History of Grand Canal

Grand Canal, the world's longest man-made waterway, spans over 1100 miles, connecting Beijing in the north and Hangzhou in the south. Its construction began as long as the 5th century BCE. The most significant construction took place during Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE) under Empoeror Yang, who believed that the canal could greatly faciliate the transporation of goods and military forces between the north and the south. 

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​The primary construction method used was manual excavation,, with workers digging the canal using basic tools like shovels and baskets to move the earth. Thus, an extraordinary number of workers, supervisors, and engineers were employed for the project. An estimate of five million people worked for the first major section of the Grand Canal, "Bian Qu". 

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My homecity, Hefei, while not directly on the main route of the Grand Canal, has a close connection to it due to its location in the Yangtze River basin and its historical role as a regional hub for trade and transportation. The proximity of Hefei to the canal allowed it to benefit from the economic and cultural exchanges facilitated by this ancient waterway. Agricultural products were easily transported via tributaries that linked to the Grand Canal. 

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For this research, I have selected the ancient town of Xihe, in the nearby Wuhu city,  to better understand the intricate connection between rivers and people. As a center of trade, it connected the inland regions to major waterways, linking local economies to larger commercial networks. By studying Xihe’s evolution as a transportation center, I aim to uncover how its river-based economy shaped not only the livelihoods of its inhabitants but also the cultural and social dynamics of the town.