Língbì

Língbì lies in the northern Anhui plains, within the wider Huai River country of eastern China. Cultivated fields and rural settlements formed the basis of local life, while roads and waterways linked the district with neighboring market centers. Grain production supported households and contributed to the provisioning needs of larger political and commercial systems. Flooding and changes in regional rivers could complicate both agriculture and transport, requiring continuing attention to the management of water.

Lingbi was established as a county under the Song in 1086, carved from Hong County and placed under Suzhou. The area became known for its ornamental stones, prized for their forms and resonant sound. Local accounts describe Lingbi stone as tribute in the Tang and Song periods; collectors later valued it in gardens and scholars' settings far beyond the county.