Beijing's largest urban park completes 12-million-cubic-meter flood system

Wenyuhe, Beijing's largest urban park, has completed a flood control system capable of storing up to 12 million cubic meters of floodwater — the equivalent of 4,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools — strengthening flood protection for the capital's city center and sub-center, according to a report by Beijing Daily on Thursday.

The Wenyu South Weir at Wenyuhe Park is set to serve as Beijing's largest flood detention area.

According to Li Wenyu, head of the Wenyuhe Park coordination office, the newly completed weir adopts an integrated gate-and-weir design. During the non-flood season, a hydraulic gate remains lowered to divert water into the park for ecological replenishment. During floods, the gate can be remotely operated to divert excess river flow into designated flood storage areas, reducing downstream flood risks.

The flood control system centers on what officials describe as a "one zone, three rivers, and six gates and weirs" network, according to the report. The "one zone" refers to a 570-hectare flood detention area, about one-fifth of the park's total area, while the Qinghe River, Wenyu River, and Qingyuwan waterway form a 20-kilometer flood conveyance network. Three sluice gates and three diversion weirs operate together to regulate floodwaters under assorted flood scenarios.

According to the report, the system has connected the flood control networks protecting Beijing's central urban area and the city sub-center. About 20 percent of storm runoff from the capital's central districts is expected to be routed to Wenyuhe Park, where floodwaters can be temporarily stored and released after peak flows subside.

Officials said the system is designed to activate progressively according to flood intensity, expanding storage capacity as water volumes increase before gradually releasing stored water once flood risks ease, it added.