Qingxi and the Shima River: Dongjiang's Water Supply Hub, Water Village, and History

January 19, 2026

Qingxi and the Shima River: Dongjiang's Water Supply Hub, Water Village, and History

Scenery and Culture along Matan and the Shima River in Qingxi Town, Dongguan

The Throat of the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project.

The Matan Sluice Gate, located in Qingxi Town, Dongguan City, is a vital hydraulic facility for the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project. It is responsible for regulating and conveying water volume, ensuring the safety of water supply to Hong Kong and the cities along the route. In the early morning, the water flow downstream of the sluice gate is rapid, with splashing water and surging currents, and the vegetation on both banks is lush. A "No Climbing" warning sign is hung on the iron railing of the sluice gate, and a blue plastic rescue boat is moored on the downstream bank.

Sunrise and Water

The sunrise over Matan in Luoma Village, Qingxi Town, is magnificent and serene. The sky is painted with intense orange, and the rising sun is partially hidden behind the bridge and the horizon, as a bird streaks across the sky. The tranquil water clearly reflects this orange glow. A small bird is silhouetted against a dark horizontal bar above the water. At the same time, the reeds also take on a warm orange-yellow hue in the morning sun, with clear outlines of the foreground and background.

Vignettes of Life

The banks of the Xinhe section of the Shima River are full of life and cultural landscapes:

Ancestral Hall and Couplets: An ancestral hall in Matan, with a green glazed tile roof and brick walls as its main structure. The couplet at the entrance, "The glory of the Eastern Han family extends far, and the beneficence of Nanyang lasts long," is ancient and elegant. A woman wearing a mask, a red vest, and dark trousers walks past the ancestral hall, carrying a white bag.

Environmental Protection: On the bank of the Xinhe section of the Shima River, a person with their back to the camera, wearing a colorful striped jacket and black trousers, is holding a plastic bottle and cleaning up plastic waste along the riverbank.

Labor and Greenway: On the riverbank slope illuminated by the morning sun, two people are diligently clearing weeds. On the Shima River Greenway, a Chow Chow puppy joyfully runs following its owner.

Temple and Transportation

The area along the Xinhe section of the Shima River shows a coexistence of traditional beliefs and modern civilization:

Tianhou Shengmu Temple (Temple of the Holy Mother Tianhou): The temple is located in the Xinhe section of the Shima River, and its architecture is decorated with traditional brown glazed ceramic lions. These paired lions are believed to have the effect of warding off evil and protection. An elevated bridge spans the Xinhe section of the Shima River in front of the temple, and the tranquil water reflects the distant bridge and hills.

Incense and Faith: Inside the incense burner in front of the Tianhou Shengmu Temple, melted red candle tears and accumulated incense sticks are visible, with a pair of extinguished red candles placed among them. In another incense burner, burning red incense and candles are in the foreground, and three golden cigarette filters are visible in the background, suggesting that devotees may be offering cigarettes instead of incense and candles. A Feng Shui bell with a Dharma wheel and red tassels hangs from the top of the incense burner.

God of Wealth (Caishenye): Under a large banyan tree in front of the Tianhou Shengmu Temple, a statue of the God of Wealth is enshrined. This deity manages wealth and fortune in traditional Chinese culture.

Modern Transportation: In front of Hongmenshan, a Chinese high-speed train speeds across an elevated bridge, forming a modern picture with the continuous hills and high-voltage power towers in the background.

Gears & Settings