Was Lingnan desolate in Tang Dynasty?

No, Lingnan was not fully developed at that time, but it was not very desolate. On the contrary, some areas are still very prosperous. In terms of civil affairs, in the Tang Dynasty, the Lingnan Festival envoy was in charge of the increase and decrease of household registration, education promotion, changing customs, persuasion by farmers and mulberry, and appeasement of the lonely and weak, which promoted the social development of Lingnan Road in the Tang Dynasty. Lingnan our envoy, who also held the financial power of past dynasties, gave him the right to adjust the tax weight, levy and tribute, which was an important aspect of Lingnan our envoy's jurisdiction over Lingnan Road. Moreover, Guangzhou on Lingnan Road was an important transportation hub and trade port at home and abroad in the Tang Dynasty. The jurisdiction of Lingnan Festival envoys over trade in past dynasties largely determined the prosperity of Guangzhou's foreign trade in this period.