Daring grandpas make a splash with bridge diving in Tianjin

Photo: Beijing Youth Daily

A group of spirited seniors in Tianjin, a city in northern China, recently found themselves in the spotlight. Known as the "Tianjin diving grandpas," they have been donning swim trunks, turning a local bridge into a theatrical stage captivating locals as well tourists visiting the area with their impressive water acrobatics. 

Videos of these daring dives have gone viral on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and Twitter-like Sina Weibo. Standing on the Shizilin Bridge, these seniors showcase an array of diving poses, performing solo, duo and trio dives. Some even incorporate synchronized moves, making a very small splash upon entry. 

The bridge is about 7.5 meters from the Haihe River's surface, while the water depth is about 7 meters, one of the participating divers told the Beijing Youth Daily. He added that most of the diving performers are over 60 years old.

A surge of out-of-town visitors, including foreign tourists, have come to Tianjin to witness the spectacle firsthand. The 24-year-old Huang is one of the visitors attracted by these diving grandpas.

Traveling from Beijing to witness the grandpas' diving in action, Huang shared her experience with the Global Times, "It was around 3 pm when a large number of grandpas had already formed queues, preparing for their dives. Some of the grandpas would greet everyone before their dives, welcoming visitors to Tianjin." Huang added that she was captivated by the energy of the scene.

In response to the popularity of these bridge-diving grandpas, the local cultural and tourism authorities responded to the media that they had noticed the phenomenon, adding that they would explore ways to incorporate this vibrant activity into their promotional efforts of local tourism.

Many netizens believe that the diving grandpas are simply pursuing a daily hobby that conveys a positive and uplifting attitude toward life. Watching these spirited dives has brought joy to many, with a Weibo user saying, "Watching Tianjin's grandpas dive has officially been included into my bucket list."

The local police station overseeing the Haihe River's northern bank has taken action to ensure safety. Patrols have been organized, utilizing both riverside and watercraft-based checks and advising those attempting bridge dives and swimming to go ashore.

"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," a staff member from the police station told the Beijing Youth Daily.