Hubei Chongyang Dashi Aqueduct

The Dashi Aqueduct is a stone-built water conservancy project located in Dashi Village, Baini Town, Chongyang County, Xianning City, Hubei Province, China. Constructed between 1975 and 1976, it spans 171 meters in total length, with a maximum height of 29 meters, a width of 4 meters, and a clear span of 76 meters. Renowned for its entirely handcrafted mortise-and-tenon stone structure, it is hailed as "China's first and Asia's second" man-made marvel. The aqueduct was built using 36,016 bluestone blocks, all manually assembled with mortise-and-tenon joints without any reinforcement or cement. The stone piers' edge precision was controlled to millimeter-level accuracy. As a representative of 1970s water conservancy projects, it embodies the "Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains" spirit. A hexagonal pavilion beside the aqueduct features carvings of construction scenes and the slogan "Transform China with the Foolish Old Man's Spirit." The stone arch structure achieves a remarkable 76-meter span, with technical difficulty far surpassing similar projects of its time. It remains a milestone in manual construction to this day. The aqueduct is not just a water facility but also a cultural symbol of collective memory from a specific historical period, classified by scholars as "rural industrial heritage." The hexagonal pavilion's eaves beams are engraved with 56 stone specifications and 36 animal motifs, blending engineering documentation with artistic value. The upper level of the aqueduct serves as a water channel, while the lower level functions as a passageway, combining irrigation and transportation purposes.