From “Xi-rang” to geosynthetics

It is said that “Xi-rang” is a sort of soil which can grow continuously by itself. So, it is used in flood control in ancient China. In this paper, a textual research on the geotechnical material is made. It is pointed out that “Xi-rang” is the reinforced earth used in flood control projects. It was named “Ci-fang” in Qin and Han Dynasties and the fascine works in Song Dynasty. The beaver dam and the history of soil reinforcement in China are reviewed. The application of geosynthetics in hydraulic engineering is introduced. It is concluded that geosynthetics will get a vast prospect of application in environmental protection and natural resources protection in sustainable economic development in China.