The region where water tanks denote social status

In the rural areas of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, most people measure success by the number of cisterns they own. In the dry sandy region, rainfall is the only source of water and cistern ownership denotes social status.

We drove more than 500 km, from Yinchuan, the capital city, down to Xihaigu, the poorest area in the southern region. Despite, or perhaps because of, the United Nations' view of the place, it's a fascinating journey for outsiders.

There was only one cistern at the elementary school in Mahuangshan, a rural establishment with 75 students and more than 20 teachers. The tank contained about 30 cubic meters of rainwater collected during the short summer rainy season. I could taste the dirt when I took a sip. One of the teachers explained that they usually allow the water to settle for a couple of days and then filter it before boiling, just to be on the safe side.