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The Ling Canal, one of the most ancient water conservancy projects in the world

The Ling Canal, located in Xingan county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, also known as XIANG-GUI Canal, which was first built in Qin dynasty and completed in 214 B.C. it with Dujiangyan and Zhenggouqu altogether called the three major water conservancy projects of the Qin dynasty, it’s one of the most ancient canals in the world.
 
The Ling Canal is the masterpiece of water conservancy project in China, it can be divided into 2 parts and the total length is 34 km, it consists of the Main Dam, Big and Small Discharge Flooding Stone Banks, Southern Channel, Northern Channel and ship locks. The front end of the dam is in shape of plough and divided the river into tow parts, 70% of the water flowing into the Xiang River through the Northern Channel northward and 30% of the water running into the Li River by the Southern Channel southward. The Stone Banks adjust the water level to avoid flooding water damage the dam and guarantee the enough water in the canal for sailing. There’re 36 ship locks in the canal, they can help the boats rising up and sinking down on the canal to ensure the sailing fluently. According to the historic documents, the canal was put into operation for about 40 boats everyday.
 
To fulfill his ambition of united the whole China, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the feudal society in China who wanted to expand his empire map, he launched a southern expedition, for the sake of the natural barrier in the boundary between Hunan and Guangxi, he ordered to build a canal here, just to ensure his military supplies transporting to the front line in time. The design of the canal is scientific and its structure is precise and appropriate. It links with the river system of the Yangtse River and Pearl River, makes a convenient water way through the north and the south in the whole nation. For the maintenance of national unity, it makes a great contribution for promoting economic and cultural development of the Lingnan region.
 
After liberation, the canal was under several renovations, but the main structure was intact. although it lost its strategic position, it got to become the irrigation system for thousands hectars of paddy rice fields. Now it's a bright pearl of tourist attractions in Guilin. Guo Mo Ruo, a famous archaeologist and accomplished scholar, once praised the canal as that, " in the north of China, there is the Great Wall, while in the south is the Ling Canal."