Four Chinese sites have been added to the World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) list, which was officially announced at the 76th International Executive Council Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID), held on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The four sites include Yuanyang Hani Terraces, Chishan Lake Irrigation System, Jianjiangyan Irrigation System and Mentougou Ancient Canals of Yongding River. With these additions, China now boasts a total number of 42 sites on the WHIS list.

The Yuanyang Hani Terraces, located in the Ailao Mountain on the southern bank of the Honghe River in southwest China's Yunnan Province, covers an irrigation area of 56,100 mu (about 3,740 hectares). Established during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the terraces embody an ecological system that integrates forests, villages, terraces and water systems, achieving a harmonious balance between life, production and ecology. This project is not only an exceptional example of the Hani people's adaptation to nature and survival but also deeply integrates their cultural, religious beliefs and irrigation management systems.

Chishan Lake Irrigation System in Jurong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, with a history of over 1,700 years, is a key irrigation and flood control project in the upper reaches of the Qinhuai River, covering an irrigation area of 77,000 mu. The project uses dual water-storage systems and bi-directional sluice control to effectively address flooding and drought issues in low-lying areas.

Jianjiangyan Irrigation System located in Pengzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, was established during the late Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25) and continues to irrigate 162,000 mu of farmland today. The project uses a technique involving bamboo cages filled with pebbles to construct weirs and divide the water, ensuring coordinated irrigation, flood discharge and sediment drainage. In addition, over 300 "self-flowing spring weirs" have been built locally to ensure irrigation during droughts, showcasing ancient wisdom in the multi-source use of water resources.

Mentougou Ancient Canals of the Yongding River in Beijing, consists of five ancient canals, along with nearby springs and wells. The system still irrigates about 2,000 mu of farmland and provides supplementary water to approximately 20,000 mu of orchards and ecological zones.

The WHIS list has included a total of 200 projects worldwide since its establishment in 2014. It aims to trace the development of global irrigation civilization, promote the preservation of irrigation engineering heritage, summarize traditional water management wisdom, and provide historical experience and insights for sustainable irrigation development.