The reporter learned from the Ministry of Water Resources and China South to North Water Diversion Group Co., Ltd. that on December 2nd, the first hard rock tunneling machine (TBM) "Jianghan Pioneer" of the South to North Water Diversion Middle Route Yangtze River Diversion Project successfully started excavation at the 8th level of the Civil Engineering Section 4, marking the official entry of the Yangtze River Diversion Project into a new stage of TBM excavation construction. The "Jianghan Pioneer" is the first hard rock excavation machine to be produced in the South to North Water Diversion Project, and is currently the largest diameter single shield hard rock excavation machine used in domestic water diversion tunnel projects, with an excavation diameter of 12.23 meters. The Yangtze River and Han River Diversion Project is the first major project to commence construction in the follow-up of the South to North Water Diversion Project. It diverts water from the Three Gorges Reservoir area of the Yangtze River into the Han River, passing through Yiling District of Yichang City, Baokang County and Gucheng County of Xiangyang City, and Danjiangkou City of Shiyan City from south to north. The total length of the water transmission line is 194.7 kilometers, using 10 12 meter diameter hard rock excavation machines, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. (New Society)