Historic Red Flag Canal in China Vying for UNESCO World Heritage Listing

The 932-mile-long Red Flag Canal was dug out of the steep rock crags of central Chin’s Taihang Mountains more than 50 years ago to bring water to the drought-ridden Linzhou city in the Henan province. 

The canal diverts water from the Zhang River (which flows from Shanxi), where it winds around cliffs, through tunnels, and to Linzhou. 

It was dug without any heavy machinery, largely by hand, and completed in 1965. 

The canal was a major achievement for China in the 1960s, and several movies highlighted its creation. 

Officials are now applying to have the main stretch of the historic canal (which is about 44 miles long) added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.