[Photo via the official WeChat account of the Beijing Water Authority]

On September 10, 2025, the World Heritage Irrigation Structures List was officially announced in Malaysia. The Mentougou Yongding River Ancient Canal Irrigation Project in Beijing was successfully inscribed.

Located along the Yongding River in Mentougou District, Beijing, the project consists of five core ancient canals — Fujiatai, Dingjiatan, Gongyigou, Sanjiadian, and Chenglong — as well as surrounding ancient springs and wells. Today, the ancient canals irrigate about 2,000 mu of farmland.

As the first World Heritage Irrigation structure in Beijing and the wider Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Mentougou Yongding River Ancient Canal Irrigation Project provides the capital with a new world-class "cultural calling card".

(Source: qianlong.com)