The Grand Canal is the world's longest man-made waterway, being 1,800 kilometers long. The canal connects the present cities of Beijing in the north and Hangzhou in the south, which served as dynastic capitals in the past, and contains 24 locks and 60 bridges. Since most of China's major rivers flow from west to east, the fact that the Grand Canal runs north and south provides it as an important connector between the Yangtze River valley and the Yellow River valley, and other minor river systems. It is being restored as a water-diversion conduit.
The series of waterways in eastern China is not only very long, but also very old, which makes the Grand Canal a masterpiece of both the ancient and the new. The oldest section, that between the Yangtze River and the Huang He, was constructed during the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.
The building of the canal began in 486 B.C. during the Zhou Dynastry. It was extended during the Qi Dynastry, and later by Emporor Yangdi of the Sui Dynasty during six years of furious construction from 605-610 A.D.
The shifting of China's "breadbasket" from the wheat and millet producing regions of the north to the rice fields of the south prompted Sui Dynasty emperors in the 6th century to construct the canal linking this productive southern region to the northern captials. Beginning in 584, existing portions of the canal, dating as far back as the Zhou danasty, were linked together into a unified system that streched some 1800 kilometers.
The southern section connected the north to Yangzhou on the Yangtze river. A branch built in 608-609 that led to the Beijing region was designed to supply the armies protecting the north and northeastern frontiers. The Grand Canal greatly improved the administration and defense of China and served to increase the economic interdependence of the north and south.
The political unity under the Sui made it possible to build the Grand Imperial Canal. Building techniques were primitive, and the peasants, who did most of the work, endured much suffering. About half of the six million men recruited to build the Canal died at their work. This contributed to the downfall of the shortlived Sui Dynasty (589-618).
This "artificial Nile" accomplished for China what the real Nile had done for Egypt thousands of years ago. It integrated the north and the south and formed the basis for a unfied national economy. It also restored the authority of the imperial officials who were needed for the administration and maintenance of the Canal. Hence the foundations were laid for the brilliant epoch of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as China emerged as the most powerful state in the world.
The Grand Canal is divided into seven parts with different names: Tonghui River (Beijing - Tong County), North Canal (Tong County - Tianjin), South Canal (southern Tianjin - Linqing, Shandong), Lu Canal (Linqing - Taierzhuang), Middle Canal (Taierzhuang - Huaiyin, Jiangsu), Li Canal (Huaiyin - Yangzhou), and finally, Jiangnan Canal (Zhenjiang - Hangzhou, Zhejiang).
Grand Canal Scenery
There are many famous tourist cities scatted along the Grand Canal, including Jining, Xuzhou, Huai'an, Yangzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. No matter in which city, the Grand Canal is picturesque with its banks full of cultural relics.
In Zaozhuang, Shandong, the Grand Canal passes Weishanhu Lake and forms a marvellous sight. In the lake, there is the river; and in the river, there is the lake. Here, visitors can see men fishing, casting their nets into the river on the boats floating on the lake. Some of them are angling at ease and some are driving cormorants sitting in their boats. It is a place where visitors can have a look at the oldest way of fishing.
In Huai'an, Jiangsu, there is an ancient wharf, and the museum reflects the Grand Canal's water transportation history. The spectacular scene of the Grand Canal, the old Yellow River and Huaihe River meeting together is also within the view.
In Yangzhou, Jiangsu, there is a spectacular scene formed as the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal meet. Lots of historical relics and human landscapes are found scatted along the banks of the Canal. The Shuidou Gate and Dongguan Ancient Ferry are the witnesses of the ancient harbour. There are also irrigation works and the buildings of Yangzhou, and the housing of the merchants dealing with salt business such as the Ge Garden can be admired.
In Suzhou, Jiangsu, visitors can travel along in a painted boat and appreciate the Grand Canal scenery for about 16 kilometres. There are ten land and water city gates, together with eighteen ancient bridges, to greet visitors cruising along the river.
Hangzhou Section Scenery: Landscapes along the Grand Canal in Hangzhou section provide numerous sceneries and can be admired. Among them there are the newly-built China Grand Canal Museum, two landscape belts along the banks of the Grand Canal; two squares - the West Lake Cultural Square and the Grand Canal Cultural Square; three parks - Genshan Park, Qingsha Park and Beixing Park, and six bridge ports and fifteen bridges.
The China Grand Canal Museum, which opened to visitors on Oct. 1st, 2006, is the first museum in China with the theme of the Grand Canal. The Genshan Park is featured with the waterscape, while Qingsha Park presents the traditional streets to visitors. The mysterious Beixing Park brings out the best scene, with the adjacent Grand Canal Cultural Square. The fifteen bridges over the Grand Canal are very characteristic, with each full of its unique scene, especially at night. Visitors can also have a look at the site of Fuyi Granary, which is the famous granary in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in Hangzhou.
A visitor can admire the moon of the West Lake, the tidewater of the Qiantang River, and boating on the Grand Canal. This is a fantastic evening in Hangzhou.
Grand Canal Cruise
The most popular section to cruise on the Grand Canal is the section that passes through Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. The first cruise line on the Grand Canal was launched in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province in the early 1980s, and has attracted numerous visitors worldwide. The line later expanded to more cities including Suzhou, Changzhou, Yangzhou and Hangzhou.
