Dujiangyan Irrigation Project of China

Chengdu is often referred to as the storehouse of nature. More than 2,200 years ago, the city was threatened by frequent flooding of the Minjiang River. An official of Sichuan Province at that point of time Li Bing, together with his son decided to construct an irrigation system to prevent flooding. A lengthy study was conducted by the local people and the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project was completed. Ever since then, Chengdu has been free from flooding and people have been living in peace and harmony. The project is today honoured as the Treasure of Sichuan and plays a crucial role in draining out flood water, irrigating farms and providing water resources for more than 50 cities in the province.

Dujiangyan Irrigation Project is the oldest and only surviving no dam irrigation system in the world. Three important parts comprise the project which is Yuzui, Feishayan and Baopingkou designed to automatically control the water flow of the rivers from the mountains to the plains throughout the year.

Dujiangyan boasts of a scenic place called the Anlan Cable Bridge. This magnificent bridge crosses the Minjiang River above Yuzui and the construction of the bridge originally commenced before the Song Dynasty. The body of the bridge was constructed by wooden blocks and the handrail made of bamboo at that point of time. The woodwork and bamboo were replaced with steel and reinforced concrete to ensure the security of the visitors. The bridge when seen from a distance looks like a rainbow hanging over the river. The Dujiangyan system layout can be seen clearly from the bridge.

There are a number of historical sites around the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project. Some of the popular historical sites include the Fulong Temple and the Erwang Temple. Both the temples have a long history attached to them.

An admission fee of CNY 90 has to be paid before entering the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project in Chengdu. The project is open to the public for viewing from 9AM till 5:50PM.