The Huoquan Spring Irrigation Structure, located in Hongtong county, Linfen city, is the first World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) in Shanxi province, and China's first heritage site characterized by spring-fed irrigation.

Also known as the Guangsheng Temple Spring, Huoquan Spring is situated on the southern side of Huoshan Mountain and is a karst spring formed around 2.5 million years ago. It has served as a water source for early inhabitants of this region and has been in use for 1,400 years since the Yangshao culture period (5000 to 3000 BC).

A panoramic view of the Huoquan Spring: crystal-clear water can be seen gushing from the spring outlets. [Photo/Linfen Daily]

Huoquan Spring boasts a total of 108 spring outlets, with the water temperature maintained between 13.5 C and 14 C, and a stable water flow. Currently, it irrigates 101,000 mu (about 67,333 hectares) of farmland across more than 100 administrative villages in five townships of Hongtong county.

It also provides domestic water for over 200,000 residents, supports industrial water needs, and supplies ecological water replenishment. The project has preserved the ancient Huoquan Spring regulation water rights system, an important legacy of traditional water management practices.

A view of Huoquan Spring. [Photo/Linfen Daily]

In November 2023, the Huoquan Spring Irrigation Structure was inscribed on the WHIS list. The region has advanced the digitization and intelligent management of irrigation systems, promoted water-saving irrigation practices, and tapped into the historical value of hydraulic heritage. These efforts contribute to bolster ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.