The Mother River of Chengdu

1. The Mother River of Chengdu ——Funan River The First Group

2. Main Contents

3. 府南河历史简介 • 成都是座具有二千多年历史的文化名城，府河、南河都是环绕成都而过的两条人工开凿的河流。其中南河是李冰修都江堰时是从岷江干流上分流出来的一条支流，它围绕成都西南，向东流去；而府河则是在都江堰从检江分流出来的一条支流，它围绕成都北门，然后东下与南河汇合，两河汇合一起故称府南河。府南河不仅给成都平原带来了经济繁荣，也孕育了成都两千年的历史文明。 Fuhe River Hejiang Pavilion Nanhe River

4. The Ever “Rotten River” • Since the 1970s, because of the growing demand for urban construction and the rapid increase in population, the two rivers have been degraded into the city's sewage ditch. Besides, owing to the perennial disrepair of watercourse, river water flows in difficulty, the flood disasters always appearing in annually rainy seasons. Thus, the river basin is crowded with squatter settlements, residents of poverty, disease and the relative concentration of the local security incidents. This river is situated in the city center, filled entirely with the people’s attention. It sets like a noose around the city’s neck, letting people worried.

5. How to do? In 1985, a primary school student wrote a letter to the Mayor, calling for “Save the Mother River”. The contents of the letter are primitive and moving, really thought-provoking. So, after consideration of the Government of Chengdu, a positive blueprint planning for remediation to the mother river began...

7. Three Measures,Six Orientations • Reinforcing embankment: to desludge watercourse for 16 km, to newly build and reinforce embankments for 25 km, to newly build and rebuild 18 bridges over the rivers; to double the capacity of flood discharge, reaching the standards of flood control for 200-year return period. • Sewage discharge and clearing up the river: lay a total of 25 km long sewage pipes in the embankments of Funan River, leading effluent to the city sewage treatment plant and then discharging into the river downstream, purifying 850 ha urban water area. • Green landscape, a total of 400 mu green belt, small parks, and small carnivals have been built on the embankments, as well as architecture and sculpture of Chengdu characteristics with a history of two thousand years, and so on. • Six orientations: flood control, pollution control, housing, afforestation, cultural and road pipe network.

8. The beautiful embankments of the Mother River return

9. The integrated harnessing project of Chengdu Funan River, deemed as a masterpiece of fresh water management projects, won the “Local Pioneering Award” of World Urban Congress’ 2000, held in Dessau, Germany. More than 200 cities worldwide participated in the selection of “Local Pioneering Award”, and Chengdu City was the only award-winning city in Asia. “Local Pioneering Award”, established in 1995, aimed to reward local governments’ efforts in protecting and improving the environment.

10. Modest Proposal When I lived in Chengdu during the past few years, though I rarely go to Funan River, I have still heard the reports of water pollution of Funan River from time to time. Whether these reports are fabricated or not, or this was true, I hope the local river governing offices and visitors can work together to maintain the ecological environment of Funan River, so that the mother river can breed a fresh water world for the beautiful city of Chengdu in its quiet flow!

11. Thank you!