Dujiangyan irrigation system wins world irrigation award

Dujiangyan irrigation system in Chengdu, Sichuan province is recognized as a Heritage Irrigation Structure by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) in Saskatoon, Canada on Aug 13. [Photo/provided to China Daily]

The Dujiangyan irrigation system, along with other three ancient irrigation sites in China, was recognized as Heritage Irrigation Structure by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) in Saskatoon, Canada on Aug 13.

The announcement was made at the 2018 International Conference and 69th International Executive Council Meeting of the ICID.

This makes Dujiangyan city in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province one of the few cities in the world to have three world heritages.

The Dujiangyan irrigation system, together with nearby Qingcheng Mountain, was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2000. In 2006, Dujiangyan was listed as a World Natural Heritage site as a corridor region of the giant panda habitat.

The 2018 International Conference and 69th International Executive Council Meeting of the ICID held in Saskatoon, Canada on Aug 13. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Established in 1950, the ICID aims to encourage the sustainable utilization of water resources and promote water conservancy heritage protection. It has 110 member countries that cover 95 percent of the world irrigation areas.

The ICID has been selecting Heritage Irrigation Structures since 2014, aiming to better protect and utilize the ancient irrigation projects still in use, and to explore and publicize the development history of irrigation projects and their influence on the progress of world civilization. The selection also promotes the wisdom of sustainable irrigation and the protection of precious historical and cultural heritages.

The selection criteria are very strict. For example, the irrigation structures must be over 100 years old and their design and construction techniques must have been ahead of their time.

Built in 256 BC, the Dujiangyan irrigation system is one of the world's oldest irrigation systems without a dam and is still used for practical purposes. It is important in draining floods and irrigating farms; it also provides water resources for more than 30 counties and cities in the province.

Dujiangyan irrigation system is one of the world's oldest irrigation systems without a dam and is still used for practical purposes. [Photo provided to China Daily]