Eastern Zhejiang Canal

Eastern Zhejiang Canal
View of the canal from Taiping Bridge, Shaoxing
Specifications
Length239 miles (385 km)
History
Construction beganSpring and Autumn period
Date restored29 December 2007
Geography
Start pointXixing, Binjiang District, Hangzhou
End pointYong River, Zhenhai District, Ningbo
Connects toQiantang River, East China Sea
Eastern Zhejiang Canal
Traditional Chinese運河
Simplified Chinese运河
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhèdōng Yùnhé
Wade–GilesChe-tung Yün-ho
Hangyong Canal
Traditional Chinese運河
Simplified Chinese运河
Literal meaningHangzhou–Ningbo Canal
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHángyǒng Yùnhé
Háng–Yǒng Yùnhé
Wade–GilesHang-yung Yün-ho
Hang–Yung Yün-ho
Eastern Zhejiang Canal
UNESCO World Heritage Site
LocationChina
Part ofThe Grand Canal
CriteriaCultural: (i)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Reference1443bis
Inscription2014 (38th Session)
Extensions2016

The Eastern Zhejiang or Zhedong Canal, also known as the Hangzhou–Ningbo or Hangyong Canal, is a major canal connecting Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Ningbo in northern Zhejiang, China. It runs 239 kilometres (149 mi), connecting the Qiantang, Cao'e, and Yong watersheds with Hangzhou's terminus for the Grand Canal and Ningbo's ports on the East China Sea. Since 2013, it has been officially considered the southernmost section of the Grand Canal itself.

The terrain of this area of Zhejiang slopes down from mountains to the south to the coastal plain along Hangzhou Bay to the north. The oldest section of the present waterway was the Shanyin Canal constructed in Shaoxing by the Yue official Fan Li in the 5th century BC during the late Spring and Autumn period.[1] Despite the need to create numerous locks and dams to allow boats to change levels at the various rivers crossed by the canal,[2] the entire route was completed with the excavation of the Xixing Canal under the Jin official He Xun in the 3rd century AD.

The canal was an important artery of transport and supply during various periods of disunity in medieval China, notably under the Southern Song whose capital was at Lin'an within present-day Hangzhou.[3] Despite its lesser importance under the Yuan, Ming, and Qing, the canal was kept navigable through the early modern period before being largely supplanted by railways and roads. Renovation of the canal began in 2002, providing navigability for modern barges except around Ningbo by 2009[4] and complete navigation of the entire canal by the end of 2013.[5]

In November 2008, the Eastern Zhejiang Canal was added to the Grand Canal's nomination with the UNESCO World Heritage program as it served as an extension of the Beijing–Hangzhou Canal and provided an additional connection from the cities along the canal to Ningbo's ports and the Maritime Silk Road.[6] In May 2013, the Eastern Zhejiang Canal was officially included as part of the Grand Canal within China and listed in the seventh group of Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.[7] In 2014, it was inducted as a World Heritage Site alongside the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Sui and Tang Grand Canal.[8]

  1. ^ "揭开浙东运河余姚段的前世今生". 余姚日报. 2009-07-02. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  2. ^ 周祝伟 (March 2004). 7–10世纪钱塘江下游地区开发研究. 浙江大学博士论文.
  3. ^ "浙东运河溶情深". 新华网浙江频道. 2007-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  4. ^ "数十亿大工程杭甬运河耗时八年 宁波段依旧"冰封"". 中国新闻网. 2010-05-27. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  5. ^ "杭甬运河全线通航". 新华网. 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
  6. ^ "单霁翔:大运河申报世界遗产2014完成 串联8省35市". 人民网. 2010-08-02. Archived from the original on 2019-08-06. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  7. ^ "第七批全国重点文物保护单位名单" (PDF). 国家文物局. 2013-05-04. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-02. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  8. ^ "大运河丝绸之路申遗成功 中国世遗总数已达47项". 中国新闻网. 2014-06-22. Archived from the original on 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2014-06-22.