Qingzhu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area

Qingzhu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area

The Qingzhu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national water conservancy scenic area.

The Qingzhu River (also known as the Qingshui River) originates from the southern foothills of the Motian Mountains and the northern end of the Longmen Mountains in Qingchuan County, Sichuan (within the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve), flowing through the western and central-southern parts of Qingchuan County from northwest to southeast. It passes through the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, Qingxi Town, Qiaolou Township, Quhe Township, Qianjin Township, Guanzhuang Town, Liangshui Town, Qifo Township, Malu Township, and Zhuyuan Town, where it converges with the Huangsha River (also called the Qingshui River or Xiasi River). It then flows into the Bailong River at Baolun Town in Lizhou District, Guangyuan City. The river stretches 154 kilometers within the county, covering a catchment area of 1,765 square kilometers, with a hydropower development potential of 80,500 KW.

The Qingzhu River is the mother river of Qingchuan County in our city, running 154 kilometers within the region. Its natural landscape is characterized by canyons and riverside scenery, forming a green ecological corridor that traverses Qingchuan County from northwest to southeast. The planned area of the Qingzhu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area spans 1,753 square kilometers, with water surfaces covering 130 square kilometers. The area boasts beautiful scenery, a pleasant climate, outstanding ecological advantages, and a solid ecological foundation—with a forest coverage rate of 71.7%. The area also features a dense network of rivers and streams, abundant water resources, and great development potential.

Qingchuan County has completed the overall planning outline for the Qingzhu River Water Conservancy Scenic Area. The plan will integrate landscape resources, with the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve at its core, combining the Yinping Ancient Road provincial scenic area, the Qingxi Ancient Town, and the Yinping provincial rural tourism demonstration zone to create a distinctive site where ecological culture, Three Kingdoms culture, revolutionary culture, ethnic culture, and farming culture blend harmoniously.

The Qingzhu River National Water Conservancy Scenic Area is a natural river-lake type water conservancy scenic area. During its development, emphasis will be placed on the natural scenery along both banks of the river. Once the Quhe Reservoir is completed, the scenic area will combine tourism and water conservancy functions, helping further realize the combined benefits of water conservancy projects, along with social, environmental, and economic gains.

(1) Develop parks centered on environmental protection. Take the lead in implementing the "River Chief System" in the Qingzhu River National Water Conservancy Scenic Area to further clarify responsibilities for water resource conservation. Vigorously carry out ecological protection projects within the planned area, such as natural forest conservation, returning farmland to forests, ecological restoration, and river-lake shoreline protection and management, to further optimize and improve typical ecosystems including nature reserves, scenic areas, forests, rivers, and lakes, thereby comprehensively enhancing the ecological functions of the region.

(2) Develop parks centered on ecotourism. In conjunction with the construction of national river-lake parks and led by water conservancy scenic resources, integrate high-quality tourism assets such as the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, Yinping Village—a model village for rural tourism in China—and the Donghekou Earthquake Relics National Geopark. Focus on building a number of distinctive scenic areas that blend ecological culture, Three Kingdoms culture, red culture, folk culture, gratitude culture, and agrarian culture, and establish the Qingzhu River-Lake Park as an ecotourism destination for wellness and health.

(3) Develop parks centered on poverty alleviation. Actively tap into the ecological and economic benefits of river-lake parks, make rational use of water conservancy scenic resources, and drive regional development through basin development, actively guiding impoverished communities to achieve prosperity and income growth through developing boutique homestays, eco-agriculture, and similar ventures. Innovatively implement the "off-site water-borrowing poverty relief" model, vigorously promote production-water supporting facilities in suitable valley areas, construct high-efficiency, intelligent, and water-saving irrigation systems in agricultural parks, and guide high-altitude water-scarce poverty-stricken households to develop characteristic and competitive industries in parks through "three-capital equity participation," thereby addressing the issue of water-induced poverty among mountain residents.