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Looking at the water conservancy projects in Chinese history, few have managed to survive for thousands of years and are still in use today. The Lingqu Canal, known as the \"jewel among ancient world water conservancy structures,\" holds a prominent position among these ancient water conservancy projects. The Lingqu Canal, built during the Qin dynasty and located in Xingan, Guangxi, is one of the oldest canals in the world. It connects the Yangtze and Pearl River systems, linking the source of the Xiang River with that of the Lijiang River, thereby establishing a water route between the north and south. The construction of the Lingqu Canal provided an important guarantee for the Qin Dynasty to unify the region of Lingnan. It played a positive role in strengthening unity, enhancing political, economic, and cultural exchanges between the north and south, and fostering closer interactions among people of various ethnic groups. Map of the Qin Dynasty’s territory. The engineering structure of the Lingqu Canal. Known as the \"pearl among ancient world water conservancy structures,\" the Lingqu Canal is approximately 30 kilometers long and 5 meters wide. It consists of key components such as the Hua Zuoi, Da Xiao Tian Ping, Du Men, South Canal, North Canal, and Qin Di. Along with the Dujiangyan and Zhengguo Canals, it is regarded as one of the \"three great water conservancy projects of the Qin Dynasty.\" Diversion dike and north-south canals: To channel the water of the Xiang River into the Lingqu Canal, a diversion dike with a sharp front and a blunt back was needed to be built. It is named “Hua Zu” because it resembles a plowshare. “Behind the “share tip” lie two long embankments: the northern embankment is slightly longer and is called “Da Tianping”” ； The southern embankment is slightly shorter and is called “Xiao Tianping”. The three form a herringbone spillway. “The front end of the sharp spur points directly toward the upper reaches of the Xiang River, splitting the water flow in two. Flowing three degrees south, it is directed into the South Canal by the “Small Balance” ； It flows seven degrees northward and is directed into the North Canal by the “Great Balance”. The southern channel extends westward and merges into the Lijiang River, while the northern channel extends northward and returns to the Xiangjiang River. Therefore, the Lingqu Canal consists of two channels, one in the north and one in the south, each with its own role and complementing one another. Satellite image of the Lingqu Canal diversion dam; the diversion dam is lower than the riverbanks on both sides. During the dry season, all the water from the Xiang River is diverted into channels ； During the flood season, the river water can flow over the dams and into the old course of the Xiang River, which not only helps to discharge excess water but also prevents the Lingqu Canal from being damaged by floods. Close-up view of the Xiao Tianping section of the Lingqu Canal; during the flood season, water flows over the dams and into the old course of the Xiang River. The Lingqu Canal is characterized by being shallow, narrow, winding, and fast-flowing. During the flood season, the water flow is rapid, while it is scarce during dry seasons. To ensure smooth passage for boats, \"Doumen\" structures are installed in the canal to raise the water level and increase the gradient – their function is similar to that of modern sluices. Therefore, the “Doumen” of the Lingqu Canal is also the earliest sluice structure in the world. “When each boat enters the Doumen, the sluice gate is closed again; waiting for the water level to rise, the boats can move forward gradually, thus enabling them to ascend along the cliffs and descend swiftly, in order to facilitate traffic between boats from the north and south. ” The steep bridges over the Lingqu Canal; the important role of the Lingqu Canal. The construction of this canal helped Emperor Qin Shi Huang to complete his mission of unifying China, expanded China’s territory, and facilitated economic and cultural exchanges as well as ethnic integration between the Central Plains and the Lingnan region. To this day, it still plays an important role in shipping, irrigation, and tourism. To achieve the unification of Lingnan, the Lingqu Canal was first and foremost a **transportation project, created by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in order to unify Lingnan. Before the Qin Dynasty, the Lingnan region was considered “land beyond the borders” and was never included in China’s territory. In 221 BC, after Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he launched a war to conquer Lingnan. To address the logistical supply issues of the Qin army, Qin Shi Huang ordered that funds be allocated to transport provisions, and he also had soldiers dig canals to create supply routes in order to fight against the Yue people. ”By digging the Lingqu Canal, the Qin army received a steady supply of logistics support and troops, and ultimately unified the Lingnan region in 214 BC. The construction of the Lingqu Canal not only contributed to the unification of the Qin Empire but also significantly expanded China’s land and maritime territories, laying the foundation for the