Introducing Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Travel Guide
Article from Hangzhou Municipal Commission of Tourism
There are two wonders in China, one is the Great Wall, and the other is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. For its size and grandeur, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has always been regarded as the pride of Chinese people and a symbol of Chinese cultural achievement. As the earliest, greatest and longest artificial river in the world, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is of great historical and cultural importance.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has a history of 1,300 years with its eldest part dating back to the 5th century BC. Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal starts in Beijing and ends in Hangzhou. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes through Tianjin City and the Provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. and links the two longest rivers in China --- the Yellow River and Yangtze River. The total length of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is 1,794 kilometers and it took 1,799 years to form its current shape and size.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was first dug to transport grain and luxuries to Beijing. Later, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was used by merchants to ship commodities which made the its corridor develop into a prosperous economic belt. Meanwhile,the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal served as a powerful force for unifying Chinese culture and integrating Chinese politics. The Emperor’s River was another name given to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal by foreign visitors because of its strong connection with numerous Chinese Emperors. In Chinese history, many Emperors from different dynasties made ship-trips along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to Southern China. In the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors made twelve adventurous trips to the south.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal’s significant role in China’s culture, economy and politics blessed it with numerous historical and cultural landscapes and earned it the title ---- the Gallery of Chinese History, Ancient Technology, and Local Customs.
Quick Facts on Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal
• Name: Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal
• Location: Lishui Road, Gongshu District
• Phone: +86-571-82788866
• Dates: 5th century BC
• Best Time to Visit: March to May; September to November
• Recommended Time for a Visit: 3 Hours
• Opening Hours: All day
• Admission Fee: Free