Aerial photo taken on July 6, 2021 shows a view along the Grand Canal in Cangzhou City of north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Luo Xuefeng)
BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Grand Canal, a vast waterway connecting the northern and southern parts of China, is set to see all of its dried-out sections refilled this year as a water-supply project kicked off Thursday.
Launched by Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong -- four of the regions the canal flows through, this project is estimated to inject 515 million cubic meters of water into the northern part of the canal, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
The water will primarily come from other water bodies including some sections of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, recycled water and accumulated rainwater, the ministry said.
Once completed, this project is expected to increase the water surface of the Grand Canal by 9.5 square km from a year earlier, the ministry said, adding that this will help improve the ecosystems along the canal.
With a history of more than 2,500 years, the Grand Canal connects Beijing and Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province, which served as a significant transportation artery in ancient China. The longest and oldest artificial waterway in the world, the Grand Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Due to historical evolution, human activities and climate change, some sections of the canal began to dry up in the first half of the 20th century. ■
New Zealand Black Caps fans look to Twenty20 World Cup with hope, trepidation
Study finds many favor a strong, undemocratic leader
Argentine court blames Iran and Hezbollah for deadly 1994 Jewish center bombing
Berlin zoo celebrates the 67th birthday of Fatou, believed to be the world's oldest gorilla
New York's high court upholds requiring insurance to cover medically necessary abortions
Sheriff believes body in burned SUV to be South Florida woman who went missing after carjacking
Benteler Steel plans $21 million expansion, will create 49 jobs
Brazil court says government must compensate victims of stray bullets in police raids
Syrian first lady Asma Assad diagnosed with leukemia, president's office says
Why did Yoon's party lose in South Korea's elections and what troubles does he face now?
Serie A champion Inter facing a nervous wait as deadline passes for loan repayment to Oaktree
A Nigerian transgender celebrity is jailed for throwing money into the air, a rare conviction