Paddle boats in Shichahai set sail on March 27

The paddle boats on Beijing's Shichahai officially set sail on March 27 this year after passing boating officials' inspection on March 26.

The boats were intended to be launched on March 15, but the contractor who supplied the boats failed to reach an agreement with the boat management department by that date. The Xicheng District Municipal Administration Center mediated and helped the two sides come to an agreement.

The contract period for the boats was changed from one year to five years, and the cost of the contract dropped from 2.56 million yuan (US$417,000) to 2.28 million yuan (US$371,000) per year. The contractor's preferred system of daily management for the boats will also be put into practice in place of the rules formerly established and enforced by Shichahai.