As the mercury rises, so do the number of noise complaints from people living along waterways in Shanghai.

With temperatures rising, many people open their windows at night to let in some cool air, but they are also letting in the sound of boats shuttling along rivers and creeks around Shanghai.

Many expensive apartment buildings have been set up along the city's waterways, such as Suzhou Creek, in recent years, but residents are finding out that the beautiful scenery comes at a price.

"We can barely sleep at night due to the unpleasant sounds generated by boats cruising along Suzhou Creek," said a man surnamed Chen who owns an apartment in Brilliant City, a well-known complex along Suzhou Creek.

"The situation is getting worse in the summer," Chen said. "We have to open the windows when sleeping, as the weather is becoming hot. However, the open window will let in noise and awaken us from our dreams."

He said developers should install double-glazed windows in rooms facing the creek, to reduce the noise problem.

Property developers say there is no easy solution to the problem.

"We have no good ways to improve the situation. Maybe in future phases of the complex, we will adopt the advice to install double-glazed windows," said an unnamed official with the developer of Brilliant City. He said he expects the situation to improve.

"In the future, Suzhou Creek will not be as busy as it is now."

Local officials in various departments say they have been inundated with noise complaints over the past few weeks.

"We have received more complaints from residents about noise problems recently," said Sha Weiqian of the Shanghai Port Administration Bureau.

The bureau has moved some garbage handling wharves that were located along Suzhou Creek to the city's outskirts, as ships carrying garbage are a major source of noise.

The bureau has also banned some old-style boats from operating along the creek, as older ships tend to be very noisy.

(Shanghai Daily June 9, 2005)