On January 3rd, with the successful removal of the final section of rock mass, the second phase of the North Hubei Project, organized and implemented by the North Hubei Company, reached a major milestone. Following the smooth breakthrough of the Laowuchong Tunnel on December 31st, the Xiejiawan Tunnel was subsequently completed. The breakthrough of these two tunnels in quick succession, a «double bang» across the New Year, marks a successful start to the year and presses the «accelerator key» for the final push towards the goal of full water conveyance.

The Xiejiawan Tunnel is approximately 1,426 meters long, and the Laowuchong Tunnel is about 700 meters long. Both are critical control points for the water diversion and transfer line in the Xiaochang section of the North Hubei Phase II project. Since the project’s commencement, facing technical challenges such as poor geological conditions and fractured surrounding rock, the project organization led all participating parties in conducting specialized demonstrations and innovatively implemented a «one tunnel, one strategy»攻坚 plan.

The construction of the two major tunnels each presented distinct difficulties, which the project addressed with precise measures. The Xiejiawan Tunnel experienced significant variations in surrounding rock categories and intermittent fracturing, increasing blasting difficulty. The project held technical seminars, invited experts for guidance, dynamically optimized blasting parameters to improve the residual borehole rate, and adhered to the principle of «short advance, frequent support» to ensure construction safety. The Laowuchong Tunnel was water-rich with relatively severe seepage. The construction team strengthened safety monitoring, closely watched for surrounding rock deformation, and rationally set up drainage ditches and sump pits to pump out accumulated water, ensuring both construction progress and passage were unimpeded.

In construction organization and management, the project department implemented a combined model of «chart-based operations» and «list management,» establishing a mechanism of «daily scheduling, weekly reporting, and monthly assessment.» By regularly holding blasting专题 meetings to analyze surrounding rock changes, they achieved an «acceleration» of an average daily advance of 6 meters. The project also established «dual supervision» and «dual shift» mechanisms to achieve closed-loop management of construction safety and engineering quality.

Furthermore, the project persisted in empowering progress through technological innovation. It applied for a patent for «A Support Structure for Ductile Iron Pipe Construction,» carried out QC group activities, and two achievements won Class I and Class III excellence awards respectively in the 2025 China Water Resources and Hydropower Survey and Design Industry Quality Management Group Activity Results Competition.

Upon completion, the Xiaochang section of the North Hubei Phase II project is expected to supply an average of 24 million cubic meters of water annually, benefiting over 300,000 people in Xiaochang County. The next step involves全力 advancing the subsequent tunnel lining work to accelerate the realization of the blueprint for «a canal of clear water nourishing North Hubei.»

Xiejiawan Tunnel

Breakthrough of the Xiejiawan Tunnel

Laowuchong Tunnel

North Hubei Project

The «North Hubei Project» is not a widely recognized historical place or cultural site. It most likely refers to a modern regional development or water management initiative in northern Hubei Province, China, possibly related to irrigation or flood control. Without more specific context, its detailed history and cultural significance cannot be reliably summarized.

North Hubei Phase II project

Based on the name provided, the «North Hubei Phase II project» does not refer to a recognized historical place, cultural site, or tourist destination. It is most likely an identifier for a modern industrial, infrastructure, or development project, such as a power plant, water conservation system, or industrial park in Hubei Province, China. Without more specific context, a historical or cultural summary is not possible.

Xiejiawan Tunnel

The Xiejiawan Tunnel is a major traffic artery in Chongqing, China, constructed to alleviate the city’s notorious congestion. It was built in the early 21st century as part of the city’s massive infrastructure development to navigate its challenging mountainous terrain. Today, it stands as a key example of modern engineering enabling urban mobility in one of China’s most densely populated metropolitan areas.

Laowuchong Tunnel

Laowuchong Tunnel is a railway tunnel located in Hunan Province, China, constructed as part of the Jiaoliu Railway line. It was built in the 1970s, a period of significant railway expansion in China, to improve transportation through the mountainous terrain of the region. The tunnel remains an important part of the railway infrastructure, facilitating travel and freight movement in central China.

Xiaochang section

The Xiaochang section is a segment of the ancient **Qin Dynasty Straight Road (Zhidao)**, a major transportation and military infrastructure project built under the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 220 BCE. Located in today’s Shaanxi Province, it served as a strategic highway connecting the capital with northern frontiers, and its remains showcase early Chinese engineering for rapid troop movement and imperial control.

China Water Resources and Hydropower Survey and Design Industry

The China Water Resources and Hydropower Survey and Design Industry is not a single cultural site, but a comprehensive national engineering and technical sector. It originated in the mid-20th century, playing a foundational role in China’s modernization by planning, surveying, and designing major water conservancy projects and hydropower stations like the Three Gorges Dam. This industry has been crucial for flood control, power generation, and water resource management throughout China’s development.

Xiaochang County

Xiaochang County is a county in Hubei Province, China, with a history dating back over a thousand years. It is historically significant as part of the revolutionary base area during the Chinese Communist Revolution. Today, it is primarily known as an agricultural region and for local cultural heritage sites like the Guanyin Lake.

North Hubei

North Hubei, often referring to the area around Xiangyang and the Han River valley, is a historically significant region in central China. It served as a crucial strategic and cultural crossroads for centuries, famously defended during the Three Kingdoms period (c. 220-280 AD). The area is also known for its connection to ancient Chu culture and as a key transportation and military gateway between northern and southern China.