The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Hangzhou Section)(Hangzhou Ancient Canal)

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Hangzhou Section) has a history of 1,300 years with its eldest part dating back to the 5th century BC. It’s also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which appropriately starts in Beijing and ends in Hangzhou. The Grand Canal passes through Tianjin City and the Provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, and links the two longest rivers in China - the Yellow River and Yangtze River. The total length of the Grand Canal is 1,794 kilometers and it took 1,799 years to form its current shape and size.

The Grand Canal was first dug to transport grain and luxuries to Beijing. Later, it was used by merchants to ship commodities, which made its corridor develop into a prosperous economic belt. Meanwhile, it served as a powerful force for unifying Chinese culture and integrating Chinese politics. The Emperors’ River was another name given to the Grand Canal by foreign visitors because of its strong connection with numerous Chinese emperors. In Chinese history, many emperors from different dynasties made ship trips along the Grand Canal to Southern China. In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong made twelve adventurous trips to the south.

The Grand Canal’s significant role in China’s culture, economy, and politics has blessed it with numerous historical and cultural landscapes and earned it the title -“the Gallery of Chinese History, Ancient Technology, and Local Customs”.