“Wangba Village used to have more single males than other places because young girls left once they grew up. They didn’t want to stay, as the village was so short of water and crops,” said Huang Dafa, an 82-year-old local leader of Wangba Village.

Huang has been a local leader for over 50 years. The lack of a water source has been his major concern over the past five decades. It has inevitably affected the basic needs of villagers.

Wangba Village is in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. It is locked in a mountainous area. Due to the craggy terrain, Huang failed with two projects before a canal was successfully constructed.

The third construction plan was initiated in 1992.

Over 100 families sold crops, eggs and agricultural products to support the scheme.

After 24 years, a 7,200-meter-long canal was finished this Thursday.

What is particularly notable is that some sections of the canal were built on the cliff, hovering above deep valleys.

The annual crop production has now been lifted from 120,000 kilograms to two million kilograms. People call the newly-constructed canal “the way to wealthy life."