This silted base, the edge of the North China Plain, was built up over time by the sand carried downstream through the mountains by the Yongding River in the west and the Chaobai River in the east.

But it’s always changing. This is especially true on the North China Plain. From imperial times to the Maoist period to the recent reform phase, humans have tried to control the environment.

The North China Plain will enhance irrigation reliability, while the middle and lower Yangtze regions will modernize infield facilities and strengthen drought, flood and waterlogging management.