The fitness symbol among the Yangtze swimmers

The clock had yet to strike 6 am when 53-year-old Zhu Biwu stepped out from the comfort of his home in Wuhan, Hubei province, on a frigid morning in March.

Like most "early birds" of his age, the labor union chairman was heading to his office, which is located across the Yangtze River that runs through the city. However, he was taking a route unlike anyone else.

With two bright orange waterproof floatation bags attached to his waist to alert ferries on the Yangtze and to store his belongings, the Wuhan native has been swimming over 2 kilometers to work most days over the last decade, except on the coldest days in January and February.

His motive for swimming is simple: to restore his health since developing diabetes 20 years ago.

"When I started swimming in the Yangtze in 2004, I dared not swim too far off," Zhu said. "And it was not until four years later that I began swimming in the winter and crossing the river to go to work."

In 1984, the then 18-year-old Zhu started working as a purchasing agent at a local vegetable market. As an indulgent eater, his weight soon reached 100 kilograms. Later, it became laborious for the man of 181 centimeters tall to even move around.

Zhu was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999. The illness, along with the antidiabetic pills, quickly emaciated him. By the time he adopted swimming as a form of self-healing five years later, he weighed only 65 kg.

"I learned to swim at the age of 10 in the ponds near my home, but had no proper training," he said.

Thus, Zhu practiced for years near the riverbank before he crossed the river in 2008.

The next year, Zhu became a veteran swimmer at the annual contest to cross the Yangtze - a summer sports festivity hosted by the local government to honor the late Chairman Mao Zedong, who swam across the Yangtze's Wuhan section several times.

Zhu's perseverance soon paid off. In the year that he became a participant in the swimming contest, his weight climbed up to 83 kg - a level he has managed to maintain till now.

He gradually became a symbol of fitness among his fellow swimmers, with his suntanned skin formed during the half-hour morning excursions. His fame also got him part-time jobs as a lifeguard at two local swimming centers.

As his fame grew, he also gained followers. "I swam with a swimmer surnamed Yu for almost six years. He felt a bit scared swimming alone, and he asked me to keep him company," he said.

Despite the joy he feels from crossing the river, Zhu discourages beginner swimmers to follow suit.

"Because crossing the river requires high levels of stamina and even speed, it's essential for beginners to have trainers," he said.

"Moreover, the breaststroke style is preferred to other swimming styles. It can offer you the best view while swimming."