Jiangxi Weir

Jiangxi Weir

Jiangxi Weir is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Jiangxi Weir, an ancient weir known as the "Dujiangyan of Longyou," is located in Houtianpu Village downstream of the Lingshan River (formerly known as Lingxi) in Longyou County, Zhejiang Province. On August 13, 2018, it was inscribed on the 2018 (fifth batch) World Heritage Irrigation Structures list.

Jiangxi Ancient Weir has a history of more than 680 years since its construction. Legend has it that the weir was built during the Zhi Shun era (1330–1333 AD) of the Yuan Dynasty under the tenure of Darughachi Cherkama. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Jiangxi Weir has undergone continuous protection and restoration. According to the county's water conservancy records, starting from 1950 when the state allocated 74,000 jin of rice for the construction of the Jiangxi Weir revetment project, up to 2013, there have been 15 rounds of varying degrees of repair, reinforcement, and renovation of the weir and canals, with a total investment of over 50 million yuan. It is these continuous efforts that have enabled Jiangxi Weir to continue irrigating farmland in the region and benefiting the people of Longyou to this day.

The Jiangxi Weir hub project consists of five parts: the Upper Weir, the Sandbar, the Lower Weir, the Flood Discharge and Sand Flushing Sluice, and the Headworks Diversion Sluice. The entire hub uses the sandbar in the river channel as a link, connecting the Upper Weir upstream and the Lower Weir downstream, forming a roughly right-angled water-retaining dam about 630 meters long. The bold concept of integrating the sandbar with the weir structure and the sophisticated weir-building techniques are major features of Jiangxi Weir, which are quite rare in China’s water management history.

The water-retaining dam, built from square rocks, has a distinct and solid form. Though these rocks have endured over 600 years of river erosion, their texture remains clear and the arrangement neat and pleasing. As the upstream river water flows past the dam, its originally rapid current noticeably slows down, becoming gentle and calm. The entire dam was first framed with pine wood, after which rocks were filled into the frames. Pine wood has excellent resistance to water erosion—it won’t rot even after a thousand years underwater, making it highly durable. This ancient weir, over 600 years old, has silently served its purpose for centuries, nourishing the farmland and benefiting the local people.

Longzhou Subdistrict: [Overview] Longzhou Subdistrict is located in the central-western part of Longyou County. It is the site of the county government, covering an area of 61.9 square kilometers. The total population was 67,781 (end of 2009), including 23,822 rural residents. It administers 5 communities and 20 administrative villages. The subdistrict office is located at No. 26, Qinglian Road.

[History] In June 1949, Chengguan District was established; in 1956, it was restructured as a town; in 1958, it was incorporated into Dengta Commune; in July 1959, Chengguan Town was re-established; in December of the same year, it was renamed Longyou Town; in 1963, Longyou Commune was split off; and in 1983, Longyou Commune was merged back into Longyou Town. In June 1949... More details about Longzhou Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province

· World Heritage Irrigation Structures