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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.
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