Han Zhengqing, 67, was the man in charge of the Yindaruqin irrigation project. He is seen as the man who turned Gansu's dream to build a grand irrigation project into reality.
Mr Han had built a reputation before the project. At the age of 14, he was appointed deputy chief of Haoti township. For almost 40 years, he worked at all levels in local government - and finally became a member of the standing committee for the Gansu provincial party.
Over the past 30 years, he has been often depicted by state media as a model rural cadre who dedicated his life to local people.
One aspect of his legacy when he was working as a rural government leader was the irrigation project in Dongjiang district. Despite a shortage of funds and modern technology, Mr Han - with the help of farmers - turned a large piece of barren land into green terraced fields.
In 1989, the provincial government assigned a daunting task to Mr Han: taking charge of the Yindaruqin project. The project was not only the largest gravity-irrigation project in China, it was also the first time that Gansu province had used a World Bank loan or worked with overseas experts.
The project was completed in 1994 and has since been operating smoothly. But Mr Han said there was still a long way to go before the Yindaruqin project could become what its creators envisioned.
According to Mr Han, the project would not have been possible without the strong support of party elder Song Ping, former Gansu party boss and former director of the State Planning Commission.
