Ningbo's ancient Tashan Weir wins hearts of global youth

International youth visit the Ningbo Museum of World Heritage Irrigation Structures. [Photo/Yongpai App]

Nearly 90 young people from more than 10 countries, including the Netherlands, Russia, France, and South Korea, visited Tashan Weir in Yinjiang town, Ningbo, on Oct 20 to explore China's ancient water management wisdom.

The visitors toured the approximately 1,200-year-old hydraulic project and the newly opened Ningbo Museum of World Heritage Irrigation Structures. They also tried making traditional Chinese snacks, experiencing local intangible cultural heritage firsthand.

Maria from Russia lingered for a long time in front of a display window at the museum. "I previously had no interest in things like water conservancy projects," she said excitedly, "but this is so high-tech and immersive — it's truly impressive. I've taken plenty of photos, and I plan to translate and look into them further when I get back."

The visit marked the third edition of "Hello Tashan", an international cultural exchange initiative launched to bring the ancient irrigation landmark and Tashan village to a global audience. The program combines immersive visits and cultural activities to help international guests discover China's traditional heritage.