Chongqing - From the banks of the Yangtze River in Fuling, Chongqing, a 91-meter-long elevator descends 40 meters below the water's surface. After traversing a 138-meter corridor, visitors encounter Baiheliang - a cultural gem that preserves over a thousand years of hydrological history. Hailed as the world's first ancient hydrological station, it features 165 inscriptions dating back to the Tang Dynasty, capturing centuries of water-level data and cultural significance.
Original appearance of the Baiheliang inscriptions. (Photo/Fuling District)
Once at risk of permanent submersion due to the Three Gorges Dam project, how did Baiheliang achieve such an improbable revival? What innovative technologies made this possible?
The survival of these ancient inscriptions owes much to the dedication of Jiang Rui, Director of the Baiheliang Underwater Museum. A military veteran who transitioned into cultural preservation, Jiang has devoted the past thirty years to protecting and promoting this heritage site. Under his care, Baiheliang has not only been saved but revitalized - making millennia-old secrets accessible to the world.
Preserving the Inscriptions Underwater
Baiheliang is a living testament to the Yangtze River civilization. Its unique method of "recording water levels with fish carvings" documents low-water data across 72 different years. The site comprises 165 inscriptions with over 11,000 characters, alongside 18 stone fish carvings, forming a rich artistic and historical tapestry.
Conservation area of the Baiheliang underwater heritage site. (Photo/The Interviewee)
The construction of the Three Gorges Dam threatened to submerge Baiheliang forever. Burying it in sediment would conceal it from view, while relocating it risked damaging its authenticity. The solution emerged from the "pressure-free container" concept proposed by Ge Xiurun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Approved in 2003, the plan involved building a protective structure over the original site, using a water circulation system to balance pressure and minimize erosion.
Jiang Rui, Director of the Baiheliang Underwater Museum. (Photo/Tian Haoying)
Jiang Rui, who began coordinating the project in 2004, recalls the challenges: "Before the sloped corridor was completed, we had to climb up and down scaffolding - sometimes eleven times a day." By 2009, the Baiheliang Underwater Museum was completed, allowing the inscriptions to remain intact in their original aquatic environment.
Maintaining Visibility Through Innovation
As the world's first underwater museum accessible without diving, Baiheliang soon faced new challenges - particularly algae growth that obscured the inscriptions. The museum responded by implementing a rigorous water purification process.
Panoramic view of the Baiheliang underwater heritage site. (Photo/The Interviewee)
"Every three months, professional divers clean the inscriptions," Jiang explained. "They wear thermal suits under their gear due to the cold water and use specialized equipment to remove sediment and biofilm." Each dive is limited to one hour per day to ensure safety, with advanced lighting systems further inhibiting algae growth.
"The water inside the enclosure now has lower turbidity than drinkable mineral water," Jiang noted. The preservation efforts combine expertise from hydrology, materials science, and archaeology, ensuring the relics remain protected yet accessible.
Technology Bringing Heritage to Life
Today, visitors can admire Baiheliang's clear inscriptions deep beneath the river. Soon, VR and AR technologies will enable virtual "walks" among the carvings and even recreate historical hydrological ceremonies. The museum also plans to use big data to tailor visitor experiences, shifting from static displays to dynamic interactions.
Baiheliang is also expanding its reach through collaborations like the Yangtze National Cultural Park and Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor. Themed exhibitions, research initiatives, and cultural performances will integrate heritage with science and ecology, creating an immersive "industry-academia-research-tourism" model.
Jiang Rui is explaining the preservation of the Baiheliang inscriptions during an exchange event. (Photo/WCICO)
Internationally, Baiheliang is pursuing joint World Heritage status with Egypt’s Nilometer of Rhoda Island, fostering cross-cultural dialogue in hydrological heritage preservation. Jiang Rui envisions a future where technology and tradition coexist: “Cultural relics are not static artifacts - they are living narratives. Through innovation and cooperation, we can ensure Baiheliang’s story continues for generations to come.”