The 1,500km water canal crafted by the steep cliff side

Hong Ky Canal, Lam Chau, Ha Nam Province. The canal was hewn from the Thai Hanh Son mountain range in the 1960s. The canal was carved by the villagers with rudimentary tools, not using bulky machines.

Linzhou has a history of frequent drought. In the 500 years before the People's Republic of China was born, more than 100 serious water shortages occurred in the region. About 1650 people starved to death during the drought between 1942 and 1943. Water is the dream of many generations of people in the region.

Hong Ky Channel.

Everyone was very happy when in 1959, Yang Gui, the local leader, proposed to build a canal that led water from the Zhanghe River. The villagers took 10 years to complete the scale project. They wrapped ropes around their waist to dig holes to steep cliffs and break hard rock with homemade explosives.

About 300,000 people participated in construction and 81 people died during construction. Once completed, the canal has changed the lives of local people.

Every year, about half of the water in Lam Chau comes from the canal, mainly for irrigation and industrial production. People reduce poverty and improve ecosystems.

At first, the canal was designed for use for 20 years. But today, the work is still active.