The Beijing- Hangzhou Grand Canal
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Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal
There are two miracles in classical China - the Great Wall and the Grand Canal – with the canal, known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, always being seen as the pride of the Chinese people and a symbol of its cultural achievement for its size and grandeur. It has historical and cultural importance and is the longest artificial river in the world. Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] History The Grand Canal goes back 1,300 years and a part of its dates back to the 5th century BC. It starts in Beijing and ends in Hangzhou, passing through the city of Tianjin and Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. It links China’s two longest rivers, the Yellow and the Yangtze, and has a total length of 1,794 kilometers. In olden days, traffic on land depended on men and animals and was costly, slow, and small in scale, so large cargo was usually moved by water. The Grand Canal was originally intended for grain and luxuries, then later, merchants began using it for commodities, turning the corridor into a prosperous economic belt. Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal [Photo from en.gotohz.com] Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal [Photo from en.gotohz.com] Some foreign visitors called it the Emperor’s River because of its importance for Chinese emperors throughout history and many from different dynasties in the north used the Grand Canal to ship goods to Southern China. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors made 12 trips to the south of the Yangtze River via the Grand Canal . The Hangzhou section starts at the town of Tangqi, in the Yuhang district to the north and ends in the Qiantang River in the south, crossing four urban districts -- Yuhang, Gongshu, Xiacheng and Jianggan. In 2002, the Hangzhou government began a renovation and development project based on the canal for the overall improvement of water quality, bridges, old streets and buildings along it and now, there is a scenic belt along its banks in Hangzhou, with a natural landscape and cultural attractions such as historical streets, cultural parks, museums and temples.
Getting close to the Grand Canal in Hangzhou
"Poetry and painting like Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River), water charm in Zhejiang" – the national network media water tour of Zhejiang arrived at its first destination on the night of Aug 24, the Grand Canal in Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang province. Zhejiang in East China is famous for its waters. Mo matter if it is the world renowned Grand Canal, the powerful Qiantang River, the tranquil West Lake, or a gentle watertown, all have a unique beauty. Getting close to the Grand Canal in Hangzhou Editors, journalists, and photographers from major Internet media nationwide take a group photo at Wulin Dock during their tour of the Hangzhou part of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal on Aug 24, 2014.[Photo/ Zhao Naicheng] The media tour aims to explore the profound beauty of Zhejiang and inspire people's enthusiasm to participate in the eco-environment protection of its waters. Editors, journalists, and photographers from more than 50 network media nationwide started on a boat from Wulin dock, passing scenic spots such as Xinyifang and Gongchen Bridge. The group enjoyed the charming night scene of the world heritage spot. Getting close to the Grand Canal in Hangzhou Photo shows the night scene of the Grand Canal in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/ Zhao Naicheng] The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was rated as one of the world heritages at the 38th World Heritage Convention on June 22, 2014. It is the oldest and longest man-made waterway, being 1,794 kilometers long. It was constructed back in the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC) and so it has a history of about 2,500 years. Dave Ballinger, chairman of Inland Waterways International (IWI), an international organization founded in 1994, which aims to increase understanding of the importance of inland waterways for commercial, leisure and historical value, said when visiting the Grand Canal in China that the canal is unique as it not only retains its old looks, but still has a shipping function. The Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal starts from Tangqi town in Yuhang district in the north and ends in the Qiantang River to the south. It runs across four urban districts in the city of Hangzhou, Yuhang, Gongshu, Xiacheng and Jianggan. Getting close to the Grand Canal in Hangzhou Photo shows Xiangji Temple on the bank of the Grand Canal in Hangzhou. [Photo/ Zhang Qiong] Starting from 2002, the Hangzhou municipal government officially initiated a renovation and protective development project oriented to the canal in the city, achieving an overall improvement of water quality, bridges, old streets and buildings along the canal. By now, a scenic belt has been formed along the banks of the canal in Hangzhou, featuring a natural ecological landscape and cultural attractions such as historical streets, cultural parks, museums and temples. The successful application as a world heritage means the beginning of a higher level of protection. Cities along the canal have jointly published Hangzhou Manifesto, which is a consensus on the protection and development of the canal in the post-world-heritage era. Gao Xiaohui, deputy secretary of Hangzhou Canal Group Party Committee said that resource adjustments for the protection of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal are as important as the protection itself. What really matters is to allow the canal to bring a better quality of life to people living along it.
The Grand Canal in Hangzhou
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the oldest and longest man-made waterway, being 1,794 kilometers long. It was constructed back in the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). Each feudal nation built canals in each district in order to strength the communication with others. Canals connected with the natural waterways. The Grand Canal connects the present cities of Beijing in the north and Hangzhou in the south, both of which served as dynastic capitals in the past. It runs through Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, Shandong province, Jiangsu province and Zhejiang province and provides an important connection between the Yangtze River valley and the Yellow River valley, and other minor river systems. The Grand Canal in Hangzhou The Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal starts from Tangqi town in Yuhang district in the north and ends in the Qiantang River to the south. It runs across four urban districts in the city of Hangzhou, Yuhang, Gongshu, Xiacheng and Jianggan. Starting from 2002, the Hangzhou municipal government officially initiated a renovation and protective development project oriented to the canal in the city, achieving an overall improvement of water quality, bridges, old streets and buildings along the canal. By now, a scenic belt has been formed along the banks of the canal in Hangzhou, featuring natural ecological landscape and cultural attractions such as historical streets, cultural parks, museums and temples.
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1 Seven thousand ships were stranded in the Huaian section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in East China's Jiangsu Province Tuesday.
2 This photo, taken on Monday, shows nearly 1,000 cargo boats stuck in the Yiqiao section of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, due to the low water level in the canal caused by the two consecutive floods hitting the area this year. The flooding caused mud and sand to rush into the sea, thereby creating a rush of water out of the canal.
3 Vehicles enter the Yunhe Zhijiang Tunnel in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, Dec 28, 2012. The two-kilometer tunnel, which started construction on Dec 19, 2009, opened to traffic on Friday. It is the first tunnel to cross the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Hangzhou.