Ling Canal
» Guilin, Guang Xi

灵渠 '严关雪不到,秦堤草色新,柳垂两岸边,花落温江轻'

Ling Qu,Lingqu Canal,Xianggui Canal,Xing'an Canal

Lingqu Canal was a great engineering feat that connected two major river systems - the Yangtze River System and the Zhujiang River System and once played a very important role in political unification, economic contacts, cultural exchanges, defense reinforcement, water irrigation, and people's daily life in ancient China.

History

The primary role

The building of the Ling Canal provided a transportation route for Emperor Qin's crusade of southern China, thus making it possible for him to unify the whole country. It also links Xiang River of the Yangtze System with Li River, which belongs to the Pearl River system.

In the over past 2000 years, the canal was a very essential north-south pass which had been charged with heavy transportation from China hinterland to southern border area and it has played an important role in the national unification, economic exchange and cultural communication. As the ancient canal is scientifically designed, solid engineering and uniquely accomplished in architecture, it is reserved very well and is praised as a gem of Chinese ancient irrigation works. The canal was once an important means of transports serving the region before railways and roads were constructed.

Other roles

During the Tang Dynasty (618 - 917), because Lingqu Canal was the main passageway to transport goods between North and South China, it became especially busy. New problems subsequently emerged. Four months out of the year, it had low water, and boats couldn't sail it. This had a major impact on trade and the economy at that time. To solve this problem, they invented a "lock" that enables boats to sail even on the low water of the canal. It's called a Doumen (Steep Gate) which is just like the boatlift in the Gezhouba Dam, and has been used for over 1,000 years.

Now this canal still serves its purposes by irrigating about 2700 hectare of agricultural lands. Dams were mainly made of woods and stones; slabs of stone were placed against the logs to form an embankment.

The structure

Ling Canal is divided into the northern and the southern sections. The dividing point is a V-shaped dyke in the east of the county seat, commonly known as Tianping (The balance). The sharp point of the dyke is called HuaZui (Plough Share), which bifurcate the oceanic water from the upper reach of Xiang River into two parts, of which one part, 30 percent of the whole flow, goes to the Li River, and the remaining 70 percent to Xiang River.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

  • The Lingqu Canal is the outstanding masterpiece of Chinese water conservancy projects. It is not only the great miracle of Chinese water conservancy project technology, but also a resplendent pearl of the water conservancy projects in the world. It fully takes advantage of the local geographical conditions. The location of the dam was selected in an appropriate position. The functions of flood prevention, water storage, diffluence and water carriage depend on each other, and form a unity with a long history of 2000 years. It opened the new era in the water conservancy history of China, indicating that the history of Chinese water conservancy has entered into a brand-new stage.
  • The site selection of the Lingqu Canal and the overall layout is extremely scientific and complete. The site selection of it basically satisfied the ancient shipping requirement, and adapted to volume of the natural water supply. The Hua Dyke which is the main project of the channel head is a dam in the form of Chinese character "Ren." Compared with the modern overflow dams, it is of the same function though in different forms. A series of constructions of the south and north canals are arranged very ingeniously and successfully. These buildings are not complicated, but they are very practical of certain safety degree, with unique forms and styles, which make them as one of the masterpieces of the water conservancy works in the ancient China. The Doumen (steep door) of 36 degrees in gradient is equal to a group of multi-step ship locks, and it is the model of the modern multi-step ship locks, which led the van of the canal in the world.
  • The Lingqu Canal is a famous ancient water conservancy project of our country adjusting the water flow and the traffic across different drainage areas. It traverses the Nanling (the south Five Ridges), connecting the basin of the Yangtze River and the basin of the Zhujiang River. In the history, it became a tache maintaining the politics unity, the economic contacts, the cultural exchange and the consolidation of the frontier defense.
  • The opening of the Lingqu Canal has provided basic conditions and promoting functions for the unity of China, and the synchronous development of the areas south of the Five Ridges and the Central Plains.

Comparison with other similar properties

Compared with other projects of the world or China, the conception, the design and the site selection of the Lingqu Canal shows ingenuity. It improves the occasion and adjusts measures to local conditions. The scale and the benefit of it are peerless. It is the great pioneering work of the close combination of natural state of organisms, scientific technologies, and man and the nature, and is the outcome of the wisdom of the ancient working people.

Main scenic spots

The major spots for sightseeing are the "Plough Share," the "Balance," "Qin Dyke," and "Windfall Rock," etc.

Attractions around » Guilin, Guang Xi

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Historical Relic

Historical Relic

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Started in 219 B.C. and completed in 214 B.C., Lingqu Canal is the outstanding masterpiece of Chinese water conservancy projects. It is not only the great miracle of Chinese water conservancy project technology, but also a resplendent pearl of the water conservancy projects in the world.

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