Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Dujiangyan, day trip, China
Dujiangyan shows how an ancient water-management scheme continues to shape the Chengdu plain. The system divides and channels the Minjiang River, using the landscape to manage irrigation, sediment and floodwater. Seeing the main structures is more rewarding when you understand how they work, so allow time for interpretation rather than only the viewpoints. Treat this as a day trip from central Chengdu and plan onward transport before adding another major stop.