Interestingly named “Sea River”, the Haihe Marsh awaits. Today, we will uncover the story of this vital waterway. The Haihe River connects Beijing to Tianjin and the Bohai Sea. Did you know it’s also known as the Peiho or White River?
Its history stretches back to the Song Dynasty. Back then, the main stream was called the lower section of the Jie River. Later, during the Jin and Yuan dynasties, it was renamed Zhigou River and Dagou River. The name Haihe River finally appeared near the end of the Ming dynasty.
The Haihe River we see at Tianjin is formed by the meeting of five watercourses. There is the Southern Canal, the Ziya River, the Daqing River, the Yongding River and the Northern Canal. The southern and northern canals are parts of the Grand Canal. The Southern Canal meets the Wei River at Linqing. The Northern Canal joins the Bai He at Tongzhou. Interestingly, the Northern Canal, sharing a channel with the Bai He, is the only waterway from the sea to Beijing. This is why early Westerners also called the Hai He the Bai He.
Through the Grand Canal at Tianjin, the Haihe connects with the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. The construction of the Grand Canal significantly changed the rivers of the Hai He basin. Before its construction, the Wei, Ziya, Yongding and Bai Rivers flowed separately into the sea. The Grand Canal cut through the lower reaches of these rivers and fused them into a single outlet. This created the current Haihe.
The Haihe River stretches 1,329 kilometers. This measurement is taken from the longest tributary. However, the Haihe River itself is only about 70 kilometers from Tianjin to its estuary. Its basin covers an area of approximately 319,000 square kilometers.
The Haihe River has seen its share of conflict. In 1858, Anglo-French forces invaded the Peiho during the Second Opium War. They captured the Taku Forts. During the Boxer Rebellion, Imperial Chinese forces used “electric mines” on the Baihe River. This was to prevent the Eight-Nation Alliance from sending ships to attack.
Like the Yellow River, the Haihe is very muddy. This is because of the powdery soil it flows through. The silt carried by the water deposits in the lower reaches. This sometimes causes flooding. The waters from the five major tributaries have only one shallow outlet to the sea. This makes floods even more intense. Beijing and Tianjin both lie in the Hai He Basin. Therefore, Hai He floods cause significant damage. To reduce flooding, reservoirs have been built. Artificial channels divert excess water directly into the sea. For instance, the Chaobai River is diverted to the Chaobai Xin River. It no longer joins the Northern Canal.
Sadly, industrial and urban development in the Hai He Basin has decreased the volume of water flow. Many smaller tributaries and some major ones are dry for most of the year. Reduced water flow worsens water pollution. The South-North Water Transfer Project aims to alleviate the water shortage in the Hai He basin. The Haihe River flows through the Haihe Plain. This plain is located in the north of the North China Plain. It is bordered by mountains and the Bohai Sea. The Haihe Plain spans approximately 120,000 square kilometers. Many important Chinese cities lie on it including Beijing and Tianjin. The Haihe Plain is the main food grain region of North China.
So, as we stand here, remember the rich history and vital role of the Haihe Marsh. It is a testament to China’s historical, agricultural and ecological importance. Its story of adaptation and resilience continues to unfold.