(CFP Photo)
The Hongze Lake Irrigation System became one of the ancient Chinese irrigation projects newly designated as World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS), bringing the number of such honored projects in Jiangsu to three.
Dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 -220), the Hongze Lake Irrigation System is a quintessential example of engineering that effectively integrates flood control with irrigation.
Yuan Anquan, director of the Water Resources Bureau of Hongze District, Huai'an City, explained that the barrage, as a key part of the irrigation system, is not only the oldest currently in operation but also part of the Grand Canal, which is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
The type of the structures or facilities to be considered for WHIS recognition shall fulfil two criteria: The structure shall be more than 100 years old, and the structures shall fall under one of eight categories, such as dams, canal systems and agricultural drainage structures.
In Jiangsu, the Li Canal-Gaoyou Irrigation District and the Xinghua Duotian Irrigation and Drainage System won the WHIS recognition in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Li Canal-Gaoyua project, first built in 1740, is still in relatively good shape and used for water diversion, water transport and irrigation. The Xinghua project waters arid uplands with the likes of dykes, channels and water gates. In 2014, it was placed under ecological protection in Xinghua City.
These ancient irrigation systems have served their purposes since their construction, said Gao Junfeng, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Initiatives are underway to integrate traditional agricultural practices with contemporary water management and ecological restoration, enhancing the utility of these heritage structures.
Besides, water authorities will conduct a systematic review of water conservancy projects, natural and cultural heritage sites, and establish a heritage protection list and database to promote agricultural development and rural vitalization.
