Ensuring the Flow of Survival

确保生命之流不息

On the precipitous cliffs, there are several canals that provide water for nearby farmlands in Shengji town, Bijie, Southwest China's Guizhou province. One of the daily tasks for canal maintenance team members is to clear leaves, branches and rocks.

在贵州省毕节市生吉镇陡峭的悬崖上，数条水渠蜿蜒其间，为附近的农田输送水源。清理落叶、树枝和石块是水渠维护队员的日常任务之一。

In the quaint town of Shengji, nestled along the banks of the Chishui River, a remarkable tale of resilience and ingenuity unfolds.

这座古朴的小镇坐落在赤水河畔，讲述着一个关于坚韧与智慧的非凡故事。

The town experiences an average annual rainfall of around 900 millimeters.

However, its rugged terrain, characterized by deep gullies, steep slopes and valleys, embodies a classic karst landscape, posing challenges for effective surface water retention.

生吉镇年均降雨量约900毫米，但其典型的喀斯特地貌——深沟、陡坡与山谷交织的崎岖地形——使得地表水难以留存。

Prior to the 1960s, drought in Shengji was a disaster for farmers. Harvests were ruined, and even having a full meal and access to clean water seemed impossible. The agonizing reality of "water becoming a resource as precious as oil" plagued the residents, pushing them to endure hardships beyond measure.

20世纪60年代之前，干旱对这里的农民而言是一场灾难。庄稼绝收，连饱餐一顿或喝上干净的水都成了奢望。“水如油贵”的残酷现实折磨着居民，迫使他们承受难以想象的艰辛。

In 1956, determined to break free from the shackles of severe water scarcity, the villagers made a resolute decision to alter their circumstances. They embarked on a mission to carve water channels into the sheer cliffs.

1956年，村民们决心摆脱极度缺水的困境，毅然决定改变命运。他们开始在悬崖绝壁上开凿水渠。

From the 1950s to the 1970s, with support of water conservancy departments, villagers tirelessly carved out 10 canals spanning more than 130 kilometers amid the rugged mountains and constructed eight reservoirs.

从20世纪50年代到70年代，在水利部门的支持下，村民们在崇山峻岭中凿出了总长超130公里的10条水渠，并修建了8座水库。

These channels continue to play a pivotal role in the community, ensuring a vital lifeline of water flows through the rugged terrain, sustaining the livelihoods of the inhabitants.

这些水渠至今仍是社区的生命线，确保宝贵的水流穿越险峻地形，维系着居民的生计。

Through sheer determination and unwavering resolve, the residents of Shengji have transformed their landscape, turning what was once a barren and arid land into a thriving oasis.

凭借坚定的决心与不懈的努力，生吉镇的居民重塑了这片土地，将曾经的贫瘠干旱之地变成了生机勃勃的绿洲。

来源：中国日报

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202406/01/WS665a8a8ca31082fc043ca598.html

发表时间：2024-06-01

检索：章程

翻译：高欣

一审：江文灿 张仲玉

二审：彭莉

三审：罗玲娟

上传发布：姜浩