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Along the Yangtze River, China

November 5, 2009

We drove three hours south of Beijing to see part of a water transfers project that moves water from the Yangtze River to the growing city of Tianjin (12 million people). In a meeting, regional water officials explained that residents are already water efficient (more so than most U.S. cities) but more innovation and conservation is needed.  All very interesting, but I was also impressed by the map they used to brief us as we stood on the river's edge. Instead of some big clumsy poster board or a small piece of paper that is hard to see, their map is printed on a large silk scarf that can be easily folded for storage and opened to point out the region's water features. Because people have to hold the edges, it also keeps them more engaged in the conversation. Very nice.   A couple of other notes: The structure shown here that is made of bamboo and metal pipes is intended to stop large chunks of ice or trash from entering the pumps in the winter. The arched structure that several of us are standing in front of contains a Chinese prayer for abundant water. And finally, who doesn't enjoy a meeting more when there are bowls of fresh fruit to enjoy?