The Chinese capital Beijing has seen its water resources replenished and critical water supply to its millions of residents ensured, thanks to a mega water diversion project which has been pumping water from the water-rich south to the drought-prone north over the past decade.
The South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the world's largest so far, was designed to take water from China's longest river, the Yangtze, through east, middle and west routes, to feed dry areas in the north.
The middle route has received most attention due to its vital role of bringing water to the Chinese capital, since it started operation on Dec. 12, 2014.
The middle route of the project is equipped with 12 automatic water-quality monitoring stations along its entire length. These stations continuously monitor the water quality of the diverted water 24 hours a day and transmit the data synchronously to the national environmental monitoring station via satellites.
Once problems about water quality are detected, the equipment for water sampling will give the signal and close the gates, diverting the water into the river for ecological water replenishment, to prevent polluted water from entering water treatment plants.
"We all say that 'when this diverted water enters Beijing, multiple sources of water become interconnected.' Most of the water from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is used to meet the drinking needs of the people. If there is a certain surplus, we utilize reservoirs and store it in these groundwater sources. So the water storage of our surface reservoirs has gradually increased in recent years, and the underground water level has risen by approximately 13 meters," said Wang Junwen, deputy director of the Beijing Water Resources Control Center. The diverted water from the south has replenished water resources and ensured the security of water supply of Beijing.
Over the past 10 years, Beijing has received at least 10.6 billion cubic meters of diverted water, securing water supply to 16 million residents of the city.
"Over the past decade, our water resources per capita have also increased by 50 percent. In the past 10 years, the number of water treatment plants capable of handling water diverted from the south has grown from the original six to the current 16. The processing capacity has also increased from less than 3 million cubic meters per day to currently about 5 million cubic meters per day," said Zhou Zheng, deputy head of the Water Supply Management Division of Beijing Water Authority.
Mega water diversion project replenishes water resources, ensures supply to Beijing residents
A contemporary Chinese art exhibition has been held at the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, playing a vibrant role in fostering cultural ties between the East and the West. The exhibits, including brush paintings and sculptures on mountains, rivers, plants, blend traditional brushwork with Western influences, creating a serene, meditative atmosphere.
The artists' deep connection with the natural world is a window that the "Chinese Xieyi exhibition'' at the Hungarian National Museum presents to the public to explore Chinese philosophy, according to Tunde FegyvAri-Komori, curator of the Hungarian National Museum.
"This exhibition is a collection of 58 artworks, including four sculptures from 58 different artists, from the National Art Museum of China's collection. And they represent modern and contemporary artworks, partly reflecting back to the traditional Chinese painting and Chinese art, and partly reflecting to Western influences in art, which mostly started arriving in China after the 1970s and the 80s," said FegyvAri-Komori.
Much of the exhibition showcases traditional Chinese brushwork, where delicate strokes create intricate designs and meanings that express deep philosophical meanings, allowing viewers to experience the world from their perspective.
"The Chinese curators constructed the exhibition around these three topics and these three main aspects to approach Xieyi itself. The first one is called 'yi', which translates as meaning. This focuses on the essence of the topic. The second one is form, which in Chinese is 'xing,' and it's quite similar to meaning, but from a different approach. They are focusing on the form itself that they see, but they are not aiming at mirroring reality. The third one is called 'interest,' or in Chinese called 'qu.' And in this last part, I would say that it's a combination of the first two," said FegyvAri-Komori.
One standout piece is a sculpture that blends mythology and modern art, depicting Lao Tzu departing from the Qin Empire (221 BC to 207 BC), carrying the wisdom that shaped Taoist thought with him. The ox-head panther he rides symbolizes mysticism and the spiritual journey, adding another mythical dimension to the work.
"It expresses Xieyi very well, but at the same time, it also expresses a little bit of Western modern art, abstract art," said FegyvAri-Komori.
For many visitors, the exhibition is a chance to experience the dynamic evolution of Chinese art.
"My father had several books about Chinese art, about porcelains, ceramics, and paintings. It always struck me how different it is from our European tradition. There's a subtlety and sensitivity in it. The way they express emotions feels so unique and profound," said Daniel, a visitor.
The exhibition, part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China, celebrates cultural exchange and shared appreciation for art and culture.
Contemporary Chinese art expo held in Hungary helps cultivate ties between east and west
