A key section of China's water diversion project across arid Hebei Province has been completed, according to the construction committee.

The project is one of China's largest infrastructure projects and will take water from relatively water-rich southern regions to dryer areas in the northern part of the country, including Beijing.

The new section, spanning nearly 600 km, attracted investments of 42 billion yuan ($6.9 billion) and connects Beijing with Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, and includes a portion near the port of Tianjin.

The new section is part of the first stage of construction for the middle of three routes of the south-to-north water diversion project. The whole route is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will supply water to 19 major cities and more than 100 smaller towns in north China starting in 2014.