But the Yangtze river, which runs through the city in south-western China, turned a bright shade of orange-red yesterday.
The waterway where the Yangtze met the Jialin river provided a fascinating contrast as the red started to filter into the other river.
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A ship sails across the junction of the polluted Yangtze River (left) and the Chongqing, China yesterday.
A ship sails across the junction of the polluted Yangtze River (left) and the Chongqing, China yesterday.
© China Foto Press/Barcroft Medi
Shock: The Yangtze river which runs through the city in south-western China, turned a bright shade of orange-red yesterday.
Shock: The Yangtze river which runs through the city in south-western China, turned a bright shade of orange-red yesterday.
© China Foto Press/Getty Images
Dirty/clean: A ship sails across the junction of the Yangtze river and the Jailin river at the exact spot where the dyed river starts to bleed into the Jailin.
Dirty/clean: A ship sails across the junction of the Yangtze river and the Jailin river at the exact spot where the dyed river starts to bleed into the Jailin.
© China Foto Press/Getty Images
In the thick of it: A fisherman goes about his daily business.
In the thick of it: A fisherman goes about his daily business.
Others were so amazed that they collected samples in water bottles.
Although the cause is yet to be determined, this is not the first time a river has turned red in China.
Last December, the Jian river in the city of Luoyang, in the north Henan province, turned red after becoming polluted by a powerful dye.
The dye was being dumped into the city's storm drain network by two illegal dye workshops.
Officials raided the factories to shut them down, and then disassembled their machinery.
According to chapter 16, verse 4 of the Bible's book of Revelations, one of the signs that Armageddon is near will be an angel pouring a bowl into the rivers, turning them into blood.
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Bizarre: The red river gave Chongqing an apocalyptic appearance yesterday.
Bizarre: The red river gave Chongqing an apocalyptic appearance yesterday.
© China Foto Press/Barcroft Medi
Check it out! Some residents were so amazed that they collected samples in water bottles.
Check it out! Some residents were so amazed that they collected samples in water bottles.
© China Foto Press/Barcroft Medi
Close-up: Whatever it was that dyed the river was almost of orange in color.
Close-up: Whatever it was that dyed the river was almost of orange in color.
© China Foto Press/Barcroft Medi
Irregular occurrence: A couple make the most of a rare opportunity to get up close to a red river.
Irregular occurrence: A couple make the most of a rare opportunity to get up close to a red river.
© China Foto Press/Getty Images
Thick dye: The Yangtze river washes up on and stains a tiled floor.
Thick dye: The Yangtze river washes up on and stains a tiled floor.
