In spring 1953, the People’s Republic of China’s Yellow River Conservancy Commission (黄河水利委员会) undertook surveys of conditions related to water and soil conservation in over 30 watersheds in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River.
The water and soil conservation survey reports (水土保持查勘报告) for those watersheds, published in late 1953 and early 1954, present a rich source of information on socio-economic and environmental conditions in Northwest China’s Loess Plateau.
China Water and Soil History Network’s online database features downloadable Excel spreadsheets containing statistical information from each water and soil conservation survey report. The data can be searched using keywords in simplified Chinese characters (简体中文关键字).
Maps from the water and soil conservation survey reports are available in the Maps section of this website.