Zhuji Shadoof Well Irrigation System

Zhuji Shadoof Well Irrigation System

The Zhuji Shadoof Well Irrigation System is located in Zhaojia Town, Zhuji City. The ancient wells are mainly distributed around Quanfan Village, Zhaojia Village, and Huamingquan, where the history of well irrigation using shadoofs dates back to as early as the Southern Song Dynasty. This most ancient form of irrigation is still in use today in villages like Quanfan, where locals continue to irrigate crops such as rice and cherries with water drawn from the wells, making it a “living fossil” of irrigation civilization.

Hidden in the area around Quanfan Village, Zhaojia Town, Zhuji City, are over a thousand ancient wells. Most of these wells are located within nearly 2,000 acres of ancient farmland, creating a world of ancient wells. Such a dense distribution of ancient wells is truly unique across the country. In January 2015, reporters from Shaoxing Evening News conducted an interview here and wrote an article titled “A Village in Zhaojia Hides Over a Thousand Ancient Wells, Mostly Distributed Across Nearly 2,000 Acres of Farmland in Quanfan Village.” It mentioned that the local area planned to develop an Ancient Wells and Farmland Scenic Area, and authorities were preparing to apply for UNESCO heritage status for this group of ancient wells. The article attracted significant public attention at the time.

There are not only numerous wells but also a variety of styles—octagonal wells, hexagonal wells, square wells, and round wells—in the Quanfan Village area of Zhaojia Town, with varying sizes. There are ancient wells from the Tang Dynasty, Qianwang Well, Dawang Well, and many others, which are not only ancient but also rich in legends and cultural heritage. The wells in the Quanfan Village area have a history of over a thousand years. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were more than 8,000 wells in Quanfan Village and nearby Huamingquan Village and Zhaojia New Village, densely scattered across the landscape. The well distribution area here has an elevation of only 50 meters, while the surrounding mountainous areas rise to several hundred meters, with the highest peak reaching over 800 meters. As a result, the wells are abundant in water, giving rise to the unique farming culture and lifestyle of Quanfan Village. The name “Quanfan” means “fields above springs, springs among fields, and springs within fields.” Despite the passage of time and great changes, the ancient wells in the Quanfan area remain clear and pristine. Before the 1930s, there were over 8,000 wells in Zhaojia. Even today, there are still over a thousand visible and hidden wells, preserving the most complete system of well and canal irrigation engineering, which continues to function. It is truly a “living fossil” of well irrigation engineering and can be considered a marvel.

Further Reading:

· World Heritage Irrigation Structures