Babao Irrigation Canal, Traditional irrigation canal in Changhua Plain, Taiwan.
The Babao Irrigation Canal is a water distribution network spanning the Changhua Plain, directing flow from the Jhuoshuei River to farmland across the region. The system features a main channel with numerous branch lines that reach individual fields and villages.
Construction took place from 1709 to 1719 under the direction of Shih Shih-pang, transforming the region into a major rice production area. This engineering effort became one of the most notable irrigation projects of the early Qing period.
The Mr. Lin Temple marks the canal's source and honors the mysterious figure who taught water management techniques to the system's founder. Local people still visit this place to remember the stories connected to the canal's creation.
The canal runs through farmland and has walking paths alongside some stretches where visitors can explore the water system. The best time to visit is during the growing season when water flows actively and the surrounding fields are planted.
Sections of the canal were surveyed at night to achieve precise calculations of water flow and route planning for the system. This unusual approach proved essential to the accuracy of the finished engineering work.
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