There are Cruise ships on the Grand Canal from Yangzhou to Suzhou. In Hangzhou section, there are hydro-busses leaving from different wharfs that offer visitors a chance to admire the Grand Canal scenery in less than two hours.
The series of waterways in eastern China is not only very long, but also very old, which makes the Grand Canal a masterpiece of both the ancient and the new. The oldest section, that between the Yangtze River and the Huang He, was constructed during the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.
The building of the canal began in 486 B.C. during the Zhou Dynastry. It was extended during the Qi Dynastry, and later by Emporor Yangdi of the Sui Dynasty during six years of furious construction from 605-610 A.D.
The shifting of China's "breadbasket" from the wheat and millet producing regions of the north to the rice fields of the south prompted Sui Dynasty emperors in the 6th century to construct the canal linking this productive southern region to the northern captials. Beginning in 584, existing portions of the canal, dating as far back as the Zhou danasty, were linked together into a unified system that streched some 1800 kilometers.
The southern section connected the north to Yangzhou on the Yangtze river. A branch built in 608-609 that led to the Beijing region was designed to supply the armies protecting the north and northeastern frontiers. The Grand Canal greatly improved the administration and defense of China and served to increase the economic interdependence of the north and south.
The political unity under the Sui made it possible to build the Grand Imperial Canal. Building techniques were primitive, and the peasants, who did most of the work, endured much suffering. About half of the six million men recruited to build the Canal died at their work. This contributed to the downfall of the shortlived Sui Dynasty (589-618).
This "artificial Nile" accomplished for China what the real Nile had done for Egypt thousands of years ago. It integrated the north and the south and formed the basis for a unfied national economy. It also restored the authority of the imperial officials who were needed for the administration and maintenance of the Canal. Hence the foundations were laid for the brilliant epoch of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as China emerged as the most powerful state in the world.
The Grand Canal is divided into seven parts with different names: Tonghui River (Beijing - Tong County), North Canal (Tong County - Tianjin), South Canal (southern Tianjin - Linqing, Shandong), Lu Canal (Linqing - Taierzhuang), Middle Canal (Taierzhuang - Huaiyin, Jiangsu), Li Canal (Huaiyin - Yangzhou), and finally, Jiangnan Canal (Zhenjiang - Hangzhou, Zhejiang).
Grand Canal Scenery
There are many famous tourist cities scatted along the Grand Canal, including Jining, Xuzhou, Huai'an, Yangzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. No matter in which city, the Grand Canal is picturesque with its banks full of cultural relics.
In Zaozhuang, Shandong, the Grand Canal passes Weishanhu Lake and forms a marvellous sight. In the lake, there is the river; and in the river, there is the lake. Here, visitors can see men fishing, casting their nets into the river on the boats floating on the lake. Some of them are angling at ease and some are driving cormorants sitting in their boats. It is a place where visitors can have a look at the oldest way of fishing.
In Huai'an, Jiangsu, there is an ancient wharf, and the museum reflects the Grand Canal's water transportation history. The spectacular scene of the Grand Canal, the old Yellow River and Huaihe River meeting together is also within the view.
In Yangzhou, Jiangsu, there is a spectacular scene formed as the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal meet. Lots of historical relics and human landscapes are found scatted along the banks of the Canal. The Shuidou Gate and Dongguan Ancient Ferry are the witnesses of the ancient harbour. There are also irrigation works and the buildings of Yangzhou, and the housing of the merchants dealing with salt business such as the Ge Garden can be admired.
In Suzhou, Jiangsu, visitors can travel along in a painted boat and appreciate the Grand Canal scenery for about 16 kilometres. There are ten land and water city gates, together with eighteen ancient bridges, to greet visitors cruising along the river.
Hangzhou Section Scenery: Landscapes along the Grand Canal in Hangzhou section provide numerous sceneries and can be admired. Among them there are the newly-built China Grand Canal Museum, two landscape belts along the banks of the Grand Canal; two squares - the West Lake Cultural Square and the Grand Canal Cultural Square; three parks - Genshan Park, Qingsha Park and Beixing Park, and six bridge ports and fifteen bridges.
The China Grand Canal Museum, which opened to visitors on Oct. 1st, 2006, is the first museum in China with the theme of the Grand Canal. The Genshan Park is featured with the waterscape, while Qingsha Park presents the traditional streets to visitors. The mysterious Beixing Park brings out the best scene, with the adjacent Grand Canal Cultural Square. The fifteen bridges over the Grand Canal are very characteristic, with each full of its unique scene, especially at night. Visitors can also have a look at the site of Fuyi Granary, which is the famous granary in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in Hangzhou.
A visitor can admire the moon of the West Lake, the tidewater of the Qiantang River, and boating on the Grand Canal. This is a fantastic evening in Hangzhou.
Grand Canal Cruise
The most popular section to cruise on the Grand Canal is the section that passes through Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. The first cruise line on the Grand Canal was launched in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province in the early 1980s, and has attracted numerous visitors worldwide. The line later expanded to more cities including Suzhou, Changzhou, Yangzhou and Hangzhou.
There are Cruise ships on the Grand Canal from Yangzhou to Suzhou. In Hangzhou section, there are hydro-busses leaving from different wharfs that offer visitors a chance to admire the Grand Canal scenery in less than two hours.
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