The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the longest man-made river in the world and one of the oldest canals. It, together with the Great Wall of Wan Li, is known as two great projects in ancient China and is famous all over the world.

the Beijing-Hangzhou canal starts from Beijing in the north and ends in Hangzhou in the south, and passes through Beijing and Tianjin and Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, connecting five major water systems: Haihe, Yellow, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantang rivers. The total length is 1794 kilometers.

Location

The Grand Canal starts from Beijing in the north and reaches Hangzhou in the south. It flows through six provinces and cities, including Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and connects the Haihe River, Yellow River, Huaihe River, Yangtze River and Qiantang River, with a total length of 1,794 kilometers.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is composed of artificial rivers and some rivers and lakes, and the whole journey can be divided into seven sections:

(1) Tonghui River; (2) North Canal; (3) South Canal; (4) Lu Canal; (5) the middle canal; (6) Li Canal; (7) Jiangnan Canal.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Universiade, as the traffic artery between north and south, has played a great role in history. The navigation of the canal has promoted the rapid development of coastal cities.

At present, the navigation mileage of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal is 1,442 kilometers, of which the annual navigation mileage is 877 kilometers, mainly distributed in Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces south of the Yellow River.

The Grand Canal in Hangzhou starts from Beijing in the north and reaches Hangzhou in the south, and flows through six provinces and cities, including Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with a total length of 1,794 kilometers, which is ten times longer than Suez Canal and twenty times longer than Panama Canal.

It ends at Qiantang River.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal flows through 18 urban areas including Beijing, Tongzhou, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Zhenjiang, Qingjiang, Yangzhou, Taierzhuang, Linqing, Suzhou, Huzhou, Xuancheng, Huai 'an, Xuzhou, Liaocheng, Jining, Dezhou and Cangzhou.

Tongzhou ancient poem says: A tower shadow recognizes Tongzhou. The burning lighthouse stands at the northern end of the Grand Canal, which is the landmark building of Jingmen Tongzhou. Tianjin North Canal and South Canal joined forces in Tianjin, where they were sent to Bohai Sea by Haihe River. According to records, during the developed period of grain transportation, the North Canal from Tianjin to Tongzhou carried 2, grain tankers every year, with 12, officers and men, together with 3, merchant ships. The opening of the waterway made the small zhi gu Village quickly develop into a well-known "Tianjinwei".

the intersection of Zhenjiang, Yangzhou Yangtze River and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Liaocheng Lake and its rivers account for 1/3 of the urban area, and are called "Venice in the North of China", which is very rare in northern cities, including the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Suzhou "Suzhou Lake is ripe, and the world is full". The opening of the canal has made Suzhou rich in water and food. At present, there are passenger routes to and from Suzhou-Hangzhou section of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. At the entrance of Huai 'an Grand Canal and under the pier of Guzhen on the east bank of the Canal is the former residence of Wu Cheng'en, the author of The Journey to the West.

History

The excavation of the Jinghang Canal can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. At that time, in order to expand the sphere of influence to the west, He Lv, the king of Wu, ordered the excavation of Xuxi from Taihu Lake to the Yangtze River.

more than 2,4 years ago, Wu dug a canal (called Han Gou) to draw water from the Yangtze River into the Huai River near Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, for the purpose of the northern expedition to the Central Plains. On this basis, it continued to develop and extend from north to south, especially after the second large-scale expansion and renovation in Sui and Yuan Dynasties, and basically completed the scale of today's Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. Many sections of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal use the original natural rivers and lakes, and some sections are artificially excavated. The canal water flow is mainly replenished from the communicated natural rivers.

