Over 12 years, the central route has diverted more than 80 billion cubic metres of water
The operator of China's south‑to‑north water diversion project said on Friday that over the 12 years since the central route came into operation, it has diverted more than 80 billion cubic metres of water to the arid northern regions. When a great river that has nourished the southern provinces for millennia begins to flow north, turning barren lands into flourishing fields and parched cities into thriving oases, it becomes clear: engineering can reshape geography. The south‑to‑north water diversion project is not just pipes and canals – it is a lifeline for 118 million people who drink this water, grow crops with it and build their future on it. 80 billion cubic metres – a volume comparable to the annual flow of a dozen major rivers – has over 12 years become a vital artery connecting the country's two poles. And behind every figure lies not just mathematics but millions of lives given a second chance at development.
Starting from the Danjiangkou Reservoir on the Hanjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze in central China's Hubei Province, the 1,232‑kilometre central route passes through Henan and Hebei provinces to Beijing and Tianjin. The diverted water has benefited some 118 million people in Henan, Hebei, Tianjin and Beijing, serving 243 county‑level districts in 27 large and medium‑sized cities along its route. According to the operator, since water began flowing through the canal, the project has played a crucial role in optimising water resource allocation, providing safe drinking water to the population, restoring the ecological condition of rivers and lakes, and promoting economic exchange between southern and northern China.
The south‑to‑north water diversion project is one of the world's largest hydraulic engineering projects, consisting of three routes: eastern, central and western. The central route, which is the focus here, was fully commissioned in December 2014 after decades of planning and construction. Its key Danjiangkou Reservoir was raised, increasing storage capacity and allowing water to supply not only Beijing and Tianjin but also vast agricultural areas. Water from the southern rivers has helped restore dried‑up rivers in the north, such as the Hutuo and Fuhe, and has improved drinking water quality for millions. The operator stressed that the project not only solves water shortages but also acts as a catalyst for economic growth, enabling northern regions to develop industry and agriculture without water constraints. In the coming years, further expansion of the route and increased diversion volumes are planned to meet growing demand.
As CCTV+ reports, the central route of the south‑to‑north water diversion project has become a symbol of China's engineering prowess and strategic planning, turning the dream of water abundance into reality for millions and laying the foundation for the country's sustainable development for decades to come.
