Highlights of ancient architecture in Tai'an

4. Daicun Dam

Daicun Dam, built in the Yongle reign (1403-24) of the Ming Dynasty, was a major water conservation project in Chinese history. The dam, which is more than 1,600 meters long, is located at the confluence of the Dawen and Daqing rivers.

Dubbed "the heart of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal", the dam is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is second only to Mount Tai as a world heritage attraction in Tai'an.

The dam comprises three independent but complementary dams made of different materials: rocks, earth and stones, and concrete. With different heights, the three dams can ensure a steady supply of water at ordinary times and discharge floodwaters to protect themselves from being destroyed when the area is stricken by floods.

Location: Nanchengzi village, Pengji town, Dongping, Tai'an, Shandong

Opening hour: 9 am-5 pm

Ticket price: 30 yuan

Daicun Dam. [Photo by Xu Hongsheng/WeChat account: SDTXTA]