Here at Ejing Reservoir, water meets history. This reservoir is more than just a pretty view. It is a vital part of Shenzhen’s story.
Shenzhen Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in Shenzhen. It is located in Luohu District. The reservoir is a key part of Shenzhen’s water supply network. Its drainage basin covers about 65 square kilometers of urban and forested land.
Built in March 1965, the Shenzhen Reservoir has served two crucial purposes. It provides irrigation and drinking water. The reservoir borders Donghu Park and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. It drains the western slope of Mount Wutong. The Shenzhen Reservoir discharges into the Sham Chun River. This river forms the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China.
In 1959, Guangdong authorities invited guests from Hong Kong to the opening ceremony. The Shenzhen Reservoir project was approved in August 1959. Work began immediately under Cao Ruoming. The reservoir was planned to supply water to Hong Kong. Its capacity is 45.77 million cubic meters. This could supply a city of three million people for seven months.
At the time of the Shenzhen Reservoir construction, China faced famine. Water conservation became a priority. Ten major reservoirs were constructed in the area. Zhou Enlai helped secure key materials for the Shenzhen Reservoir. The reservoir was designed to irrigate farmland. It was also intended to generate electricity. Plus, it would supply residents of the Po On district. Supplying water to Hong Kong was always a goal.
The Shenzhen Reservoir sits 3.8km north of Hong Kong. It is in hills with a catchment 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 built to close a low col.
Its storage capacity of 45.77 million m3 was twice that of Tai Lam Chung. Tai Lam Chung was the largest reservoir in Hong Kong then. A spillway was constructed to prevent overtopping. Villages in the valley were relocated for construction.
In January 1960, Guangdong officials offered to supply water to Hong Kong. Hong Kong faced an acute water shortage. Governor Black hesitated to depend on the Mainland supply. Negotiations led to an agreement. This would address the short-term need. The Plover Cover Scheme would address the long-term need.
To minimize political risks, Hong Kong adopted mitigation measures. These included a formal agreement. Competitive supply rates avoided it looking like charity. The agreement was published. It was not signed by high-ranking officials. It recognized the need was only in times of need. There was no reference to enlarging future supply. Water would be supplied to the entire distribution network.
More than 10,000 migrant workers built the Shenzhen Reservoir. They used hoes, shovels, picks, and hand carts. The workforce increased to 40,000. The initial daily quota was 1m3. It increased to 5m3. Some workers slept in mat sheds and worked long hours.
In February 1960, the dam was over 20m high. It was completed by March 4th. The dam became known as the “100 days dam”. Guests from Hong Kong celebrated the completed works. Typhoon Mary brought torrential rain in June 1960. The storm filled the reservoir overnight. The army prepared to blow up a temporary dam. The storm eased and water levels subsided just in time.
A pipeline was built to the Hong Kong boundary. Steel was secured from Beijing for the 3.8km pipeline. The Waterworks Office built a pumping station. Water was pumped through a 1.2m diameter steel main. This went to a Tai Lam Reservoir catchwater over 16km.
The agreement was signed on November 15, 1960. It provided for the supply of 5,000 million gallons. The rate was HK$0.234 per thousand gallons. The agreement was signed at Shum Chun railway station. Celebrations included Chinese operas and a banquet. Water was discharged into the Shum Chun River. Hong Kong pumped the water out. It was transferred to the Tai Lam reservoir.
Tao Zhu, the initiator, was later tortured to death. Cao Ruoming was transferred to the central government. He died in the early days of the Cultural Revolution.
The Shenzhen Reservoir is open to the public from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm every day. It is a popular recreation area. People enjoy hiking and tourism here. Nearby attractions include Donghu Park and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden.