The Red Flag Canal (红旗渠), situated in Linzhou City, Henan Province, China, is hailed as the “Artificial Milky Way” for its remarkable feat accomplished under exceedingly challenging conditions in the 1960s by the people of Lin County (now Linzhou City). The project involved diverting water from the Zhang River into Linzhou for irrigation purposes.
Construction of the Red Flag Canal project commenced in February 1960 and was completed in July 1969, spanning nearly a decade. Throughout the endeavor, 1,250 hills were leveled, 151 aqueducts were constructed, 211 tunnels were excavated, and 12,408 buildings were erected. A staggering 22.25 million cubic meters of earth and stone were excavated and used in the construction. The main canal of the Red Flag Canal spans 70.6 kilometers from Shicheng Town in Shanxi to Rencun Town in Henan, with branch canals extending throughout the townships of Linzhou City. This monumental project, with a total length of 1,500 kilometers, involving nearly 100,000 participants, and spanning almost a decade, is considered a “Miracle of New China” and is acclaimed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Linzhou, located at the border of Henan and Shanxi provinces, historically suffered from severe drought and water scarcity. Records indicate that from the first year of the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengtong era (1436) to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Lin County experienced over 100 natural disasters and more than 30 instances of total crop failure due to drought. At times, drought persisted for consecutive years, leaving wells dry and crops unharvested. Historical records and folklore attest to the severity of drought, with instances of cannibalism occurring five times over the span of 514 years. The completion of the Red Flag Canal profoundly transformed the harsh living conditions endured by the people of Linzhou, resolving water scarcity issues for 567,000 people and 370,000 livestock, irrigating 540,000 mu (approximately 36,000 hectares) of farmland. Crop yields increased dramatically from 100 kilograms per mu before the canal’s construction to 476.3 kilograms per mu in 1991.
The Red Flag Canal Scenic Area comprises two main attractions: the Red Flag Canal Memorial Hall and the Youth Cave. The Red Flag Canal Memorial Hall is a thematic museum that comprehensively depicts the history of the canal’s construction. It serves as a comprehensive scenic area that collects, researches, displays, and promotes the spirit and culture of the Red Flag Canal. The Youth Cave, known as the “throat” of the Red Flag Canal project, is a 600-meter-long tunnel that pierces through Langya Mountain. The quartz sandstone within the mountain is as hard as steel, leaving only spots when struck with a hammer. Nonetheless, it took the workers just over a year to complete the excavation. Named the Youth Cave because the tunneling team comprised outstanding young workers selected from across the county, it stands as a testament to their dedication and resilience.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | A day |
| Ticket Price | 80 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 17.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0372-6811466 |
Location and Transportation
The Red Flag Canal is located near the G234 Expressway in Linzhou City, Anyang City, Henan Province, China. Visitors can reach the area by taking a train to the Red Flag Canal Railway Station (红旗渠火车站) and then transferring to the scenic area shuttle bus or taking a taxi to cover the remaining 10 kilometers.