Sandaoyan Water Town 三道堰

About Sandaoyan Water Town

The Sichuan Provincial Local Chronicles Work Office's own feature on Pidu District describes Sandaoyan as a historic water-and-land trading post known as the "ancient Shu water town", where people once dammed the lower reaches of the Bertiao river with bamboo baskets to make three closely spaced weirs that diverted water to irrigate the fields — the origin of the name Sandaoyan, "three weirs". The Bertiao and Xuyan rivers still run in parallel through the town, coming within 200 metres of each other at their closest.

Xinhuanet's Sichuan channel profiled the town in a 2018 "most beautiful town" feature, recording that it has been named a national AAAA scenic area, a nationally recognised livable town and a nationally recognised town with a beautiful environment. It described the town's buildings as built along the water, combining Hui-style features — grey-tile white walls, small grey-tile roofs, stepped fire-wall gables and cantilevered beams — with west-Sichuan residential style, and recorded that the town had invested 270 million yuan in seven improvement projects, redeveloping the Huili, Shuixiangjie and Matou Suiyue character districts and laying out 12 small lanes while drawing water into the town.

What to look for

• The point where the Bertiao and Xuyan rivers run in parallel through the town, less than 200 metres apart at their closest.
• The Huili, Shuixiangjie and Matou Suiyue districts, the three named redevelopment projects within the town.
• The town's Hui-style and west-Sichuan buildings, built along the water with grey-tile white walls, stepped fire-wall gables and cantilevered beams.

Location & getting there

Getting to Sandaoyan Water Town

Identify the main visitor approach and any separately managed houses, museums or performances. Ask before entering residential spaces or photographing residents.

• Search for 三道堰 with 成都市 and 郫都区.