The Story of the Grand Canal — “A River That Shaped a City”
Yangzhou lies at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, making it one of the most important canal cities in Chinese history.
Official cultural narratives describe Yangzhou as a “canal-born city,” where trade, culture, and craftsmanship flourished due to water transportation. The Grand Canal not only brought prosperity but also shaped Yangzhou’s identity as a hub of salt merchants, literature, and refined urban life.
Today, night cruises and the China Grand Canal Museum continue to tell the story of how water defined the rise and cultural richness of Yangzhou.
