The spirit of building the Hongqi Canal
The Hongqi Canal in Linzhou, Henan Province, was and remains a miracle of engineering. The project began in 1960 and was completed in 1969. In only 10 years, and using hammers, shovels and other simple tools and their own hands, 100,000 local people dug a 1,500-km-long canal through the precipitous cliffs in the Taihang Mountains. The days of "water as expensive as oil" were consigned to history.
The Hongqi Canal epitomizes the self-reliance and diligence of the Chinese people. The project facilitated the irrigation of a vast area of fields, and has also left behind a priceless spiritual legacy of "working for the people and relying on the people; being bold in taking actions based on local conditions; uniting to make a common contribution."
红旗渠精神
红旗渠被称为“世界第八大奇迹”，位于河南省林州，动工于1960年，完成于1969年。勤劳勇敢的十万林州人民，苦战十个春秋，仅仅靠着一锤、一铲、两只手，在太行山悬崖峭壁上修成了这全长1500公里的红旗渠，结束了十年九旱、水贵如油的苦难历史。红旗渠是中国人民自力更生、艰苦奋斗的典范，不仅给后人留下了浇灌几十万亩田园的水利工程，更重要的是留下了宝贵的红旗渠精神。这一精神的核心要素包括：为了人民，依靠人民；敢想敢干，实事求是；自力更生，艰苦创业；团结协作，无私奉献。
