Coventina's History Thread: The Chinese Grand Canal

[Coventina]

Yes folks, canals are going to be a theme the next several days!

Why? Why not?

The Chinese Grand Canal is also very ancient.

Not quite as ancient as the Canal of the Pharaohs, but pretty darn old.
And, it has outlasted the COTP by a long shot, still in operation today!!

The earliest sections of China's Grand Canal were constructed during the early 5th century BCE.
The entire network was completed in the year 607 CE.
(The Grand Canal is actually a network of canals that link China's agricultural heartland with Beijing in the North and China's southern coast near Hangzhou.)

The Canal has proved to be one of China's most important achievements in its infrastructure. It has been used for feeding China's population, flood control, and of course commerce. It has repaid all the labor and money so many times over, it is impossible to calculate.

Also, some sections are quite pretty.

[wendyb-NC]

1. Fascinating

That's got to have been one spectacular project, and that it still exists and is functional is amazing.

[LoisB]

2. That section is very pretty.

[electric_blue68]

3. Wow, what an endeavor. Look at those lovely willow trees

[niyad]

4. Thank you!