More than 750 million cubic meters of freshwater from southwest China's Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will soon be diverted to the Pearl River delta in Guangdong Province to help fight severe drought and salt tides, say officials.

The water diversion project -- the largest of its kind in the country's history -- will begin on January 17 and last two weeks.

The massive amount of water from the upper reaches of the Pearl River will have traveled as far as 1,336 kilometers to reach the delta, which borders the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

The aim is to help ensure drinking water supplies to the cities of Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Foshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing as well as to Macao, officials say.

The target date is Chinese Lunar New Year, starting on February 9, which is an established peak period for water demand.

Guangdong is now experiencing its worst salt tides in two decades and its most severe drought in 55 years.

Freshwater supply falls short of the province's demand by more than 12 billion tons, which are vitally needed in fighting the drought.

(China Daily January 12, 2005)