Huangqu Longkou Leisure Villa

　　Huangqu Longkou Leisure Villa is situated in a natural river bend 2 kilometers downstream from the exit of the Kash River, 40 kilometers east of Yining City. It consists of three interconnected islands, covering a total area of 90 acres. The historic site of the Kash River Longkou, originally funded and built by the national hero Lin Zexu, a great patriot of the Qing Dynasty who resisted British aggression, is located within this resort. The canal stretches over 3,000 meters along the Yizhao Highway, and remnants of the old canal can still be clearly seen. This project and its construction hold significant value for the modern agricultural development of Ili. In recent years, Huangqu Longkou Leisure Villa has increased its investment, constructing essential infrastructure such as a swimming pool, sandy beach, pavilions, yurts, fishing platforms, and restaurants. Dining and entertainment facilities are fully available, and utilities including water, electricity, and communication are well-equipped. Visitors can swim in the resort’s open-air venue, fish at the fishing platform, relax in the yurts, and more. In the hot summer, nestled against mountains and by the water with lush trees providing shade, adorned with pavilions and blooming flowers everywhere, the scenery is delightful, attracting a large number of tourists who come here specifically for its reputation.

　　Address: Dunmazha Town, Yining County

　　Huangqu Miscellaneous Talks

　　The People's Canal, a major irrigation artery traversing two counties (Yining and Huocheng) and one city (Yining) in Ili, irrigating over 620,000 acres of farmland, was formerly known as Huangqu. Its excavation not only provided strong momentum to the thriving land reclamation movement of the Qing Dynasty, but even today, it continues to play an important role in developing the traditional economy of Ili, a major agricultural base beyond the Great Wall.

　　Huangqu originally meant “a canal dug by the royal family,” and was a general term for the largest water conservancy project built in Ili during the Qing Dynasty. The earliest Huangqu was actually dug in sections, and its water source did not come solely from the Kash River. In the 30th year of the Qianlong reign (1765), Mingrui, the first Ili General, organized militia to begin digging on the west bank of the Kash River. This section is historically referred to as the “Old Huangqu.” However, the project was later interrupted due to technical challenges and warfare. The following year, after E'ermuzhab succeeded as Akim Bek, he continued to lead the people in the excavation. After several years of hard work, the project was eventually completed. During the Jiaqing era, General Songyun organized manpower to dredge and connect the Tonghui Canal (now northeast of Huiluan Township), which diverted mountain water, and the Aqiwusu Canal (near today’s Jieliangzi area of Yining City). In the 21st year of Jiaqing (1816), Akim Bek Huoshinazhat led people to dig a canal diverting water from the Jiergelang River westward, and expanded the Old Huangqu 20 li to the west, thus connecting the eastern and western sections end to end. The total length reached 170 kilometers, giving Huangqu its initial form. After Buyantai succeeded as Ili General, he organized troops in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign (1844) to carry out a large-scale renovation of the entire canal. The national hero Lin Zexu, who was exiled to Ili, also generously donated funds to undertake the construction of the Aqiwusu Canal and the Longkou (canal head) project. The Kash River water then flowed directly to Wuhalik (now southeast of Shuimuding Town, Huocheng County), and Huangqu finally became a unified whole, becoming an inexhaustible source benefiting the people of Ili.

　　Today, when revisiting the history of Huangqu, we must especially not forget the contributions made by the patriotic statesman Lin Zexu. Mr. Lin arrived in Ili on December 10, 1842, and served there until the end of 1844, when he was ordered to go south to survey land reclamation. Though his stay lasted only two years, regardless of personal honor or disgrace, he always paid enthusiastic attention to and actively participated in the construction and major activities in Ili. Among these, the project of the Kash River Huangqu Longkou, which he funded, employed over 100,000 laborers excluding materials. He personally directed and supervised the construction throughout the process. Four months later, the Longkou was completed, along with over three kilometers of main irrigation canals. A wronged elderly man, already in declining health, labored day and night to accomplish great deeds for the nation and its people—his spirit is truly admirable. Although the Longkou project was later abandoned due to multiple reconstructions and expansions of Huangqu, the stone remains of the site are still clearly visible. In the autumn of 1986, Mr. Ling Qing, a descendant of Mr. Lin and former Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, along with over 100 experts, visited the site to pay tribute to their predecessors’ legacy. The old Longkou is located at the Kash River Afforestation Station east of Yining County, facing the Ili Small-leaved White Elm Nature Reserve across the river. In summer, the area is shaded by green trees, bursting with blooming flowers, while the shimmering waters of the Kash River complement the scenery, making it a popular destination for people seeking summer retreats and recreation.