Water being diverted into new area wetland

SHIJIAZHUANG - Two large reservoirs in Baoding, Hebei province, have begun to supply water to Baiyangdian, a freshwater wetland in the planned Xiongan New Area, which was announced on April 1.

Water from the two reservoirs - Wang Kuai and Xidayang - started flowing to Baiyangdian on April 5. The diversion will continue until June 5, the water conservancy bureau of Baoding said on Monday.

When the diversion is concluded, Baiyangdian will have received more than 33 million cubic meters of water, raising its level by 11 centimeters.

Water from the reservoirs was directed through four counties, running 160 kilometers before reaching Baiyangdian early on Monday morning. It will improve the water quality and ecosystem of Baiyangdian and boost water resources for the construction of the new area, according to the bureau.

Xiongan New Area is envisioned as a sprawling economic zone 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. The new area spans the counties of Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin in Hebei and is home to Baiyangdian.

Dubbed the Pearl of North China, Baiyangdian is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the northern region and is essential to storing water for the North China Plain.