Atlas of China
Tongji Weir 通济堰Tōngjì Yàn
National heritage site · Lishui, Zhejiang
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Lishui
- Region
- Zhejiang
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Tongji Weir
An irrigation system begun in 505 at Yantou village, where a curved weir diverts the Songyin River onto the Bihu plain; the timber dam was rebuilt in stone in 1205, and the surviving 275 m arch weir is described as the world's earliest arch dam. A 22.5 km main canal and hundreds of smaller channels still water about 2,000 hectares, and the system was named a World Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2014. Beside the sluice gate a temple holds 18 old steles, and Yantou keeps a Wenchang Pavilion and stone archway of the Qing period.
How to get to Tongji Weir
At Yantou village in Bihu town, about 25 km south-west of central Lishui, inside the Guyan Huaxiang scenic area.
Nearby
Also within 20 km: Guyan Huaxiang (Ancient Weir Painting Village) 古堰画乡 (under 10 km).
On the map
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