Xu River

Xu River

Xu River originates from Gucheng Lake in Gaochun District of Nanjing city. It was dug in 506 BC (spring and Autumn period). It is the oldest man-made canal in the world, the earliest canal recorded in China, and the earliest canal dug in the world. It is still playing a shipping role.

hydrology

Xuhe River, also known as XuXi River and XuXi River in ancient times, originates from Gucheng Lake in Gaochun District of Nanjing city. Its upstream is connected with Shuiyang River, a tributary of Yangtze River in Wuhu, Anhui Province, and its downstream is connected with Jingxi river of Taihu Lake system.

Xuhe river is about 31 kilometers long and 20-160 meters wide. Both sides of the river are rich in rice and tea. Famous brands include Xuhe tea boat and tea chain.

There is luopengwan water station on Xuhe River in Changzhou City

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history

Xuhe river was excavated in 506 BC (spring and Autumn period), which is the oldest man-made canal in the world. Xu River is the earliest canal recorded in China, and it is also the earliest canal excavated in the world. The artificial river named Guoda River excavated by Sweden in northern Europe in 1832 is the earliest canal in Europe, which is more than 2300 years later than Xu River in China.

According to the records in Gaochun county annals by Guangxu of Qing Dynasty, "Xuhe, the king of Wu, conquered Chu, and Wu opened it to pass the way of song." Xu River flows from Suzhou to Taihu Lake, passes through Yixing, Liyang and Gaochun, passes through Gucheng Lake, and flows into the Yangtze River in Wuhu, with a total length of more than 100 kilometers.

In the spring and Autumn period, King Helu of Wu ordered Wu Zixu to excavate a canal for transporting grain for the expedition to Chu, which connected Taihu Lake in the East and Yangtze River in the West. The opening of the canal not only facilitates shipping, but also brings flooding to the downstream areas. In the early Ming Dynasty, the shizha was opened and closed, and the Xuhe river flowed through Gucheng Lake and Shijiu lake, connected with Qinhuai River, and connected with the waterway transportation between Taihu Lake and Nanjing. In the early years of Yongle, yundao was abandoned and Dongba was built again. In the 35th year of Jiajing, Xiaba was built. Since then, the lakes in Gaochun no longer travel eastward. In 1958, Dongba was demolished to divert water to the East, Xuhe river was dredged, sealing dam and Maodong sluice were built, and the old canal was revived.

Today's appearance

Today's Xuhe river passes through Dongba, Xiaba and dingbu of Gaochun, reaches the estuary of Yaxi river of Zhujiaqiao in Liyang, connects the south section of Jingxi River in the East, and connects with Jingxi river flowing into Taihu Lake in Yixing. It is a channel for water diversion, irrigation and navigation between Gaochun and Liyang, so it is also called Chunli canal. The Wushen canal, which connects Wuhu Yangtze River water transport and Shanghai Huangpu River water transport, is also under construction. It can carry 1000 tonnage ships and will be completed in 2010.

Address: Gaochun County, Nanjing

Longitude: 118.982426

Latitude: 31.301224