Atlas of China
Hongze Lake Levee (Gaojiayan) and Ancient Dike Scenic Area 洪泽湖大堤Hóngzé Hú Dàdī
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Huai'an, Jiangsu
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Huai'an
- Region
- Jiangsu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Hongze Lake Levee (Gaojiayan) and Ancient Dike Scenic Area
The great dike along the east shore of Hongze Lake was begun as a 30-li embankment in AD 200 and extended under the Ming and Qing to hold back the lake, protect the plains to the east and feed water to the Grand Canal; between 1580 and 1751 its lake face was clad with a wall of dressed stone about 60 km long and 7–8 m high. Now some 67 km long and part of the Grand Canal World Heritage listing, it can be toured from the Ancient Dike scenic area in Hongze District, whose sightseeing cars run along the top. Stops include the Zhouqiao breach, where floodwater broke the dike in 1824 and the stone wall was rebuilt with iron cramps, and some of the more than 300 Ming and Qing inscriptions carved along the dike.
How to get to Hongze Lake Levee (Gaojiayan) and Ancient Dike Scenic Area
The Zhouqiao section is about 10 km south of Hongze town, which is about 35 km south-west of central Huai'an; by car.
On the map
Open Hongze Lake Levee (Gaojiayan) and Ancient Dike Scenic Area on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Hongze Lake Levee (Gaojiayan) and Ancient Dike Scenic Area on the map