Ancient irrigation system stands test of time - and quake

    (Agencies)
    Updated: 2008-05-23 15:23

    Dujiangyan - High above the world's oldest operating irrigation system, Zhang Shuanggun, a local villager, stands on an observation platform cracked by China's massive earthquake last week.

    An overview of Dujiangyan's ancient irrrigation system on May 21, 2008 in southwest China's quake-stricken Sichuan province. Despite its close proximity to the quake, the irrigation system suffered only minor damage and was not compromised, according to the government. [Agencies]

    She has a simple answer for why the ancient, bamboo-based Dujiangyan irrigation system sustained only minor damage, while nearby modern dams and their vast amounts of concrete are now under 24-hour watch for signs of collapse.

    "This ancient project is perfection," Zhang said.

    From the hillside platform, the workings of the ingenious irrigation project that is now a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site are clearly visible.

    Built from 256 BC, the system involved diverting the Minjiang River's flow using man-made islands built on bamboo frames that allowed water and fish to flow freely underneath.

    UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation, says the system "controls the waters of the Minjiang River and distributes it to the fertile farmland" of the plains.

    It is "a major landmark in the development of water management and technology and is still discharging its functions perfectly."

    The irrigation system is at the foot of mountains on the edge of Dujiangyan, about 50 kilometres (32 miles) from the epicentre of the May 12 quake which measured 8.0 on the Richter scale and killed more than 40,000 people.

    Yet despite its close proximity to the quake, the system suffered only minor damage and was not compromised, according to the government.

    At the same time, several dams were damaged by the earthquake and are now under constant watch for signs of collapse amid concerns they may not be able to withstand strong aftershocks or flooding.

    "The earthquake this time has caused damage at various levels to reservoirs and dams," Gu Junyaun, the chief engineer at the State Electricity Regulatory Commission said this week.

    "Dam safety experts have been put in place to monitor the operation of the dams 24 hours a day."

    Thousands of people have been evacuated in various areas of quake-hit Sichuan province due to fears of bursting dams.

    Qushan, a major town that suffered major damage in the quake, is being relocated altogether partly because of the threat that a dam above it will collapse and send torrents of water through the area.

    The contrasting fates of the ancient irrigation system and the modern dams offer a cautionary tale for China as it continues its love affair with trying to tame its vast rivers.

    Hundreds of dams have been built, or are being constructed, across the country, and environmentalists have repeatedly warned of the folly of doing so in quake-prone areas such as Sichuan.

    But no one has such fears about the Dujiangyan irrigation project.

    "The irrigation system is reliable and solid," said He Quyun, 66, a woman who lives above the project in hills which are prone to rock falls since the quake.

    "The skills of the ancient people, the architect, were so high," said another area resident, a former village Communist Party secretary who declined to give his name.

    He was resting outside the now-closed ornamental gate through which tourists would normally visit the irrigation project.

    From above, the project looks deceptively simple.

    The river splits around a heavily forested and slightly curved island about one kilometre (0.62 miles) long.

    At the top of the island, a protrusion which residents call the "fish mouth" pokes into the river and helps it divide. On one side is a modern dam with flood gates through which the river passes.

    On the other is a narrower channel which flows towards the plain where it waters the fields of Xu Shifu and other farmers.

    "Yes, it comes from there," Xu, 52, said, leaning on a hoe beside his brown fields of wheat almost ready for harvest. "It's a small tributary... it's originally from the fish mouth."

    While his wife planted corn seedlings along the edge of the wheat field, Xu explained that if his paddy needs extra water, it could be directed into his fields through a system linked to the ancient water works.



    Top China News  
    Today's Top News  
    Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
    伊人热人久久中文字幕| 最近更新免费中文字幕大全| 中文字幕在线视频第一页| 无码A级毛片免费视频内谢| 色婷婷综合久久久久中文一区二区| 亚洲AV无码乱码在线观看| 亚洲AV无码无限在线观看不卡| 精品久久久无码中文字幕| 97无码人妻福利免费公开在线视频| 无码精品A∨在线观看中文| 777久久精品一区二区三区无码| 精品久久亚洲中文无码| 中文字幕视频在线| 中文字幕亚洲乱码熟女一区二区 | 无码人妻精品中文字幕免费| 中文字幕视频在线| 亚洲色中文字幕无码AV| 毛片免费全部无码播放| 无码人妻精品一区二区三| 中文字幕av无码专区第一页| 最近最新中文字幕视频| www日韩中文字幕在线看 | 日本无码小泬粉嫩精品图| 亚洲中文字幕无码不卡电影| 亚洲AV永久无码精品一区二区国产| 久久久无码一区二区三区 | 国产亚洲精品无码专区| 人妻无码一区二区不卡无码av| 亚洲中文久久精品无码| 最近中文2019字幕第二页| 日韩精品无码人妻一区二区三区| 亚洲韩国—中文字幕| 无码中文人妻在线一区二区三区 | 中文字幕色婷婷在线视频| 亚洲gv天堂无码男同在线观看 | 无码精品人妻一区| 无码日韩人妻AV一区二区三区| 内射无码午夜多人| 亚洲成av人片在线观看天堂无码 | 成人精品一区二区三区中文字幕| 中文字幕丰满伦子无码|