Chinese Construction - Methods and Materials

33. Drainage Ditch in Chengdu, Sichuan

The city of Chengdu is constructing the Circle Road (Yi Wan Lu) around the city. Part of that construction is a drainage ditch along side the road. The ditch is 10 feet deep and about 12 miles long. It was dug entirely by hand and the dirt removed by laborers. The four-foot concrete pipes will then be laid in the ditch. We had to cross over this ditch each day on a narrow plank. The sloping planks are for the men to climb when removing the dirt. The time Paul had to be taken to the emergency hospital the car had to navigate across this ditch.