Guangxi News Network - Guilin, Guangxi Daily (Reporter Fu Qinglong) On October 26, the hosting rights announcement ceremony for the 2026 World Canal Conference was held in Guilin. Rudy Van De Wijn, President of the Inland Waterways International (IWI), announced that IWI has approved and granted Guilin City and the Lingqu Canal Museum the hosting rights for the 2026 World Canal Conference.
This year, IWI received Guilin's application to host the World Canal Conference. In June, Rudy Van der Ween led a delegation to inspect Guilin and attended an expert symposium on Guilin's bid for the 2026 World Canal Conference, followed by a comprehensive report to the IWI Council.
According to operational procedures, IWI conducted an assessment of Guilin's bidding qualifications.The World Canal Conference provides practical exchange opportunities for canal enthusiasts, professionals, and scholars worldwide, including the preservation of historical canals, restoration of canal systems, ports, towpaths, and facilities along canals; showcasing or explaining the history and various elements of canals and their corridors; and utilizing canals to promote tourism, stimulate economic development, and transform cities.
Guilin is seizing this opportunity with the Lingqu Canal. As one of the world's oldest and most complete artificial canals, the Lingqu Canal enjoys the reputation of being a pearl of ancient hydraulic engineering. It still serves functions such as irrigation, flood control, water replenishment, and transportation, earning it the title of "living heritage."
In recent years, the Guangxi Party Committee and government have attached great importance to the conservation and promotion of the Lingqu Canal. Guilin City has made Lingqu Canal conservation and promotion a key element in building a world-class tourist city. It has formulated and implemented the "Guilin Lingqu Canal Protection Regulations," completed the "Lingqu Canal Protection Plan," established the Lingqu Canal Museum, and promoted integrated development of "tourism + water conservancy" and "tourism + agriculture." The Lingqu Canal has successfully been listed as a World Irrigation Heritage Site and is currently applying for World Cultural Heritage status, propelling this millennia-old canal into a new era of vitality.
