On December 27, 2014, Beijing received its first flows from the South-North Water Diversion Project, one of the most ambitious engineering projects in China's history. After decades of planning and at least 202.32 billion yuan (HK$255.45) in investment, more than a billion cubic metres of water is projected to flow north to the capital every year through more than 1,200km of channels and pipes. Another 8.5 billion cubic metres will reach provinces along the way. The authorities say the project, which will ultimately have three routes and cost an estimated US$81 billion, will solve a chronic water shortage in northern cities.
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