In the Kumarak River Grand Canyon of Xinjiang's Aksu region, a dam rises 247 meters high. It is part of the Dashixia Water Control Project, which integrates flood-control, irrigation, power generation, and ecological management. Yu Yang has more. 

The Dashixia Water Control Project sits at the confluence of Wensu and Wushi counties in the Kumarak River Grand Canyon. The dam reaches a maximum height of 247 meters, equivalent to an 80-story building, with a total fill volume of 18.9 million cubic meters, enough to fill 7,560 standard swimming pools. 

The reservoir has a total capacity of around 1.2 billion cubic meters, comparable to the water volume of 80 West Lakes. Its power plant boasts an installed capacity of 750,000 kilowatts and generates nearly 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours annually. Once operational, it will serve as the "voltage stabilizer" for the southern Xinjiang power grid. 

HUANG JIN Xinjiang Dashixia Water Conservancy Construction Management Co., Ltd "There are many positive effects of the Dashixia water control project. Firstly, throughout the construction, water storage, and operations of the dam, we will ensure an ecological water supply of 3.4 billion cubic meters annually. Secondly, once this dam is completed, the flood-control level in the Aksu River Basin will change from a once-in-a-ten-year occurrence to the worst in 50 years occurrence. The third point is the upgrade of irrigation. The fourth point is about clean energy generation; this dam has a capacity of around 1.2 billion cubic meters, with an annual designed electricity generation of 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours. Lastly, regarding employment, over the past six years, the local hiring of our ethnic colleagues has increased from less than 2% at the beginning to now over 40%."

After the Dashixia Water Control Project is fully operational and generating electricity, the annual average power generation will be 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours. This can save 600,000 tons of standard coal each year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.4 million tons, roughly equivalent to planting 124 million trees. 

From "water poured by sweat" to "intelligent empowerment", the construction overcame complex challenges, including difficult terrain, geology, climate, and environmental conditions. Innovative technologies, such as a comprehensive integrated intelligent monitoring system, were also employed. 

WANG FENGBIN Deputy Chief Engineer, China Gezhouba Group Co. Ltd. (CGGC) "During the construction process, we hope to carry out all stages, all elements, all aspects, and all life cycles comprehensively. In terms of intelligent management and control, we started using BIM modeling from the beginning. BIM modeling is a large data pool of all the characteristics of our engineering project. Additionally, through the establishment of a cloud platform management system, we are committed to intelligent management and control throughout the entire process, along with an automatic meteorological, water condition and air quality monitoring system, and a seismic network."

Additionally, to protect local fish populations, the project has implemented fish conservation measures with a total investment of 65 million yuan. This year, 92,000 fry were released into the Kumarak River to improve the aquatic ecosystem and enhance species diversity. 

After the Dashixia Water Control Project is completed, it will supply just over 3.4 billion cubic meters of ecological water annually to the Tarim River, improving the basin's environment. This region will no longer be a resource-scarce wasteland, but an oasis where all life can thrive.