The Grand Canal, also known as the Emperor Canal or Grand Canal, is the longest man-made waterway in the world. It is considered a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering. Parts of it were constructed more than 2,400 years ago. With a length of approximately 1,800 kilometers and a width of up to 40 meters, the canal connected northern China with the fertile Yangtze River delta in the south.
Its waters reflect the tumultuous history of imperial dynasties and the transformation of modern China. The Grand Canal passes through 30 cities with more than three million inhabitants, traversing booming eastern China. As early as the 5th century BC, it linked the Yangtze River with the rivers and cities in central China. Due to the lack of a natural north-south waterway, the construction of a canal was necessary.