when I went to Emperor Yangdi (Yang Guang), it was said that Emperor Yangdi dug a canal from the Beijing-Huaihe section to the south of the Yangtze River, with a total length of more than 2, kilometers, in order to see Yao flowers in Yangzhou and transport grain from the south to the north. By the Yuan Dynasty, the capital of Yuan Dynasty was mostly (now Beijing), and canals had to be dug to transport grain from the south to the north. For this reason, three sections of rivers have been dug successively, and the horizontal canal of the Sui Dynasty, which was originally centered on Luoyang, has been built into a vertical grand canal with Dadu as the center and going south to Hangzhou. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is divided into seven sections according to its geographical location: from Beijing to Tongzhou District, it is called Tonghui River, which is 82 kilometers long; Tongzhou District to Tianjin is called the North Canal, which is 186 kilometers long. Tianjin to Linqing is called the South Canal, which is 4 kilometers long. Linqing to Taierzhuang is called Lu Canal, which is about 5 kilometers long. Taierzhuang to Huaiyin is called the Central Canal, which is 186 kilometers long. Huaiyin to Guazhou is called Li Canal, which is about 18 kilometers long. Zhenjiang to Hangzhou is called Jiangnan Canal, which is about 33 kilometers long. Yangzhou is a famous city of Li Canal. When Emperor Yangdi dug a canal in the city, Yangzhou became a transportation hub between the north and the south. With the benefit of grain transportation, it became one of the most prosperous areas in China.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Canal has always been a major waterway transportation route in the past dynasties, and played an important role in the economic and cultural exchanges between the North and the South. Shipping rose in the 19th century, and with the opening of the Jin-Pu Railway, the role of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal gradually decreased. After the migration of the Yellow River, the river reaches in Shandong Province were short of water resources, with shallow siltation, and the north-south navigation was cut off and silted to the ground. A section of Jiangsu Province with large water volume and good navigation conditions can only be used for sailing in Xiao Mu. The abandonment and depression of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal is a portrayal of China's semi-colonial and semi-feudal system. After liberation, some river sections have been widened and deepened, and many modern docks and shiplocks have been built, and the shipping conditions have been improved. Seasonal navigation mileage has reached more than 11 kilometers. The 66-kilometer waterway south of Pixian County, Jiangsu Province, with a fleet of 5 tons can be unimpeded. The ancient Beijing-Hangzhou Canal will become a water conveyance channel for the South-to-North Water Transfer Project in the future.

Significance

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is a great project created by working people in ancient China, a precious material and spiritual wealth left by our ancestors, and an important living and flowing human heritage. The Grand Canal originated in the Spring and Autumn Period, formed in the Sui Dynasty, and developed in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was built in the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2, years ago, with a history of 2,5 years. An important river channel dug by Qin Shihuang (Ying Zheng) in Jiaxing also laid the foundation for the future development of the Jiangnan Canal. According to the Yuejueshu, Qin Shihuang "ruled Lingshui Road from Jiaxing, crossed the Qiantang River, and passed through Zhejiang". About 2,5 years ago, Fu Cha, the king of Wu, dug a ditch, opened a canal connecting the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, and built the city of Han, from which the canal and its culture were derived.

The Grand Canal we are talking about today was excavated in the Spring and Autumn Period, completed in the Sui Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, straightened out in the Yuan Dynasty, and dredged in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (it was excavated in 486 BC and opened to traffic in 1293 AD), and it lasted for 1779 years. In the long years, it mainly experienced three major construction processes. In the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yangdi used millions of people to dig through the Grand Canal, which made great contributions to the unprecedented prosperity of the country's economy and culture in the future. After the development of the Tang and Song Dynasties, it finally became a traffic artery connecting the five major water systems of Haihe River, Yellow River, Huaihe River, Yangtze River and Qiantang River in the Yuan Dynasty.

artificial Tianhe.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the second "golden waterway" after the Yangtze River in China. Its value is comparable to that of the Great Wall, which is the earliest and longest man-made river channel in the world, 16 times that of Suez Canal and 33 times that of Panama Canal.

Declaring World Heritage

In March p>26, 58 CPPCC members jointly submitted a proposal to the Fourth Session of the Tenth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, calling for the rescue and protection of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from a strategic perspective, and declaring world heritage projects in due course.

Among these 58 members, there are not only the current CPPCC chairmen and former CPPCC chairmen in six provinces and cities along the Grand Canal, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Hebei, but also two former directors of National Cultural Heritage Administration, Zhang Wenbin and Dan Jixiang. Shu Yi, Wang Tiecheng and other famous people have also signed.

Committee member Liu Feng, the first sponsor, said that the Grand Canal, with its profound historical and cultural connotation, is known as the "Ancient Cultural Corridor", "Ancient Science and Technology Library", "Museum of Scenic Spots" and "Folk Exhibition Room", and its historical remains are excellent physical materials for studying China's ancient politics, economy, culture and society, and the best testimony of China's long history and civilization. From the perspective of protecting human civilization, the Grand Canal is not only unique in China, but also recognized by the world for its role in the development of human history. The water system of the Grand Canal stretches for thousands of miles, running through the north and south, forming a unique natural style and giving birth to a rich linear cultural landscape. If we add intangible cultural heritage that has not been well explored, the content will be more abundant. "If you add up the historical value, cultural connotation and contribution to the historical development of China, it can be comparable to the Great Wall to some extent." Two authoritative experts, Zheng Xiaoxie and Luo Zhewen, who called on China to join the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, predicted, "We firmly believe that the success rate of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal's application for World Heritage is very high."

