Four more ancient Chinese irrigation systems listed in WHIS

Another four ancient Chinese irrigation projects have been designated as World Heritage Irrigation Structures, increasing the number of Chinese facilities on the WHIS list to 38, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Those made it to the WHIS list this time are the karez well system in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; the Gu'e system in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces; the Fengyan terraced field system in Hanyin, Shaanxi province; and the Jufeng weir system in Chongqing municipality.

Their inclusion was announced during the 75th International Executive Council Meeting, the highest decision-making body of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, in Australia on Tuesday. 

The karez well system, an invention that provides water through a technique derived generations ago, consists of well-like vertical shafts connected to underground channels that surface in the form of ditches and small ponds.