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4 New Chinese Irrigation Marvels Recognized Globally
16 Oct
Summary
- Four Chinese irrigation projects were designated World Heritage Irrigation Structures.
- New sites include Guangli Canal, Taolai River, Huangsha Canal, and Longjin dam.
- These ancient systems showcase unique historical and engineering significance.
China's legacy of water management has been further recognized with the designation of four new World Heritage Irrigation Structures. This announcement, made on Thursday, increases the country's total to 46 such sites, celebrated during the 77th International Executive Council Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage in Marseille, France.
The honored projects include the Guangli Canal in Henan, the Taolai River Oasis Irrigation System in Gansu, the Huangsha Canal in Jiangxi, and the Longjin ancient dam irrigation project in Fujian. Each system represents a unique facet of ancient Chinese ingenuity.
The Guangli Canal, over 2,200 years old, features a sophisticated multihead diversion and sediment separation system. The Taolai River system, from the Ming Dynasty, exemplifies arid-region adaptation with extensive tunnels supporting over 63,187 hectares.
Additionally, the Song Dynasty's Huangsha Canal in Jiangxi showcases a low-impact tiered dike and pond system for approximately 1,333 hectares. The Longjin dam, also originating in the Song Dynasty, utilizes a low-dam design to efficiently irrigate about 1,847 hectares.
