Why has the Dujiangyan irrigation system been important to farming on the Chengdu Plain?

The Dujiangyan irrigation system is vital to the Chengdu Plain because it provides a highly effective, sustainable method for managing water resources in a region prone to both floods and droughts.1

Dating back to the Qin dynasty, the system functions by capturing the torrential flow of the Min River and guiding it through an artificial network of channels into numerous distributaries across the plain. This engineering feat ensures a constant water supply for agriculture, which has been essential in securing the region's long-standing agricultural prosperity. By utilizing annual dredging to maintain consistent river levels, the system remains the most successful and easily maintained irrigation project in China. Ultimately, it has protected the plain from the hazards of flooding and water scarcity, supporting the intensive cultivation that characterizes the area.1