Millennia-old irrigation system withstands record flood

Dujiangyan, the world’s oldest irrigation system situated in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, withstood the biggest flood peak in almost ten years.

The Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation system in Dujiangyan City of Sichuan. Originally constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, it is still in use today. The system’s infrastructure operates along the Minjiang River, the longest tributary of the Yangtze River.

Affected by recent heavy rains in the upper stream of the Minjiang River, a flood peak was formed in the upper and middle reaches. The flood occurred at 04:50 on Wednesday, according to the Dujiangyan Water Conservancy Development Center. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency-response system, with Level I being the most severe response.