Liushahe River in XishuangBanna

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Chinese Name: 西双版纳流沙河
English Name: Liushahe River in XishuangBanna

Liushah River is a major river located in the western part of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. The river’s upper reaches are fed by two main tributaries:

• The left tributary originates from Banggan Mountain and flows through the Mengzha Dam, moving from northwest to southeast.
• The right tributary starts from Sanluo Mountain in the Bulang Mountains, passes through Menghun Dam, and merges with the left tributary at Mengzha Dam. The combined flow then continues southeast, passing through the Menghai Basin and entering Jinghong before merging with the Lancang River.

The main river stretches 92 kilometers with a basin area of 2,064 square kilometers.

Fish Species and River Environment

The Liushah River supports valuable fish species including red-winged fish, bream, carp, whisker fish, and face melon fish. The riverbanks are lined with extensive rubber plantations, tea gardens, and fruit orchards. The once lush landscape of tall trees and bamboo groves has been gradually replaced by the pastoral scenery of Xishuangbanna.

Historical Records

• According to Mr. Li Fuyi’s book “Cheli,” the Liushah River was originally named Nanha River. In the Dai language, “Nanha” means “stinky water river,” reflecting the historical foul odor of the river. Legend has it that the Mengzha Dam area was once a lake with rotting corpses that tainted the water with a foul smell, which was carried downstream by the left tributary.
• The name Liushah River was already in use during the Qing Dynasty, as noted in the 1915 “Pusi Border Strategy,” which mentioned an incident where “Meng Songba was killed at the Liushah River.”
• Historically, the upper and middle reaches of the river, flowing through the plains of Mengzha, Menghun, and Menghai, had a gentle riverbed and seasonal water flow. It was used primarily for irrigation rather than navigation. The Dai people traditionally installed water wheels shaped like spinning wheels on the river for irrigation. Records show that 64 such water wheels were installed in the Menghai Basin.

Modern Developments

• After 1958, local governments initiated water diversion and storage projects on the Liushah River. The first project was a rolling dam constructed 3 kilometers from Menghai County to irrigate rice fields in the Menghai Basin.
• Over 40 additional water projects were built on the river’s tributaries, including Mengbang Reservoir, Manman Reservoir, and Nadam Reservoir, rendering traditional water wheels obsolete.
• The river’s steep source and flat, winding main channel caused frequent flooding and sediment influx during heavy rains. Since the 1970s, improvements have been made to manage sharp bends and narrow passages, and the increased number of water storage projects has significantly reduced flood-related disasters.
• After leaving the Menghai Basin, the Liushah River flows through a rocky gorge, where the riverbed narrows and the flow becomes faster, providing rich hydroelectric resources. This segment of the river in Menghai County, Jinghong City, and Jinghong Farm has seen significant development of hydroelectric resources. Three hydroelectric stations have been established: Xishuangbanna Binfang Station, Xishuangbanna Jinghong Station, and Jinghong Farm Station, with another station under construction.
• In the past, the riverbanks were covered with dense forests and bamboo groves, but extensive land development has significantly reduced forest resources and water flow. Observations show that the average annual flow has decreased from 18.2 cubic meters per second in the 1960s to 13.4 cubic meters per second in the 1990s. The maximum flood flow is 231 cubic meters per second, and the minimum flow is 0.06 cubic meters per second.

Modern Situation

The riverbanks are now dominated by extensive rubber plantations, tea gardens, and fruit orchards. The lush landscape of tall trees and bamboo groves has been gradually replaced by the pastoral scenery of Xishuangbanna.