North Jiangsu Main Irrigation Canal

A long path of water helps many farms.

It moves water from a big lake. This water helps plants grow. The path also helps stop big floods. It keeps the land safe from too much water. The water can even make power for us. Many people worked to build it. It is a very big and useful tool. It helps people and the land stay healthy.

The North Jiangsu Main Irrigation Canal is a long path for water. People often call it the Subei Canal. It is 168 km long. It starts at Hongze Lake. It runs through many places in China. This canal helps many farms grow food. It can water 1,720,000 hectares of farmland.

This canal does many jobs. It helps stop floods. It also makes power for people. We call this power electricity. It can move a lot of water very fast. The canal moves 5,000 stere of water every second. This helps keep the land dry when it rains too much.

Many people worked to build it. More than 1,190,000 workers helped. A leader named Zhou Enlai wanted the project to happen. He knew how floods hurt people. The canal works with three other main canals. Together, they form a big system to move water. There are also bridges and gates along the way.

Caption: The office that manages the canal.

The North Jiangsu Main Irrigation Canal is a very important water path. Many people call it the Subei Canal. It is located in the north of Jiangsu Province in China. This canal helps manage the water from the Huai River. It starts at Gaoliangjian on Hongze Lake. The canal runs through many places like Hongze and Huai'an. It also goes through Qingpu, Funing, Sheyang, and Binghai. This long path is 168 km in length.

This canal works in many different ways to help the land. One big job is irrigation, which means bringing water to farms. It can water 1,720,000 hectares of farmland. It also helps with flood control to keep people safe. The canal can move water at a speed of 5,000 stere per second. It can also discharge floodwaters at 800 stere per second. Besides water, it provides power for electricity. It even helps ships move through the area using locks.

Building this canal had a long and difficult history. It was first built between 1934 and 1937. It was made to move water from the Huai River. This was done because the river used to cause bad floods. In 1938, the canal was largely destroyed. This happened when the Japanese destroyed many dams. Later, the Chinese government wanted to rebuild it for flood management. Even though money was tight during the Korean War, leaders pushed forward.

Many important people helped make the new canal a reality. Premier Zhou Enlai insisted on the project. He knew how hard floods were for people in his hometown. In 1951, Li Baohua proposed a new plan for the project. Zhou Enlai approved this plan for the water system. The work began on November 2, 1951. More than 1,190,000 civilian workers helped build it. The main work was directed by the Jiangsu Huai River management program.

The canal is part of a much larger water system. It connects to three other main canals to form a shape like a quadrangle. The first is the Grand Canal, called the "west main canal." The second is the Chuanchang River, which forms a "T" junction. This junction is called the "east main canal." The third is the Tongyang Canal, called the "south main canal." Together, these paths connect different inland rivers. There are also 36 culverts and 4 road bridges along the way.

The North Jiangsu Main Irrigation Canal is a vital water management system in China. Many people know it as the Subei Canal. It is located in the lower reaches of the Huai River. This river is one of the major rivers in northern Jiangsu Province. The canal acts as a multi-purpose tool for the region. It manages water for irrigation, flood control, and even electricity generation. By moving water through the landscape, it protects people and helps farmers grow food.

The canal functions through a complex series of movements and structures. It originates at Gaoliangjian on Hongze Lake. From there, it travels 168 km through several counties. These include Hongze, Qingpu, Huai'an, Funing, Sheyang, and Binghai. The canal is designed to transfer water at a massive speed of 5,000 stere per second. To manage floods, a drainage canal was built on the north side. This allows the system to discharge floodwaters at 800 stere per second. Various structures like the Gaoliangjian intake sluice and the Liuduo tidal sluice help control these flows.

This canal is part of a much larger irrigation system. It connects with three other main canals to form a quadrangle. The first connection is with the famous Grand Canal. This canal crosses the Subei Canal in western north Jiangsu. It is known as the "west main canal." The second connection is with the Chuanchang River. They meet at a "T" junction called the "east main canal." The third is the Tongyang Canal in the southern part of the province. This is called the "south main canal." Together, these paths link inland rivers into one large network.

The history of the canal is marked by both destruction and determination. It was first constructed between 1934 and 1937. The goal was to divert the Huai River to prevent catastrophic flooding. However, in 1938, the Japanese destroyed many dams in the area. This caused the Yellow River to flow into the Huai River. The resulting floods largely destroyed the canal. After the Chinese Civil War, the government decided to rebuild it for better water management.

Rebuilding the canal was a massive challenge for the nation. During the planning stages, China was involved in the Korean War. This meant the government lacked the economic resources to fund such a large project. However, Premier Zhou Enlai insisted on the project. He had personal experience with the suffering caused by floods in his hometown. In 1950, the flooding was particularly serious. Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai then instructed departments to plan for water regulation.

Scientific planning helped the project move forward in 1951. Li Baohua, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, reported on research conducted by his group. He proposed a specific project plan. Premier Zhou Enlai approved and supported this plan. Construction officially began on November 2, 1951. It was organized by the headquarters of the Jiangsu Huai River management program. More than 1,190,000 civilian workers participated in this massive undertaking.

The impact of the canal on the environment and economy is significant. It can irrigate as much as 1,720,000 hectares of farmland. It brings water from Hongze Lake to the Lixiahe area and the southern part of the Yellow River basin. Beyond farming, the canal supports ship navigation and electricity generation. Hydroelectric power generators and ship locks have been built near sluices at Gaoliangjian and Buning. The system includes 36 culverts, two flood-release sluices, and four road bridges. A cross sluice at Gaoliangjian also helps strengthen the drainage capacity.

Today, the canal is managed by a dedicated organization. The Jiangsu Irrigation Canal Management Office is in charge of administration. They handle riverine engineering and provide necessary resources. While the central office manages the system, local counties and districts have specific duties. They are responsible for the repair and administration of the canal banks. This teamwork ensures the water continues to flow safely through the province.