History

Guangji Bridge is the only seven-arched stone bridge on the Grand Canal. [Photo/linping.gov.cn]

The name Linping was first seen in the historical records of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). In the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, Linping had the biggest port along the Shangtang River. It became a township in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Linping has thrived throughout its long history. It has the Liangzhu culture that has existed for at least 5,000 years, as well as the 2,000-year-old Grand Canal culture and the Chaoshan Mountain plum culture, which has lasted for over a millennium – leaving traces of famous artists such as Su Shi, a writer, poet, artist, calligrapher, pharmacologist and statesman of the Song Dynasty and the Chinese painting master Wu Changshuo.