The Qin-dynasty canal connecting the Xiang and Li rivers is the Lingqu. Built in Guangxi under Qin Shi Huang, it linked waterways flowing toward the Yangtze and Pearl River systems.
Construction began around 214 BC, when the First Emperor ordered the canal to support Qin campaigns against the Baiyue peoples in southern China. The engineer traditionally associated with the project was Shi Lu. By joining the two river valleys, the Lingqu allowed supplies and boats to move across a difficult route.
The canal is about 36.4 kilometers long and is notable for its contour design, which follows the landscape rather than simply cutting a straight channel. It also helped regulate water by diverting part of the Xiang’s flow toward the Li. The Lingqu is often confused with the much larger Grand Canal, but the Grand Canal is a separate network developed over many centuries.