basic layout of China’s territory. Portraits of Qin Shi Huang. An important trade route: The Lingqu Canal connected China’s entire waterway network; it served as a key trade route linking the Central Plains with the region of Lingnan, and became a major artery for transportation between the north and south – in other words, the ancient \"highway on water\". During the Sui and Tang dynasties, with the construction of the Grand Canal, cargo ships from the Lingnan region could reach Chang’an directly via the Li River, Lingqu Canal, Xiang River, Yangtze River, and the Grand Canal. In the 10th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming dynasty (1637), according to Xu Xiake’s \"Diaries from Western Guangdong,\" he passed by the Lingqu Canal and witnessed a busy scene with numerous large boats lined up one after another. A schematic diagram of the water route from Lingnan to Chang’an during the Tang Dynasty via the Lingqu Canal; it served a purpose in irrigation. The Book of the Later Han: Biographies of Ma Yuan states that when Ma Yuan, the General of Fubo during the Eastern Han Dynasty, went on campaigns in Jiaozhi, he \"dug canals for irrigation in order to benefit the local people.\" According to the \"Guangxi General Records,\" at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, a city was built on the south side of the Lingqu Canal, and Linyuan County was established there; the site of this city is located in what is now Xing’an County. Due to the increasing population, large areas of land around the county town were cultivated, and the irrigation role of the Lingqu Canal became increasingly significant. To this end, weirs and culverts have been built on the Lingqu Canal; the function of the weirs is similar to that of sluices, serving to raise the water level so that water wheels can draw water for irrigation. By the Song Dynasty, \"The canal waters flowed around Xing’an County, and the local farmers relied on them for irrigation\" (quoted from Zhou Qufei’s \"Lingqu\" in \"Lingwai Daida\"). In the Qing Dynasty, \"There were no fewer than several hundred hectares of farmland near the canal that depended on irrigation\" (from E’ertai’s \"Record of the Reconstruction of the East and West Douhe Rivers in Guilin Prefecture\"). After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the irrigation function of the Lingqu Canal was further developed, and Xing’an became a well-known grain depot far and wide. The vast farmlands on both sides of the Lingqu Canal have contributed to the spread of culture. Throughout history, countless civil officials, military generals, and scholars have passed through the Lingqu Canal to enter Lingnan. Among them were Ma Yuan from the Han dynasty, Li Jing, Zhang Jiuling, Liu Zongyuan, Li Shangyin, and Li Bo from the Tang dynasty; Fan Chengda, Huang Tingjian, Zhang Xiaoxiang, and Liu Kezhuang from the Song dynasty; Yan Song, Xie Jin, Yan Zhenzhi, and Xu Xiake from the Ming dynasty; and E’ertai, Chen Yuanlong, Ruan Yuan, and Yuan Mei from the Qing dynasty. Some of them left behind historical achievements, while others composed poems and essays that enriched the cultural heritage of Lingnan. In addition, the rich and diverse Central Plains culture was gradually introduced to Lingnan through the Lingqu Canal, including cultural aspects such as agriculture, handicraft techniques, architecture, and cuisine. There were also folk arts and performances like Gui opera, Cai Diao, Ma Zai Diao, and He Lang Ge, as well as the folk beliefs and customs of the Han people from the Central Plains. An important node on the Maritime Silk Road, the Lingqu Canal serves as a crucial link connecting Hepu, the port of departure for the Maritime Silk Road, with the interior regions of China. At that time, there was a land and water route from Hepu leading to Chang’an: the water route went along the Nanliu River, Beiliu River, Xun River, Xi River, Gui River, Li River, Lingqu Canal, Xiang River, Yangtze River, Han River, Hanzhong, and Baoshui in Guangxi; via land, it led to the Qinling Mountains and Xianyang (Chang’an). The Lingqu Canal was a crucial link in this land and water route. It is evident that the construction of the Lingqu Canal laid a truly invaluable foundation for the emergence of the Maritime Silk Road, for the promotion of international exchanges, and for the implementation of today’s Belt and Road Initiative. Schematic diagram of the Maritime Silk Road; Historical development of the Lingqu Canal. During the Qin Dynasty, in 219 BC, in order to address the difficulties in transporting military provisions and to strengthen national unity, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered the imperial censor Lu to dig a canal for transporting grain. This project was the Lingqu Canal, which connected the Xiang River and the Li River. Schematic diagram of the Lingqu Canal. In the 17th year of the Jianwu era of the Han Dynasty (42 AD), Ma Yuan continued to work on the construction of the Lingqu Canal. “It is said that Ma Yuan, the General who subdued the waves of the Later Han Dynasty, dredged the rivers and canals; the rapid currents flowed in various directions, so he used barriers to control them, and constructed sluice gates to stabilize the flow. This renovation of the Lingqu Canal