Lingqu Canal

The Lingqu Canal, dug in 214 B.C., is one of the three big water conservation projects of ancient China and the oldest existing canal in the world. It extends for 66 kilometers in Xing'an County to link up the Xiangjiang and Li rivers and the Changjiang and Zhujiang river systems.

The canal was once an important means of transports serving the region before railways and roads were constructed. 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 most interesting section of the canal is the Doumen (Steep Gates) section, which is just like the boatlift in the Gezhouba Dam. The canal is dug with superb workmanship and excelling nature. The scenery along the way is a concentration of natural and man-made landscapes.