Abstract: Objective The formation of local characteristics in Lingnan garden landscapes is intricately linked to structural relationships with agricultural production, prominently demonstrated through garden water management. Beginning in the Song Dynasty and flourishing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the systematic reclamation and cultivation of land not only addressed agricultural demands but also catalyzed the development of highly integrated agricultural systems and the expansion of commercial agriculture in Lingnan. This process further facilitated early urbanization and external trade, thereby establishing the foundational framework for the emergence of Lingnan garden culture during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Focusing on the interplay between water management, agricultural practices, and garden aesthetics, the article examines how Ming and Qing dynasty Lingnan gardens were shaped by these factors. Methods Through historical research and literature review, combined with textual analysis, images, and existing garden landscapes, this article analyzed the natural water network characteristics and land reclamation patterns in the Lingnan water towns during the Ming and Qing periods. It examined the mechanisms behind the formation of garden water scenes and explores landscaping techniques in Lingnan such as rock placement, hill stacking, embankment construction, and the design of pavilions and terraces. Results With the support of two key elements, namely manpower and technology, the Lingnan region developed effective water conservancy facilities to prevent and control flooding in the Pearl River Delta, such as earth and stone embankment techniques, as well as techniques to regulate water resources and prevent flooding in an integrated manner, including stone sinus, stone dams and intermediate foundations. An agro-ecosystem modelled on the Kei Wai fishpond was developed in Lingnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and as a result, a unique landscape for agricultural production was created. Some of them were utilised as various types of construction sites during the urbanisation course of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and became natural substrates for garden creation. In the long-term development of Lingnan gardens, the techniques of creating water gardens have been formed by relying on natural water systems and combing them with water gardens through diversion and shaping. Among them, the dredging of the garden pool and water level control have drawn on the experience of water management in the dike. Facilities such as sluice gates, water gates and sinuses, as well as experience in water management, are also used to finely manage the quality of water bodies in gardens. The embankment with the function of water shaping and enclosure undertook various functions such as traffic and ornamental, which created the linear landscape characteristics in the late Qing Dynasty Lingnan gardens. Ming and Qing Lingnan agricultural productive landscape clearly influenced the Lingnan garden water management aesthetic concepts and technical models, the most significant feature of which is the square pool wall bank. To a certain extent, the water management of Lingnan gardens is culturally a legacy and a result of change, and in terms of construction, it is a miniaturised product of stone dykes and enclosures, including the similarity of function and material, and the inheritance relationship between structure and form. Conclusion Various aspects of garden water management in Ming and Qing Lingnan evidenced close associations with contemporary agricultural reclamation endeavors. Agricultural expansions during this period propelled advancements in field water management systems, facilitating the transition from natural farmlands to productive agricultural landscapes. The cultural influence of literati and scholars in Ming and Qing Lingnan, expressing empathy and poetic acclaim for agricultural production landscapes, played a pivotal role. Traditional Lingnan agricultural practices, such as mulberry-based fish ponds and lotus-based fish ponds, fostered technological progress and accumulated experience in the Pearl River Delta region, accelerating the formation and privatization of agricultural irrigation landscapes. This phenomenon sparked significant developments in garden water management practices related to landscaping techniques such as stone arrangement and bridge construction. The historical mechanisms of agricultural expansion in Lingnan imply novel perspectives on traditional gardens. Diverging from mainstream Chinese classical gardens such as imperial or scholar gardens, which typically evolved top-down under elite patronage or scholarly influence, the foundational logic behind Ming and Qing Lingnan gardens stemmed from waves of migration since the Tang and Song Dynasties, agricultural reclamation efforts, and capital accumulation driven by commercial agriculture. This underscored a grassroots approach to garden development, presenting an alternative manifestation of Chinese classical gardens that embodies their richness and diversity.