trunks and putting on his goggles on the shore at around 7am on a typical day.
He is also seen carefully placing his work clothes, shoes and personal belongings into an inflatable dry bag before his journey to the north side of the river.
Zhu then jumps in from the starting point at the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge and is seen skillfully wading through the choppy waters, stroke by stroke.
After changing into his swimming trunks and putting on his goggles, 53-year-old Zhu starts his journey at the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan city
Zhu was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999 and weighed more than 100 kg (220 lbs), prompting him to find a way to get fit. He started swimming to work in 2008
Not only does the special commute help him save time, it has made him a lot healthier and fitter, he told reporters.
He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999 and weighed more than 100 kg (220 lbs), prompting him to find a way to get fit.
He started swimming near the shore of the river since 2004 and training himself to make the 2,200-metre journey.
In 2008, Zhu started participating in winter swimming events and taking the alternate route to work.
Zhu says it cuts his commute from an hour to 30 minutes and has made him healthier and fitter
Zhu said boats and ferries travelling along the river would now recognise him and let him pass, adding that the safest way to swim across the river would be doing a breaststroke
Net users and his colleagues were all impressed by Zhu’s incredible endurance, calling his trek ‘the most intense commute’ ever
‘My weight and blood sugar levels are back to normal and have remained stable after all these years,’ he said.
Zhu said boats and ferries travelling along the river would now recognise him and let him pass, adding that the safest way to swim across the river would be doing a breaststroke.
‘Only do a breaststroke – so you can see what’s going on around you clearly,’ he said. ‘But a person would definitely need professional training before attempting to cross the river themselves.’
Net users and his colleagues were all impressed by Zhu’s incredible endurance, calling his trek ‘the most intense commute’ ever.
Zhu dries his feet and puts on his shoes after getting out of the water on the north side
One of Zhu’s colleague says he is always the earliest to arrive at the office located in Wuchang
His colleague, surnamed Wu, said the man is always the earliest to arrive at the office.
‘I’ve been working with him for more than 10 years,’ she told video news site Pear. ‘He has never been late, not even once.’
‘As a capable swimmer, I don’t think I have the courage to do this!’ one person said on Chinese microblogging site Weibo.
‘Wow, he doesn’t look 53 years old to me at all. Must be all the exercise,’ one comment read.
‘Seems like going to work is just an excuse for him to go swimming!’ another user said.
‘Such a creative way to get to work! Just remember to be safe,’ another said.