"The Grand Canal and the Great Wall should be sisters in the heritage list." Member Liu Feng reminded me, but it must be noted that with the development of economy and society, the traditional function of the Grand Canal is gradually weakening, and its authenticity and integrity are being destroyed. If we don't pay attention to the protection work as important as "applying for the World Heritage", her history, culture, relics and natural scenery will inevitably degenerate and die out quickly, which will be an irreparable loss for the Chinese nation.

The protection of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the application for World Heritage are by no means the business of a certain place or department. CPPCC members suggested that the rescue and protection of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal should be started immediately from a strategic perspective, and a research institution with the participation and full support of relevant ministries, experts and coastal governments should be established to find out the "family background" of the Grand Canal, formulate an overall protection plan for the Grand Canal as soon as possible, and declare a world heritage project in due course.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is a great project created by working people in ancient China, a precious material and spiritual wealth left by our ancestors, and an important living and flowing human heritage. The Grand Canal originated in the Spring and Autumn Period, formed in the Sui Dynasty, developed in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and finally became a major waterway connecting the five major water systems of Haihe River, Yellow River, Huaihe River, Yangtze River and Qiantang River in the Yuan Dynasty. In the historical process of more than two thousand years, the Grand Canal has made important contributions to China's economic development, national unity, social progress and cultural prosperity, and it is still playing a huge role.

the Beijing-Hangzhou grand canal shows the outstanding achievements of China's ancient water conservancy and shipping engineering technology ahead of the world, leaving a rich historical and cultural heritage, gestating a series of famous towns like bright pearls, accumulating a profound and long-standing cultural heritage, and condensing huge information in many fields of politics, economy, culture and society in China. The Grand Canal and the Great Wall are both symbols of the cultural identity of the Chinese nation. Protecting the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is of great significance for inheriting human civilization and promoting the harmonious development of society.

with the development of economy and society, the traditional transportation function of the Grand Canal has changed, and the river course, the scenery along the river and people's life have changed greatly. At present, it is facing serious challenges in urban modernization and rural urbanization. If protection is not strengthened, the historical and cultural remains, scenery and natural ecological environment of the Grand Canal will inevitably be destroyed, and its authenticity and integrity will cease to exist, which will be an irreparable great loss to the Chinese nation. It has reached a critical juncture to rescue and protect the Grand Canal and realize sustainable development.

Appeal

-Arouse the public's social awareness of the important position and multiple values of the Grand Canal, further enhance the protection awareness of governments at all levels, summarize and publicize the experiences of various places in protecting and excavating the profound historical and cultural connotation of the Grand Canal, mobilize all social forces to participate in the protection and application of the Grand Canal, and continue the context and civilization of the Canal.

-from the national strategic perspective, establish a unified coordination organization, formulate laws and regulations for the protection of the Grand Canal, make overall plans for protection and development, mobilize all forces, implement effective protection, and make scientific and rational use for the benefit of future generations.

-In accordance with the requirements of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, attach importance to and start the application for the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, correctly handle the relationship between natural heritage, cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage with innovative ideas, correctly handle the relationship between protection, utilization and development, and effectively turn the application process into a process of strengthening the protection and management of the Grand Canal.

-set up a research institution with the full support of relevant ministries, experts and cities along the route as soon as possible, collect data, find out the family background, carry out investigation and value evaluation with a serious scientific attitude, and put forward feasible suggestions to relevant departments.

-Implement Scientific Outlook on Development, pay more attention to the overall features of the Grand Canal in the process of economic and social development planning and implementation along the Grand Canal, ensure the effective protection of cultural relics along the route, rationally utilize resources, maintain the ecological environment, realize sustainable development, and rejuvenate the ancient Canal.

In order to better protect the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and declare the world cultural heritage, China will "dig" the "Digital Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal"

The National Social Development Science and Technology Conference held in Beijing in early May 27 proposed that China will implement the digital Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal project during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period.

according to the 11th Five-Year Plan for the Scientific and Technological Development of Cultural Heritage Protection issued by National Cultural Heritage Administration, Chinese experts will formulate the residence collection standards for the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal on the basis of existing research results, systematically carry out investigation and evaluation, and establish a comprehensive information system for the cultural heritage of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal by using global positioning system (GPS) and other technical means.

According to Planning, this system can manage non-spatial data such as characters, pictures, maps and remote sensing images of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in the same geographical reference coordinate system, realize unified management through characters and graphics, realize two-way query and retrieval through characters and graphics, browse, query, analyze and map images, and form a basic information database, which provides strong support for the protection, research, display, management and decision-making of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Tianjin