The Grand Canal 大运河, also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, is the longest canal or artificial river in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From North to South and starting at Beijing, it passes through Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the city of Hangzhou, linking the Yellow River and Yangtze River. The oldest parts of the canal date back to the 5th century BC, but various sections were first connected during the Sui dynasty (581–618 AD). The Yuan and Ming dynasties significantly rebuilt the canal and altered its route to supply their capital Beijing.
The total length of the Grand Canal is 1776 km. Its greatest height is reached in the mountains of Shandong, at a summit of 42 m. Ships in Chinese canals did not have trouble reaching higher elevations after the pound lock was invented by the government official and engineer Qiao Weiyue in the 10th century, during the Song dynasty (960–1279).
Periodic flooding of the Yellow River has historically threatened the safety and functioning of the canal. During wartime the high dikes of the Yellow River were sometimes deliberately broken in order to flood advancing enemy troops. This caused disaster and prolonged economic hardships.
Despite temporary periods of desolation and disuse, the Grand Canal furthered an indigenous and growing economic market in China's urban centers since the Sui period. It has allowed faster trading and has improved China's economy. The southern portion [beginning of this footage] remains in heavy use to the present day.
Modern Course : The Grand Canal nominally runs between Beijing and Hangzhou. However, only the section from Hangzhou to Jining is currently navigated. Its course is today divided into seven sections. From south to north these are the Jiangnan Canal, the Li Canal, the Zhong Canal, the Lu Canal, the South Canal, the North Canal, and the Tonghui River.
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The film shows the route taken on 2012 which passed through the following cities:
Zhejiang province:
杭州 Hangzhou
嘉兴 Jiaxing
Jiangsu province:
苏州 Suzhou
江阴 Jiangyin
扬中 Yangzhong
高邮 Gaoyou
楚州 Chuzhou
淮安 Huai'an
宿迁 Suqian
Shandong province:
台儿庄 Tai'erzhuang
微山 Weishan
鱼台 Yutai
济宁 Jining
梁山 Liangshan
东阿 Dong'e
任平 Renping
高唐 Gaotang
德州 Dezhou
Hebei province:
景州 Jingzhou
阜城 Fucheng
献县 Xianxian
河间 Hejian
任丘 Renqiu
霸州 Bazhou
固安 Gu'an
北京 Beijing
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Music : 姚公白* – Guqin, The Art of Yao Gongbai
