China's Giant Water Project: Solving the Nation's Water Crisis

The video discusses a massive water project in China, initiated by Mao Zedong, to divert water from the Yangtze River in the south to the arid northern plains. The project, costing CN¥100 billion, involves canals and pumping stations and surpasses the Three Gorges Dam in scope. Despite concerns about water quality and the depletion of underground resources, the government continues with the project, aiming to alleviate water shortages by 2050. Current measures include cloud seeding and tapping underground water, but critics advocate for more recycled water use. The project is crucial as China's per capita water availability is only a quarter of the global average.

By what year does the ambitious plan aim to relieve water shortages in northern China?

What is the significance of the per capita water availability in China compared to the global average?