The reporter learned from Shanxi Wanjiazhai Water Holding Group Co., Ltd. on January 19 that the Wanjiazhai Yellow River diversion project has diverted a total of 199.991 million cubic meters of Yellow River water to the Yongding River in 2024, helping the ecological restoration of the Yongding River Basin.

The Wanjiazhai Yellow River Diversion Project is a large-scale cross-basin water diversion project that solves the water shortage in Shanxi Province. Since its water supply was opened in 2003, it has continuously supplied about 5 billion cubic meters of water to Taiyuan, Datong, Shuozhou and other places. In 2017, Shanxi Province launched the Sanggan River ecological water replenishment project. The Yellow River water flowed into the Sanggan River through Wanjiazhai's Yellow River project and then flowed into the Yongding River.

The picture shows Wanjiazhai Water Conservancy Hub in Shanxi. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Feihang

At Wanjiazhai Water Conservancy Hub, Panguan County, Shanxi Province, the Yellow River water was lifted by 356 meters through the third-level pumping station, and crossed mountains and ridges. Finally, it flowed out of the No. 1 tunnel of the North Trunk Line of the Wanjiazhai Yellow River, and then flowed into the Cetian Reservoir. After further purification, it was replenished to the Yongding River.

According to the relevant person in charge of Shanxi Wanjiazhai Water Holding Group Co., Ltd., the Wanjiazhai Yellow River diversion project will implement ecological water replenishment for the Yongding River in 2024 in spring and autumn. It was originally planned to replenish 255 million cubic meters of ecological water to the Yongding River. Affected by factors such as increasing precipitation during the flood season, 199.991 million cubic meters of Yellow River water were actually transferred.

Yongding River is one of the important water systems in the Haihe River Basin and is an important water source conservation area, ecological barrier and ecological corridor in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Shan area. In 2024, with the joint efforts of relevant parties in the basin, the Yongding River once again achieved water throughout the year, and the overall ecological environment of the basin was effectively improved. (Reporter Wang Feihang)