Runze Ancient City Shaoxing, Looking Back at the Past and Knowing the Future | A Zhejiang East Canal

He went to the Zhejiang East Canal Cultural Park to learn about the development and evolution history of the ancient canal, the protection of the Grand Canal, and the construction of the Grand Canal National Cultural Park.

The Zhejiang East Canal originated from the Shanyin ancient waterway during the Spring and Autumn period. It was initially used for tide blocking, drainage, and irrigation of farmland. During the Jin Dynasty, it connected with the natural waterways of Jianhu, Yaojiang, and Yongjiang, forming a cross east-west shipping channel. During the Tang and Song dynasties, with the rapid development of agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce, the Zhejiang East Canal entered its heyday of opening up the world and became an important node on the Maritime Silk Road.

As an extension of the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal and a channel connecting the Grand Canal and the Maritime Silk Road, the Zhejiang East Canal embodies the outstanding creations of ancient people and holds a unique position in the history of inland waterway navigation in China and the world.

The Zhejiang East Canal runs through the Ningshao region, nourishing the "museum without walls" of Shaoxing and the "collection of books from ancient to modern times, and the port connecting the world" of Ningbo, before flowing eastward into the sea.

The recent photos of the water town style in the ancient city of Shaoxing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu

Walking along the Zhejiang East Canal into Shaoxing, the historical atmosphere blends with the modern civilization.

The ancient bridge and canal coexist. Shaoxing, known as the "Bridge Township", has over 700 ancient bridges connecting streets and alleys, with five steps for climbing and ten steps for crossing. The famous and uniquely shaped Bazi Bridge, built between the main waterways and docks in the ancient city of Shaoxing, connects four streets with four sets of steps, solving complex water and land transportation problems.

Recently photographed residential areas along the Zhejiang East Canal. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu

Today, standing on the Bazi Bridge, looking around, the houses with white walls and black tiles are arranged in a neat and orderly manner, and the charm of the water town in Jiangnan is fully captured.

The winding and long stone street, alleys paved with blue stones, and rows of shops... The Shaoxing Ancient Street, connected by the canal, is half on the bank and half in the river. Looking around, people can still clearly see the scene of "Baiyu Changdi Road, Wupeng Xiaohuachuan".

The recent photo of Ba Zi Qiao Zhi Street in Fushan Street, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu

In April 2020, the Implementation Plan for the Protection, Inheritance, and Utilization of the Grand Canal Culture in Zhejiang Province was released. Based on this, Shaoxing planned to build the Zhejiang East Canal Cultural Park on the basis of the original Canal Park. At present, the main building of the cultural park has been completed, fully showcasing the "beauty" of the Shaoxing River and Lake settlement, the "beauty" of ancient bridges and pathways, and the "uniqueness" of the quarry landscape.

An ancient canal with houses on both sides. The Zhejiang East Canal runs through ancient and modern times, nourishing the rapid development of towns along the route. With the construction of the Ying'enmen Historical and Cultural District, Shangda Road Historical and Cultural District, Dongpu Huangjiu Town, and others, the two sides of the Zhejiang East Canal have shown unique charm.

As an important component of the Zhejiang East Canal, the Ying'enmen Shuijie section of the river is one of the busiest city gates in the ancient city of Shaoxing. The renovated Ying'enmen Historical and Cultural District, with a 1.5-kilometer ancient canal as the main line, inherits the spatial beauty of Shaoxing Taimen Courtyard and the urban memory of one river and one street, and integrates the creation of a quality living community and urban vitality block.

The recent photos of the water town style in the ancient city of Shaoxing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu

The ancient fiber path located in the Shaoxing section of the Zhejiang East Canal is a passage for ancient people to transport porcelain, silk, tea, yellow wine, and other goods overseas by boat and back fiber. Today, as a world cultural heritage site, the ancient Silk Road is witnessing even more splendid prosperity.

Visual | jointly produced by Xinhua News Agency's domestic department and Zhejiang branch