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How have irrigation canals changed the landscape of the Ningxia plain?
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Ningxia
Huang He (Yellow River) in Hui Autonomous Region of Ningxia, north-central China.
The Ningxia plain is an arid region, but the Huang He (Yellow River) has been used to irrigate the area for centuries, with canals dating back to the Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties.12
These irrigation works have fundamentally transformed the landscape of the plain. By diverting water from the river, the network of willow-lined canals and the resulting paddy fields have created a lush, productive environment that gives the region an appearance resembling that of southern China, contrasting sharply with the surrounding arid terrain.1