The Grand Canal has long been considered second only to the Great Wall in terms of China’s manmade wonders. The 1,776 kilometer waterway was recorded on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on June 22. The canal dates back to the reign of King Fuchai of Wu (495-473 BC), when the first section was dug for military purposes. Emperor Yang of Sui (AD 604-618) expanded the canal from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province to Beijing to transport supplies to the capital Luoyang, Henan Province. The Yuan Dynasty saw large-scale renovations while the Ming and Qing dynasties closed off several watercourses. At present, the main body of the canal in Beijing is known as the Tonghui River, which extends from the Dipamkara Sharira Stupa in Tongzhou District to Jishuitan, Xicheng District.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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