Liangxiang Sluice

Liangxiang Sluice

Liangxiang Sluice is a Major National Historical and Cultural Site.

Liangxiang Sluice is situated 5 meters east of Liangzha Village, Liangshui Town, Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng City, on the old course of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It was announced as part of the sixth batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in 2006. Constructed in 1411 (the ninth year of the Yongle reign in the Ming Dynasty), the sluice crosses a north-south oriented water channel. It is roughly 40 meters long from north to south and about 20 meters wide from east to west. To the west and northeast of the sluice are modern residential buildings. The structure mainly consists of stone wing walls on both sides and the sluice gate itself. The wing walls are built with rectangular bluestone blocks, with over ten layers still extant. They extend outward on both sides, and the upper sections of the stonework are relatively well-preserved. The stone foundations are still visible on the adjacent road surfaces, extending about 32 meters to the west. The sluice gate is enclosed by the two wing walls and serves as a passage for water flow and boats. It is approximately 5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, with the central section originally housing the gate. On either side are gate slots about 30 centimeters wide and 6 centimeters deep. Outside the wing wall stonework is compacted earthen fill. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the sluice underwent repairs in 1951 as part of the reengineering of the river section from Zhangqiu Town to Linqing. Liangxiang Sluice was an important hydraulic facility on the canal at the time. Its ingenious design and fine craftsmanship make it a valuable physical resource for studying the history of canal transport and the development of hydraulic engineering. It not only stands as a testament to the prosperity of water transport in its era but also holds significant academic value for further research into modern Chinese hydraulic engineering. The sluice was renovated again in 2015.

Liangshui Town: Located in the northwest of Liaocheng, Liangshui Town has historically been a key town in western Shandong. It is now a central town under the jurisdiction of Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng City, serving as the political, economic, cultural, and information hub of the border region encompassing Liaocheng, Chiping, Linqing, and Guan counties (cities). It is also an emerging town experiencing vigorous growth in western Shandong. The town comprises 108 villages, with a total population of 67,000 and covers an area of 142 square kilometers (including 146,000 mu of arable land). In 2004, the per capita net income of farmers in the town was 3,800 yuan.

The town enjoys convenient transportation and complete service facilities. The Beijing-Kowloon Railway, the Liaolin Highway... More details about Liangshui Town++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units