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Dujiangyan Irrigation Dam
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is one of the world’s oldest and most remarkable water conservancy projects. Located on the Minjiang River in Sichuan Province, it was first constructed in 256 BC during the Warring States Period under the direction of Li Bing, the governor of Shu.
Unlike a conventional dam, Dujiangyan was designed to control and distribute the river’s water naturally. The system diverts water from the Minjiang River toward the fertile Chengdu Plain, helping control floods while providing irrigation water.
Remarkably, the ancient irrigation system is still functioning today, more than 2,000 years after its construction.
Three Major Components of Dujiangyan
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System consists of three principal engineering components:
* Fish Mouth Levee (Yuzui) – divides the Minjiang River and directs water into different channels.
* Flying Sand Weir (Feishayan) – helps regulate the amount of water entering the irrigation system and allows excess sediment and floodwater to pass through.
* Bottle-Neck Channel (Baopingkou) – controls the flow of water toward the Chengdu Plain.
Together, these ingenious structures form an integrated water-management system that continues to demonstrate the engineering wisdom of ancient China.
Cultural Heritage Around Dujiangyan
The area surrounding Dujiangyan is rich in historical and cultural attractions. Important sites include:
* Erwang Temple (Temple of the Two Kings)
* Fulong Temple (Temple of the Hidden Dragon)
* Anlan Bridge (Bridge of Peaceful Waves)
* Lidui Park and Lidui
* Historic stone inscriptions and monuments
These sites provide a deeper understanding of the history of Li Bing, his water-management achievements, and the development of Sichuan civilization.
Li Bing and Ancient Water Management
Li Bing is remembered as the key figure behind the construction of Dujiangyan. Rather than trying to block the Minjiang River with a massive dam, he and his engineers developed a system that worked with the river’s natural flow.
This approach helped transform the Chengdu Plain into one of China’s most productive agricultural regions and contributed to Sichuan’s reputation as the “Land of Abundance.”
Stone Inscriptions and Cultural Relics
Dujiangyan also contains valuable historical inscriptions, sculptures, maps, and artworks.
Large stone inscriptions dating from the Qing Dynasty can be found in the surrounding mountains, including inscriptions praising the area’s natural scenery.
A remarkable stone statue of Li Bing, measuring approximately 2.9 meters high and weighing about 4.5 tons, was excavated from the riverbed in 1974. The sculpture is considered an important example of early Chinese stone carving.
Historical displays also include:
* Ancient water-management records
* Qing Dynasty maps of Dujiangyan
* Inscriptions honoring Li Bing and his son
* Historical documents
* Works by renowned modern Chinese artists such as Xu Beihong, Zhang Daqian, and Guan Shanyue
Visit Dujiangyan
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is more than an ancient engineering achievement. It represents the relationship between people, water, agriculture, and nature that has shaped Sichuan for more than two millennia.
For visitors to Chengdu, a trip to Dujiangyan offers the opportunity to experience both an extraordinary ancient waterworks system and a landscape rich in Chinese history and culture.
Qingchengshan and Dujiangyan Dam Tours Recommended:
1. 1 Day Mt Qingchengshan and Dujiangyan Dam Tour
1. 1 Day Mt Qingchengshan and Dujiangyan Dam Tour
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