Yellow River: Mother River in China

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In today's edition of China On The Move, we look at the Yellow River, called the Mother River in China because it nurtured Chinese civilization.

Our reporter finds out what people today are doing with its water as she travels through the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China.

This picture may best represent the Yellow River. Stretching over 54-hundred kilometers, it’s one of China's most significant sources of water.

For generations, farmers have depended on the river for their livelihood. While they may not see it as magnificent, they know well its importance.

He Hongju knew as a child that the River means everything. He recalls days when there was all the water needed. That's no longer the case.

He Hongju, Farmer of Wu Zhong, Ningxia, said, "When the water isn't plentiful, I adjust my farming structure, say, grow things that need less water. And sometimes I negotiate with water management workers to irrigate my land by turns."

He Hongju’s experience illustrates the region’s changing water strategy.

Wu Hongxiang, Director of Water Resources Burear, Ningxia, said, "The economic and social development in Ningxia over the past sixty years can be seen as parallel to the development of water resources. It is divided into to phases. The first is the thirty years before the opening reform. We focused on utilizing water to ensure grain security and expand irrigation areas. The second is the thirty years after that. We focused on water conservation to try to solve the problem of water shortage."