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One River, Two Rivers Project

One River, Two Rivers Project is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand One River, Two Rivers Project rather than just read about it. In short: The One River, Two Rivers Project (Chinese: 一江两河工程), is the largest and most heavily invested comprehensive agricultural development initiative in Central Tibet, China. The project focuses on the central watershed of the Yarlung Tsangpo and its tributaries, the Lhasa River and the Nangchu River.

Key takeaways

  • One River, Two Rivers Project belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect One River, Two Rivers Project to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of One River, Two Rivers Project from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The One River, Two Rivers Project (Chinese: 一江两河工程), is the largest and most heavily invested comprehensive agricultural development initiative in Central Tibet, China. The project focuses on the central watershed of the Yarlung Tsangpo and its tributaries, the Lhasa River and the Nangchu River. Located on the southern Tibetan plateau, this area stretches from Lhatse County in the west to Sangri County in the east, spanning over 500 kilometers in length and 220 kilometers in width. The entire basin covers an area of 66,500 square kilometers, accounting for 5.41% of the total land area of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Geography The project encompasses 18 counties and municipalities, including Chengguan District, Dagzê, Lhasa, Lhünzhub County, Maizhokunggar County, Doilungdêqên, Lhasa, Qüxü County, and Nyêmo County counties in Lhasa; Gonggar, Zhanang, Qonggyai County, Naidong, and Sangri County counties in Shannan; and Shigatse, Gyantse, Bainang County, Lhatse County, Namling County, and Xaitongmoin County in Shigatse. The total population of nearly 800,000 represents one-third of the entire population of the Tibet Autonomous Region, with 93% being Tibetan and 6.6% Han Chinese.

Project The basin is located in the South Tibetan Valley (Chinese: 藏南谷地), at an altitude of 3,500 to 4,000 meters. The region experiences a plateau temperate semi-arid climate, characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons, mild temperatures, flat terrain, and a dense population. This area is Tibet's political, economic, scientific, and cultural hub, boasting rich resources in land, water, energy, minerals, and tourism. The basin includes 758,000 hectares of agricultural land, with 176,000 hectares of arable land, accounting for about 50% of the region's total arable land. The area also contains over 16,000 hectares of woodland, with a forest coverage rate of 2.4%, and 4,723,000 hectares of natural pasture, representing 8.8% of Tibet's total pasture area. The hydroelectric potential is immense, with 5,940,000 kilowatts of energy, and the region hosts 17 types of mineral resources with proven reserves. Additionally, the area is renowned for its unique cultural and natural landscapes. Due to its favorable geography, climate, and resources, this region has historically been a crucial food source for Tibet.

Construction In 1987, Tibet proposed developing the central basin of the One River, Two Rivers Project area, and by 1988, the project was recognized as a national key development zone. The State Council officially approved the comprehensive development plan in 1991, making it a significant national project during China's Eighth Five-Year Plan (1991–1995) and Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996–2000). The Central Basin Comprehensive Development Project includes initiatives in water conservancy, agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, science and technology, as well as industrial, energy, and transportation infrastructure. Additionally, nine reservoirs were built or reconstructed, with a total storage capacity of 47.56 million cubic meters, providing drinking water for 4,556 people and 11.73 million head of livestock. New and expanded trunk and branch canals totaling 1,336.4 kilometers increased the irrigated area by 26,000 hectares. The project also constructed new rapeseed and fodder processing plants, four county hydropower stations with a combined installed capacity of 4,700 kilowatts, and new or expanded agricultural extension stations and veterinary control stations. By 2000, grain production in the project area reached 25,800 tons, rapeseed output was 28,000 tons, meat production was 28,500 tons, milk production was 45,400 tons, vegetable output was 51,700 tons. From 2010 to the end of 2014, the "One River, Two Rivers" region successfully completed 86,800 hectares of sand control and desertification prevention efforts, with a total investment of 252 million yuan. The project resulted in the addition of 20,800 hectares of new forestland and 51,200 hectares of new grassland in previously desertified areas.

See also 62 Aid Projects to Tibet Manla Water Conservancy Hub Project Bainang Vegetable Production Base

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with One River, Two Rivers Project

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what One River, Two Rivers Project claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to One River, Two Rivers Project before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about One River, Two Rivers Project ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of One River, Two Rivers Project

In research
One River, Two Rivers Project appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses One River, Two Rivers Project in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
One River, Two Rivers Project is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1991 in Lhasa, Agriculture in China, Economic development programs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for One River, Two Rivers Project outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study One River, Two Rivers Project in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what One River, Two Rivers Project means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain One River, Two Rivers Project out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is One River, Two Rivers Project in simple terms?

The One River, Two Rivers Project (Chinese: 一江两河工程), is the largest and most heavily invested comprehensive agricultural development initiative in Central Tibet, China. The project focuses on the central watershed of the Yarlung Tsangpo and its tributaries, the Lhasa River and the Nangchu River.

Why does One River, Two Rivers Project matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study One River, Two Rivers Project?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on One River, Two Rivers Project.

Tags

  • 1991 in Lhasa
  • Agriculture in China
  • Economic development programs
  • Rural development in China

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