not only improved navigation but also involved the construction of sluice gates. Portrait of Ma Yuan, Tang Dynasty. In the first year of Baoli during the reign of Emperor Jingzong of Tang (825), Li Bo, a poet from the mid-Tang period and an imperial inspector, repaired the Lingqu Canal. He “repaired the channels, added to the existing structures, to facilitate boat navigation.” Thus, he straightened the embankment to guide the water along its course, made the entrance steeper so that the water could flow straight downward, and ensured that the flow continued smoothly without any obstruction. Portrait of Li Bo: In the ninth year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (868 AD), after Yu Mengwei was appointed as the military governor of Guizhou, he carried out another large-scale renovation of the Lingqu Canal. This comprehensive restoration not only involved dredging the channels, strengthening the Doumen and Qin Dikes, as well as repairing the Hua Dikes and Hua Zuis, but also increased the number of Doumen to eighteen, thereby improving the completeness of the associated infrastructure and achieving more significant results. The statue of Yu Mengwei in the Temple of the Four Sages at the Lingqu Canal, from the Song Dynasty. According to the \"History of the Song Dynasty: Biography of Tao Bi,\" during the Song Dynasty, Li Shizhong built canals to pacify Annam. In the 14th year of Yuan Zhi Zheng during the Yuan Dynasty (1345), Me’erjini, the deputy supervisor in charge of administrative affairs and integrity inspection in the Guangxi region of Lingnan, repaired the Lingqu Canal by fixing the damaged parts of the embankments and sluices, thereby enabling boats to navigate along it. In the 28th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1395 AD), in order to suppress rebellions, the imperial court appointed the censor Yan Zhenzhi to oversee the construction of the Lingqu Canal. As a result of this repair, the large and small scales were raised, which reduced the discharge capacity of the two flood spillways; during floods, the embankments are washed away, and the floodwater flows entirely into the north channel. The water level in the south channel is low, making it impossible for vessels to navigate there, and it also hinders irrigation of the farmlands. Thus, in February of the second year of the Yongle era (1404), it was restored to its original state. During the Qing Dynasty, in the 53rd year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1714), the governor Chen Yuanlong led officials from across the province to contribute their salaries to carry out repairs. The damaged Large and Small Pavilions were restored; instead of using huge stones to cover the roof surface, a turtle-back shape was adopted for its construction. 14 of the steep gates that were still in good condition were repaired, and 8 out of the 22 abandoned steep gates were restored. In the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885), floods destroyed the diversion dam and the north-south embankments; Li Bingheng from the Guangxi Nursing and Welfare Institute requested permission to build channels, which was granted. The Lingqu Canal as it is seen today is roughly the appearance it has after this repair. During the Republic of China era, in the 21st year of the Republic (1932), a severe flood struck Xing’an, causing damage to parts of the Da Tianping and Xiao Tianping structures. Chang Tianliangji, the magistrate of Xing’an, repaired the section ranging from 43 to 75 zhang in length, totaling 107 meters. A map of shipping on the Lingqu Canal from the early years of the Republic of China. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, in the winter of 1953, the Water Resources Bureau of Xing’an County cleared the section of the canal from Nan Dou to Da Wan Dou along the South Canal, and repaired a section of the Qin Dyke located near Fei Lai Shi. From the winter of 1973 to the winter of 1979, the Guangxi Autonomous Region allocated funds to carry out repairs on the Qin Dyke, construct a flood control dyke at Beidouxia, and restore the Zhuzhi Weir. It also removed the dam that was blocking the North Canal, allowing water to flow through it again. In 1982, the Lingqu Canal was designated as a **key scenic area; local authorities organized the construction of Lingqu Park, planned the Water Street scenic zone, restored Lingyuan Temple, and built Lin Yuan Pavilion, allowing natural landscapes and cultural buildings to complement each other. Aerial view of the headwork of the Lingqu Canal. In November 1986, experts from the World Commission on Dams visited the Lingqu Canal and praised it, saying that \"the Lingqu Canal is a jewel among ancient world hydraulic structures, while the Duomen is the father of world shiplocks.\" ” It was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 1988. It was included in China’s Tentative List of World Cultural Heritage in 2006. On the morning of August 14, 2018, the Lingqu Canal was successfully inscribed on the List of World Irrigation Engineering Heritage, becoming Guangxi’s first such site. Scene of the award ceremony marking the successful inscription of the Lingqu Canal on the World Heritage List in 2018. Source: Pearl River Water Resources; Content source: China Water Resources