Daicun Dam in Dongping county, Tai'an. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Located in Dongping county, Tai'an, Daicun Dam, a masterpiece of water conservancy engineering in ancient China, was built in the ninth year of the Yongle period during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

This engineering marvel, located in Dongping county of Tai'an, enjoys a history of 600 years and has played a vital role in diverting water from the Wenhe river to facilitate transportation on various waterways in history. 

It now ranks as a UNESCO-listed World Cultural Heritage site, a national water conservancy scenic area, the only national water resources education base, a popular science education base, and an environmental education base in Shandong province. 

There is also a Daicun Dam Museum showcasing the long history and outstanding design of the dam through various forms such as artifacts, models, and pictures showing how modern technology could potentially improve the dam's functionality.

The museum houses more than 3,000 cultural relics, including key construction tools used in the industry.

Various ecological restoration projects linked to the dam are now underway in the Mount Tai area. Local authorities also plan to build a leisure resort integrating ecological science education, leisure and entertainment, and academic research to further capitalize on this combination of cultural heritage and natural ecology.

An exhibit at the Daicun Dam Museum shows an artist's impression of the dam's construction during the Ming Dynasty. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]