Many of them are eager to observe the process of the famous dam's restoration to its "original form." On Wednesday when the renovation work began, some 6,000 tourists visited the site, the official said.

To protect the ancient site from being damaged by modern machinery, traditional methods are being used in the renovation. For example, workers have formed tripods from several logs bound together and have used earth and stone-filled bamboo cages to dam the flow, rather than using modern machines to pour stones.

The water flow in the inner canal, the heart of the irrigation system, was blocked Wednesday. During the renovation, tourists may observe the rare relics at the bottom of the dam and even walk on the river bed.

Built on the upper reaches of a major tributary of the Yangtze River, Dujiangyan is the world's oldest functioning irrigation project and has been listed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

As one of China's most famous national scenic spots, Dujiangyan received one million tourists in 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2002)