Shaobo Canal Wharf and Iron Oxen

Shaobo Canal Wharf and Iron Oxen

The Shaobo Canal Wharf and Iron Oxen are designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Shaobo Canal Wharf and Iron Oxen

The Shaobo Canal Embankment is situated on the east bank of the canal in Gantang Community, Shaobo Town, Jiangdu City. It was constructed in the 53rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1714). The preserved section of the ancient canal embankment extends from Zhuxiangkou to Miaoxiang, with a total area of 5,000 square meters, a built-up area of 1,500 square meters, and a north-south length of 300 meters. The cross-section is trapezoidal, with a bottom width of 8 meters, a top width of 2.5–3 meters, and a height of 5 meters. The western base of the eastern embankment is reinforced with stacked stone slope protection. The stones are mostly sized 148×28×30 cm, 78×34×34 cm, and 97×25×36 cm. The upper part of the stone foundation is built with city bricks, and the top edge of the embankment is capped with a layer of strip stones. The city bricks measure 42×19×10 cm. There are currently four docks on the embankment, all constructed with stonework. Three Qing Dynasty stone inscriptions are also present: “Da Matou (Great Dock),” “Gantang Baozhang (Gantang Protection),” and “Jin Di Yonggu (Golden Dyke Eternal Stability).” The embankment is an important hydraulic structure on the Li Canal and is recorded in the *Gantang Gazetteer*.

On June 5, 2006, the Shaobo Canal Wharf and Iron Oxen were designated as part of the sixth batch of cultural relic protection units of Jiangsu Province.

Gantang Community: Gantang Community was formed by merging several former communities—including Nanjiao, Qingyun, Miaoxiang, Gantang, Baxiang, and Dongjiao—as well as Xiaojie, Nan’ge, and Be’ge groups from Highway Village. The jurisdiction covers an area extending north to the Gantang Road alignment, south to the Nan Tang River and the Poultry Research Institute, east to the Shaobo Bridge, and west to Shaobo Lake. The region spans 1.68 square kilometers, with over 3,000 households and a total population of around 10,000. … More information about Gantang Community ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province