The Grand Canal, with a history of over 2,500 years, is the longest and oldest artificial waterway in the world. Stretching from Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, east China, to Beijing in the north, it connects several key rivers in China, including the Yangtze and Yellow River. A witness to significant social changes in ancient China, it is also a symbol of the creativity and wisdom of the ancient Chinese.

On November 1, Paddling For a Thousand Miles: A Cultural Exhibition of the Grand Canal opened at the National Museum of China in Beijing as a tribute to the important role played by the waterway in the economy, culture and transport.

The exhibition showcases the excavation history, water transport management, engineering technology, and intangible cultural heritage of the Grand Canal through 170 objects, supplemented by digital images and interactive exhibits.

Held in cooperation with the Capital Museum, Tianjin Museum and Hebei Museum, the exhibition is part of the coordinated cultural development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in north China. It will continue for four months.

(Text and Photos by Wei Yao)

Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar

Comments to weiyao@bjreview.com