World Heritage Dujiangyan

Fish Mouth

Mao, Deng andJiang Zemin taking in the view

Little friends

Dujiangyan Irrigation System

The Dujiangyan irrigation system on the Min river is one of the oldest irrigation systems still in operation. The project began in 256 BC when Li Bing and his son, Er Lang, diverted the river into a man-made channel and constructed a system to control flooding and remove silt. It was put on the World Heritage List in 2000.

Dujiangyan has three major parts:

• The Fishmouth Pier (yuzui)
• Feishayan Weir (feishayan)
• Mouth of the Precious Jar (baoping kou)

The river is split into two parts as it enters the Fishmouth pier, a long and narrow dike built in the shape of a fish mouth in order to receive the least water resistance. The Feishayan weir drains the flood water and takes away sediment deposits. Workers using only hand tools cut a trunk canal, called the Mouth of the Precious Jar through a towering mountain in order to feed an extensive system of canals on the plains, thereby turning the Chengdu plains into one of the most fertile in China. During the flood season, 40 percent of river's flow goes through the Mouth of the Precious jar to irrigate the Chengdu plain, but 80 percent of the silt is carried away in the outer river.

The Anlan bridge crosses the river near the upstream end of Fishmouth Pier. It is suspended by woven bamboo cables (now reinforced with steel). It was formerly called the Fuqi Bridge (Husband and Wife Bridge) because it was built by a devoted couple and it is held together by locks that symbolize the pair's never-ending devotion.

There is a large park area around Dujiangyan with various temples and pavilions sprinkled through the forest and gardens. Erwang Temple (two kings temple) was built as a tribute to Li Bing and his son. The oldest tree in China dating back to the Yin Shang dynasty (1700-1100 BC) is also in the park.

A bird's-eye-view of the whole system can be found by climbing up the five-story high Qin Yen Lou. Mao, Deng, and Jiang Zemin have all taken in the view from its upper platform.

See more of our Tibetan journey in Trip to the Roof of the World.

Anlan Bridge	Lynn on the bridge	Us at the fish mouth	Erwang Temple
Temple	Inside a pavilion	Plants	Gardens
Old tree	Mount Qingcheng	Qin Yen Lou	Roof decoration
View from Qing Yen Lou	More views	Painting showing operation
Model of dam construction	Example dam consturction	Rock barriers	Exit Gate