Middle route of China's mega water diversion project hits new service milestone

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2026 shows an aqueduct along the trunk canal of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in Nanyang, central China's Henan Province. The middle route of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project has delivered more than 80 billion cubic meters of water as of Friday, benefiting nearly 118 million residents in 27 cities, the project operator announced. The mega water transfer project, the largest of its kind globally, channels water over long distances from the country's water-rich south to its northern regions, where hundreds of millions once endured "absolute water scarcity" as defined by United Nations standards. [Photo/Xinhua]