History and Culture
An ancient temple in Lishui. [Photo/lsnews.com.cn]
Lishui has a long history and profound culture. The past over 1,400 years have witnessed great changes in Lishui since the establishment of Chuzhou state in 589.
The Tongjiyan irrigation system is the oldest water conservancy project in Zhejiang province.
Longquan celadon, Longquan swords and Qingtian stone carving are honored as "three treasures in Lishui" and were listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages.
Longquan celadon dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) and the Jin Dynasty (265-420), and is one of the oldest, largest and most influential categories of kiln in China. Longquan celadon is not only a symbol of Chinese culture but also a world-class cultural heritage, and was selected as the official gifts at the G20 Hangzhou Summit.
Invented in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period (770-221 BC), the Longquan sword is reputed to be the best sword in China.
Reputed as "the ancestor of stone carving", Qingtian stone carving originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-581), and has a history of more than 1,600 years, which has been chosen as the national present on many occasions.