How many reservoirs do you think Shenzhen has? Shenzhen has 183 reservoirs. We are standing at one of them: Qingnian Reservoir. It is a testament to Shenzhen’s growth and resilience.
Qingnian Reservoir is in Luohu District. It is the largest man-made lake in Shenzhen. The reservoir is a vital part of Shenzhen’s water supply network. It is a first-grade water source protection area.
Construction on Shenzhen Reservoir finished in March 1965. It was built for irrigation and drinking water. The reservoir’s drainage basin covers about 65 square kilometers. This area includes urban and forested land in Guangdong province.
The reservoir borders Donghu Park and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. It drains the western slope of Mount Wutong. Shenzhen Reservoir discharges into Sham Chun River. This river forms the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. It also drains into the Sha Tau Kok River.
Post-war Hong Kong saw rapid growth. Population and industrialization increased the demand for water. Improving housing conditions created a need for more piped water. The colonial government maximized local resources. However, continued shortages forced them to explore a new water source. That source was Shenzhen Reservoir.
In November 1959, Guangdong authorities invited 300 guests from Hong Kong. They attended the opening ceremony for Shum Chun Reservoir, now known as Shenzhen Reservoir. The project had been approved just a few months earlier. Cao Ruoming managed the Shenzhen Reservoir Project. The reservoir was planned to provide water for Hong Kong. Its capacity was 45.77 million cubic meters. That was enough to supply a city of three million people for seven months.
At the time of the reservoir’s construction, China faced famine. This resulted from the policies of the Great Leap Forward. Water conservation became a priority. The decision was made to construct ten major reservoirs. Shenzhen Reservoir was one of them.
The aim of Shenzhen Reservoir was to irrigate farmland and generate electricity. It would also supply residents of the Po On district. But there was always a desire to supply water to Hong Kong.
The reservoir site is 3.8km north of Hong Kong. It sits in hills with a catchment area of 60.5 hectares. The dam is 30m high and nearly 1000m long. Its total volume is around 1.8 million m3. A second dam was constructed on the west side.
The reservoir’s storage capacity is 45.77 million m3. This was twice that of Tai Lam Chung.
In January 1960, Guangdong officials offered to supply water to Hong Kong. This presented a dilemma for Hong Kong officials. The territory was suffering an acute water shortage. However, Governor Black did not want to depend on the Mainland supply. He agreed to negotiations.
To minimize political risk, the Hong Kong Government took mitigation measures. They ensured a formal agreement with competitive supply rates. This avoided the appearance of charity. The agreement was not signed by high-ranking officials. It recognized the need was only in times of need.
More than 10,000 migrant workers built the dam. They used hoes, shovels, picks, and hand carts. The workforce increased to 40,000. They also used 5,000 carts and a few tractors. By February 1960, the dam was over 20m high. It was completed in March, ahead of schedule. The dam became known as the “100 days dam.”
In early June 1960, Typhoon Mary brought torrential rain. The storm filled the reservoir overnight. The army stood ready to blow up a temporary dam. This would release water and protect the main dam. However, the storm eased just in time.
A pipeline was built to the Hong Kong boundary. Sourcing steel was difficult. A delegation went to Beijing to secure the needed steel.
In November 1960, a formal agreement was signed. It provided for the supply of 5,000 million gallons of water. The Hong Kong delegation consisted of D C Barty and H R Forsyth. Tsao Jo-ming signed for the Guangdong authorities. The agreement was signed at Shum Chun railway station.
The Shenzhen Reservoir secured Hong Kong’s dry season water supply. In 1963, the drought meant a new water source was needed. Thus was born the East River Scheme.
Today, Shenzhen Reservoir remains open to the public. You can visit from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm every day. It is a popular recreation area for hiking and tourism. Nearby attractions include Donghu Park and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. You can take bus No. 3, 17, 23, 29, 211, 308, 320, or 351 to Shuiku Bus Stop.