"One of China's most ancient and successful irrigation systems, watered by the Min River. First set up during the Ch'in dynasty (221-206 BC), the system diverted half the waters of the Min River eastward to irrigate the plain through a dense network of channels. This system has survived, basically in its original form, and enables the area to support what has been claimed to be the densest agrarian population anywhere in the world."
Encyclopaedia Britannica
The photos below were taken during two trips, one in summer 1996 and the other in autumn 1998. Click any photo for a bigger version. Use back button to return.
Approaching Du Jian Yan on Lift-chairs. (1996)
River Min encounters Du Jian Yan. (1998)
River Min split into two by Yu Jui ("Fish Mouth"). Inner River (on the right hand side of the photograph) is on the outer bend with less silt. (1998)
Jing Gang Ti (Iron Dam). (1998)
Inner River is directed to a filter system while Min continues south to join Yangtze River. (1998)
A (badly stitched) panorama of Du Jiang Yan. (1998)
Fei Xia Yan (Flying Sand Dam) performs two important functions: (1) further filters silt from the Inner River water; (2) bypasses excess water from the Inner River in rainy seasons. (1996)
Inner River, filtered and tamed, flows through Bu Ping Hou (Mouth of Treasure Vase) to irrigate over three millions acres of Sichuan land downstream. (1996)
Mayor-Engineer Li Bing's six word advice on river management. (1996)
Just to emphasize. (1998)
More advice. (1998)
Maintenance plan. (1998)
Philosophical lesson learnt. (1998)
Dec 1998