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on september 3, the 75th international executive council meeting of the international commission on irrigation and drainage (icid) was held in sydney, australia, and the 2024 (11th batch) world heritage irrigation structure (whis) was released. the huizhou weirs (huì bà) were successfully made the list. this marks the third such honor for anhui province. 
the world heritage irrigation structure is a cultural heritage conservation project overseen by the icid, with evaluations beginning in 2014. unlike the unesco world heritage list, the world heritage irrigation structure focuses on exploring and promoting the history of irrigation development and its impact on civilization, learning from the sustainable irrigation wisdom of ancient peoples, and protecting precious historical and cultural heritage. the huizhou weirs are part of an ancient irrigation system in huizhou. the ancestors of huizhou "built weirs to block water, excavated ponds to store water, and constructed channels to divert water," with the huizhou weirs as the core of a sophisticated irrigation system that includes mountain ponds, channels, water inlets, water streets, and wells, all harmonizing with nature. 
since the eastern jin dynasty, more than 500 ancient huizhou weirs have been built, accumulating water sources that are channeled into fields and villages for production and daily living. this ancient irrigation heritage culture that still exists today embodies a unique management system characterized by "multiple water sources, efficient complementarity, upper ponds and lower weirs, systematic flow control, community water coexistence, interception, storage, and drainage, three-dimensional flood prevention, ecological circulation, and harmonious human-water relationships," still playing an essential role today. 
by restoring the ancient water transport functions of the huizhou weirs along the fengle river and linking cultural relics and natural landscapes along the route, a dynamic belt is formed. today, ancient irrigation projects like leihui weir and lühui weir attract numerous tourists for sightseeing and photography, becoming popular check-in spots that showcase the new vitality of irrigation heritage in its preservation and transmission!
source: anhuinews.com
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