Six Thousand Miles of Canal, Twenty-One Cities

The history of China's Grand Canal is a history of the development of Chinese civilization, and also a history of the development of canal cities. These cities not only played an important role in advancing ancient Chinese society to a higher level, but over the centuries they also accumulated precious cultural resources and civilizational heritage.

Centered on twenty-one important cities along the canal, this book delves into their historical and cultural resources and systematically documents their cultural assets and ways of life. Drawing on vivid material from local gazetteers, literature and art, folk customs, and other sources, it offers a comprehensive study of the forms and spiritual values of canal culture, highlighting its significance as a vital root of the Chinese national spirit.