|
 Leaving
Chengdu by the western gate and driving through the
picturesque West Sichuan Plain, you will come to
Yulei Hill, sixty kilometers from Chengdu, which
affords a panoramic view of the Dujiang Dam water
conservancy project. The dam was constructed under
the supervision of Li Bing, prefect of Shu, from 256
to 251 B.C. during the Warring States Period. It is
famous not only for its antiquity but also for its
scientific design. The turbulent waters of the
Minjiang River become peaceful after passing through
the project. The project used to bring some 110,000
hectares of farmland under irrigation, turning the
West Sichuan Plain into a “land of abundance.” In
recent times continuous irrigation constructions
have enlarged the irrigated area to 530,000
hectares. The project consisted of three parts: the
Fish Mouth, Flying Sand Dam, and the Bottle Neck.
The Fish Mouth is a bifurcation causeway built in
midstream to separate the water of the Minjiang
River into inner and outer channels. Flying Sand
Dam, built between the Fish Mouth and the Bottle
Neck, controls the volume of water flowing, into the
inner channel. The Bottle Neck is where main stream
water from the Minjiang pours into the inner channel
and its shape gave rise to the name.
Other historical sites connected with the Dujiang
Dam project include Li Bing and Son Temple (Erwangmian),
Subduing the Dragon Monastery (Fulongguan) and
Calming the Waves Bridge (Anlanqiao). Li Bing and
Son Temple at the foot of Yulei Hill contains a
stone statue of Li Bing with a smiling face and
natural posture. Calming the Waves Bridge is said to
have been built by a married couple and is therefore
also called Husband and Wife Bridge (Fuqiqiao). The
340-meter bridge was built with planks and iron
chains. To stand on the swaying bridge and look down
at the turbulent river requires much courage. |
