Guilin Travel & Tour Packages - Ling Canal
Ling Canal is situated in Xing'an County, 66
kilometers (41 miles) away to the northeast of
Guilin in Guangxi Province. It is one
of the oldest and most integrated canals in existence in the world.
Beautiful scenery, cultural relics, and historical sites make the
Ling Canal a famous scenic spot in Guilin.
The Ling canal was built from 219BC to 214BC in the reign of Emperor Qin
Shi Huang (259BC - 210BC, the first emperor who unified China) and
renovated several times in the following dynasties. After annexing
the six countries (Qi States, Chu States, Yan States, Han States,
Zhao States, Wei States), Qin Shi Huang dispatched 500,000 troops to
the regions south of the Five Ridges (covering Guangdong and Guangxi
Provinces). However, there were no convenient roads to the south.
Therefore, Qin Shi Huang ordered Shi Lu (an official of the Qin) to
take charge of the building of a canal which would enable the
transportation of food and money for the army. When completed, the
project not only facilitated the transporting of goods but also
provided irrigation to the region. In a word, it played an important
role in the integration of China and the prosperity of that region.
The Ling canal, about 34 kilometers (21 miles) long, consists of two
parts: the northern canal and the southern canal. Connecting the
Xiang River and the Li River, the canal is 10 meters (32 feet) in
length and 1.5 meters (5 feet) in depth. Each of the five parts of
the Ling canal has a specific function. For example, Hua Zui, in the
shape of a ploughshare, is a stone dam made of giant stones. Its
function is to divide the upper reaches of a sea partly into the
northern canal which disembogues itself into the Xiang Rive and
partly into the southern canal, which empties into the Li River.
Scientifically designed, it still performs its function in terms of
irrigation.
For tours to Longsheng, please visit
Tour-Guilin page for various tour packages.
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