Jiuxihe Hub Scenic Area

Jiuxihe Hub Scenic Area

Jiuxihe Hub Scenic Area is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Jiuxihe, also known as Baogang, is located within Danyang, Zhenjiang City. It originates from the Jiajiang branch of the Yangtze River in the north and connects to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in the south, currently spanning a total length of 27.6 kilometers.

Historical records state that Jiuxihe was originally a river characterized by “nine bends” and a “winding course of seventy li.” As early as during the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008–1016) of the Northern Song Dynasty, a local man named Yan Ding carried out repairs. The river underwent multiple dredging efforts during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the 3rd year (1914), 20th year, 21st year, 25th year, and 35th year of the Republic of China (1912–1949), it was dredged successively, and in the 35th year, the Baogang Sluice (still existing but now defunct) was constructed.

In 1952, partial dredging of Jiuxihe was carried out, with 840,000 cubic meters of earthwork completed. In 1958, 1960, and 1961, three rounds of river widening were conducted, mainly including straightening the connecting section with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the section from Chuanmen Bridge to Taiping Port, as well as dredging the sections from Peijia Bridge to Jiangkou and from Jiangkou to the Jiuxihe Sluice. Five communes mobilized 22,400 laborers for construction. By April 1962, both the river dredging and the Jiuxihe Sluice were completed, with a total of 2.134 million cubic meters of earthwork finished. From November 1962 to April 1963, the section from the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal to Jinglin Bridge and from Dongding to Muqiao River was dredged, completing 729,000 cubic meters of earthwork. By then, the old and new river courses were fully connected end to end. From September 1965 to January of the following year, another round of dredging was carried out on the section from the Jiuxihe Sluice to Jinglin Bridge, spanning over 20 kilometers, with 2.3 million cubic meters of earthwork completed. Additionally, one highway bridge, seven farm bridges, and 53 culverts were built. In October 1971, the expansion project of the side bays of the Jiuxihe Sluice was completed. From October to November 1972, the section from Fangxian Bridge to the Jiuxihe Sluice was dredged again, with 1.46 million cubic meters of earthwork completed, along with the construction of four farm bridges and 33 culverts. The Jiuxihe Sluice is located at the point where Jiuxihe meets the Jiajiang branch. It is a medium-sized water control structure that serves multiple purposes including tide blocking, water diversion, flood discharge, and navigation. With a total net width of 29.6 meters and five bays, the two side bays function as navigation openings. It has a designed water diversion capacity of 385 cubic meters per second and a flood discharge capacity of 585 cubic meters per second.

The Jiuxihe Water Control Hub is an important component of the “Western Taihu Diversion and Drainage Project,” one of the ten major projects under the national “Taihu Governance” initiative. It provides multiple functions such as flood control and drainage, irrigation and water supply, navigation, and aquatic environment protection across the basin. The project is situated in Danbei Town, Danyang City, covering an area of 790 acres. It consists of three main hydraulic structures—a control sluice, a lock chamber, and a pumping station—along with corresponding auxiliary facilities, offering comprehensive benefits including flood control, water supply, navigation, and ecological protection.

As the hometown of the Qi and Liang dynasties, Danyang boasts profound cultural heritage. Along the Jiuxihe, visitors can explore numerous attractions such as the Tiandi Stone Carving Park, the stone carvings of Southern Dynasties tombs, the Wanshou Pagoda, the Tang Bell, the Yue Family Ancestral Hall, the Jizi Temple, and the Jiashan Ancient Temple.

The Jiuxihe Hub Water Scenic Area is located in a warm temperate, humid monsoon climate zone, enjoying abundant sunlight and rainfall, which create favorable conditions for diverse biological communities. The scenic area largely preserves its original wetland and aquatic ecological environment, with a rich variety of flora and fauna. This contributes to picturesque seasonal landscapes—“peach and plum blossoms vie in spring, lush shades shelter summer, maple leaves paint autumn, and wintersweet warms the winter.” The landscaping within the hub is exquisitely designed and full of charm. Among the pavilions and waterside pavilions, clusters of bamboo thrive, bizarre rocks stand in array, green lawns stretch out, paths crisscross, and the songs of orioles fill the air, offering a refreshing experience for visitors. The central island of the hub features a pleasing mix of trees, shrubs, vines, and grasses, with fruit trees heavy with fruit like pearls, forming a vibrant forest ecological landscape. It is ideal for spring outings, summer retreats, autumn fruit picking, and winter snow appreciation.