"The disappearing karez irrigation system will soon resume its original glory," said Wupur, general secretary of the Xinjiang Karez Research excitedly when talking about the great efforts made for the protection of the ancient irrigation system.

The well known expert on karez irrigation said that the much anticipated program for the ancient irrigation wells has been launched so far, with as much as 20 million yuan maintenance funds allocated.

Mainly located in Turpan and Hami region, south of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, karez irrigation system enjoys the laudatory title of the three greatest engineering achievements in ancient China along with the Great Wall and Beijing-Hangzhou Grant Canal. The local built the underground irrigation system with consideration to local natural conditions and hydrological characteristics some 2,000 years ago.

The annual precipitation in some areas in southern Xinjiang is less than 100 mm, and the annual evaporation more than 2,000 mm. The irrigation system built to take the underground water coming from the snowmelt water and rain can prevent the water from evaporating and percolating and can also provide stable water supply.

The renovation process can be divided into two phases: the renovation and reinforcement of some 250 drying karezes will be carried out in the first phase; and the emphasis of the second phase will lie in the regular maintenance of 115 karezes in better conditions and the rescue work of 89 karezes that have already dried up. In nine years, all 480 karezes in the region will be under thorough protection, according to Wupur.

By People's Daily Online