Some swimmers in northeast China have sparked a debate on law and morality as hot as the summer temperatures by venturing into the water naked.

"I was totally stunned and flushed at the first sight of these naked men," recalled Zhao Yanjie, who lives nearby the bank of the Hunhe River in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province.

Zhao said it was around 6 pm when she went for a walk after supper with her family one day.

"Dozens of men sat on the bank, and some dived into the river after taking off all their clothes," Zhao said.

Zhao was not the only witness, and the southern bank of the Hunhe River is not the only nude swimming spot. Amidst the recent rise in temperatures, several cases were also reported in Dalian, a coastal city of Liaoning Province.

A dozen middle-aged and older men were seen swimming nude at the Xinghai Bay bathing area earlier this month.

"This is only one ordinary kind of outdoor sports. We can fully relax ourselves and merge with nature," said one nude swimmer in Shenyang, who declined to give his name. He said all swimmers are ordinary staff workers and enjoy the feeling they get, but that doesn't mean they're exhibitionists.

Zhao Yanjie was not convinced. She called on police to take measures to prevent such behavior.

"How can they do such disgraceful things in public?" she said. "If they want to be naked, they can go home and do anything they want. But this is a public place."

Ai Lijuan, a lecturer at Dalian University of Technology, agreed. She acknowledged that some European countries allow nude swimming but argued that China's traditional customs and ethical code dictate a totally different situation.

"They display their bodies for their own convenience but disregarding the public interest," Ai said. "The direct impact is, this will drive away female visitors from public swimming venues."

But Ma Jun, a staff worker in Shenyang's Hunnan Development Zone, takes the swimmers' side.

"This is the relaxation they choose, and they do no harm to others," Ma said. "I will not join them, but I can accept such behavior."

Xu Yuanfeng, an expert at a local legal affairs agency, said there is no law in China banning nude swimming or nude beaches. Furthermore, he said, any activity that respects the social ethical code and does not harm the public interest can be accepted.

(China Daily July 27, 2005)