Grand Canal (China)

The Grand Canal (also Grand Canal; Chinese京 杭 大 运河, Pinyin Jing Hang Da Yunhe ) is the longest man-made waterway in the world. With a length of more than 1800 km and a width of up to 40 meters, he joined the North China ( Tianjin) with the fertile estuary of the Yangtze River ( Hangzhou). He overcame a height difference of 42 meters, was 3-9 meters deep and is considered the masterpiece of hydraulic engineering in ancient China.

History

Individual parts of the channel originated more than 2,400 years ago ( the end of the Spring and Autumn Annals in the State of Wu ), the Han - channel. The first artificial waterway of China said to be the from the 6th to 4th centuries BC native Hong Gou canal. For Qin and Han period different channel projects were launched, both in the interest of transportation and irrigation.

Between 584 and 610 were the Sui Emperor (mainly Yangdi ) Remove a channel network, what with the lower reaches of the Yangtze and Hangzhou in the south and with the Region at today's Beijing linked the main towns on the Huanghe and consecration to the north. Emperor Yangdi himself drove 605 with a 65 -mile fleet of Luoyang down to Jiangdu ( Yangzhou ), so that food prices soared along its path.

Specifically Association of Guangtongqu the capital Chang'an 584 with the consecration and Huanghe, the Tongjiqu (also Bianhe ) joined 605 the area around Luoyang with the lower reaches of the Huaihe River. From there, the Shanyangdu 606 joined today Huai'an to the Yangzi in Yangzhou, during Jiangnanhe then 610 still Hangzhou anband. In the north put the 608/ 09 built Yongjiqu connecting the main cities of the region around Beijing dar. to Tang period were still some enhancements added, for example, the Guangjiqu in Huai'an 742

Parallel to the channels roads were built and erected at regular intervals relay stations, as transhipments were never to be avoided. In the vicinity of the former capitals of Luoyang and Chang'an huge memory took on the flow of goods. A lot of the goods shipped to the North was silk, grain and rice later.

Besides serving as supply and trade the channel also was of great strategic importance for troop and supply transports. For the late Tang period and therefore after a strong garrison was, for example, positioned in Xuzhou, which disadvantage the local military commander of an influence of the dynasty should hold.

With the invention of the ship lock by Qiao Weiyue 984 channels were gradually equipped with it. Before Gradients (highest point of the Grand Canal: 42 meters above sea level) have been overcome by slides or ramps, which the ships repeated intentionally damaged part and led to the theft of cargo. In addition, you had very drought affecting the operation of the slides.

When the Yuan Dynasty Dadu their new capital founded in the 13th century in the area of present-day Beijing, the Grand Canal was extended until there and partially realigned ( TONGHUI channel, Huitong Canal 1289 ). The old route was too long for the new needs and not long since been sufficient navigable. In parallel, we used since the 1280ern the sea to supply the capital and the north.

For more than 600 years, the channel for Beijing was the main supply wire with cereals ( especially rice), but also with silk and other trade goods. The largest part of the required for the construction of the Forbidden City wood was brought in on the channel.

After in 1855 the Yellow River had laid his course to the south, the canal was no longer navigable and thus lost in importance. The abolition of the tax in kind system in 1901, a significant decline in transport volumes and a further meaning loss. In addition, the navigation channel had been with the Shandong Railway line serious competition.

After the founding of the People 's Republic of China in 1949 continued to the Grand Canal partially repaired, so that it can be used as a regional waterway and also as irrigation canal today. Due to the seasonal water shortages in northern China and hence restricted navigability, however, he does not play a regional role.

Course

Modern History

  • Jiangnan Canal
  • Li- channel
  • Zhong - channel
  • Lu - channel
  • Southern channel
  • Northern Channel and TONGHUI River

Historical development

  • Jia- channel
  • New Nanyang Canal
  • Huitong Canal
  • Jizhou Canal
  • Duke Huan's channel
  • Yilou channel
Suzhou Sui dynasty Emperor Yang of Sui Wei River Huai River Qingdao–Jinan Railway
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