[citation needed] Shiling Town has long consisted of small farms abutting the mountains from which it gets its name.

[6] Archeological records indicate that the area around present-day Shiling was engaged in worship of the Chinese deity Pangu as far back as 500 CE.

[7] Shiling was founded as a hamlet (圩) in the Qing dynasty some time during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1736–1795).

[citation needed] Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Rebellion, developed his revolutionary theory and wrote many of his famous works while staying in Shiling (c. 1845 - 1847) at the Yuan Floral Hall (袁氏花厅), the ruins of which are still visible.

Primary produce are rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, nursery stock and the breeding of poultry and fish.

[citation needed] Prior to the 2000s, Shiling primarily produced low and medium quality leather goods for Chinese markets.

[8] The real estate developments in Shiling have been advertised as a "golden corridor" (黄金走廊) and "tomorrow's satellite city" (明日卫星城).

[8] The northern part of Shiling hosts a temple dedicated to Pangu built in 1809, and rebuilt in 1901 after being burned.