An Irrigation infrastructure of the ancient Kingdom of Quin, the Dujiangyan irrigation system was built in 256 B.C. Located along the Min River in Sichuan China, it is in close proximity to the capital of Chengdu. Irrigating over 5300 square kilometers it plays an important role in nourishing the agricultural villages in Sichuan. The construction of the river began when Li Bing, the then governor of Qin decided to put an end to the annual flooding of the banks of the Min River.
Li Bing set to work with the help of King Xhao of Qin upon receiving 100,000 bars of silver. The levee is said to consist of long baskets of bamboo filled with stones held in place by wooden tripods. The system took 8 years to complete and once the construction was over the banks did not flood anymore. A shrine on the east of the Dujiangyan has been built in remembrance of the great service Li Bing has done to the agricultural communities benefiting from the irrigation system.
Many tourists who travel to Chengdu visit Dujiangyan and marvel at this engineering masterpiece. It also has a unique feature that allows the water to naturally gush through the bridge while ordinary bridges block the water flow with a strong wall. Its importance as an ancient engineering success led it to it being named as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. Although the massive earthquake that affected Sichuan in 2008 cracked Dujiangyan, it was not severely damaged and functions as it did originally.
There are several temples on the banks of the river, out of which Two Kings temple built during the Qing dynasty and the Dragon taming temple built during the third century are frequently visited by travellers to the area. Looking for Greater China hotels to reside in? There are plenty of hotels in China that will enchant you with their offering of fine hospitality and comfort. Millennium & Copthorne Hotels China is a renowned hotel that offers state of the art facilities and impeccable services within its well-appointed rooms that contribute to a truly memorable stay in Chengdu.
