Water from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River converged with the lower reaches of the Yellow River, China's second longest river, on June 10 thanks to the progress of China's South-North Water Diversion Project.

This marks a landmark success of the first phase of the eastern route of the water diversion project, which is expected to begin supplying water to thirsty parts in the north later this year.

The project, with an estimated total cost of 500 billion yuan ($81 billion), was launched in December 2002. It plans to divert 44.8 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Yangtze through eastern, middle and western routes to relieve water shortages in north China by 2050.