Hidden amidst the Luohu District’s landscape lies the Dakeng Reservoir. It’s a place of quiet significance, a supporting character in the bustling story of Shenzhen. Dakeng Reservoir isn’t as famous as its larger sibling, the Shenzhen Reservoir. But its role in the city’s history is no less crucial. Our story begins not with grandeur, but with necessity. Post-war Hong Kong faced a critical water shortage. The burgeoning population and rapid industrialization strained existing resources. The solution, surprisingly, came from across the border.
The Dakeng Reservoir emerged as a quiet hero in Hong Kong’s struggle for water security. In the late 1950s, China proposed supplying water to its neighbor. This offer came at a politically sensitive time. The British Hong Kong government was hesitant to rely on the mainland. However, the need for water outweighed political concerns. Negotiations began, leading to a landmark agreement. This agreement stipulated the supply of water from the Dakeng Reservoir. This was a temporary measure, a bridge to a more self-sufficient future. Hong Kong planned to develop local resources. But the Dakeng Reservoir offered a much-needed reprieve.
The construction of the Dakeng Reservoir itself is a tale of human endeavor. Thousands of workers toiled tirelessly, moving earth with simple tools. They raced against the clock, aiming to complete the dam before the rainy season. Imagine the scene: a valley teeming with activity, the constant movement of earth, the rhythmic clang of tools. Among these workers were the “flying girls.” These young women maneuvered heavy carts down the dam’s slopes. The carts, often heavier than the girls themselves, would lift them off their feet, giving them the appearance of flying. The dam, a testament to their hard work, was completed in just 100 days.
The story of the Dakeng Reservoir doesn’t end with its construction. The 1960 typhoon, Mary, brought torrential rains. The reservoir filled rapidly, threatening to overtop the still-incomplete spillway. Disaster was averted, but the incident highlighted the precarious balance between human ingenuity and the power of nature. Water from Dakeng Reservoir started flowing to Hong Kong through a dedicated pipeline in December 1960. This marked a period of cooperation between two entities with complex political relations. Dakeng Reservoir became a symbol of shared resources and mutual benefit. This agreement laid the groundwork for future collaborations, notably the Dongjiang Water Supply Scheme. The Dakeng Reservoir remains a vital resource, a quiet reminder of a time when cooperation quenched a city’s thirst. It stands as a testament to the power of resourcefulness and the enduring importance of water.