The route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project [Photo provided by China Daily]

The actors and actress on stage [Photo by Gao Song in Nanyang Daily]

The Danjiangkou Dam in Danjiangkou city, Central China's Hubei province [Photo provided by China Daily]

Nanyang holds a cultural performance to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the first phase of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project on Dec 11, 2019.

The activity was sponsored by the Xichuan county Party committee and Xichuan county government, with the theme of "Gratitude to the Danjiangkou Reservoir".

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the world's largest water diversion project, has already benefited half of Beijing's total population.

The first phase of the middle route of the project in Nanyang city of Henan province was finished five years ago. The route aimed to divert water from Danjiangkou reservoir in Central China's Hubei province through Henan province to Beijing.

The mega project has served as the lifeline of water supply for the country's parched north, transferring water through eastern and western routes from the Yangtze River, as well as the middle route - the most prominent of the three due to its role in feeding water to the capital.