People play on the ancient Lingqu Canal. [Photo by Tang Mengxian/China News Service]

The Lingqu Canal Museum in Guilin's Xing'an county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region joined the Inland Waterways International organization (IWI) on Feb 21. 

IWI is an international civil society organization with 86 members from 26 countries. Its World Canals Conference is an important international conference focusing on canal management and development, which is of great importance in promoting tourism growth, as well as in stimulating economic growth and innovative urban development.

The Lingqu Canal is one of the oldest man-made canals in the world and is still used to irrigate farmland and drain flood water. It was listed as a key cultural heritage site under State protection in 1988, and was designated a World's Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2018.

The Lingqu Museum is a comprehensive historical and cultural institution that integrates the collection of cultural relics with research, social education, as well as the display and promotion of Lingqu culture.

In recent years, Xing'an county has implemented a number of projects to protect and utilize the history and culture of the Lingqu Canal. It is also moving forward its application for the Lingqu Canal to be listed as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.