From the Tang to Qing dynasties, the Grand Canal served as the main artery between northern and southern China and was essential for the transport of grain to Beijing. Although it was mainly used for shipping grain, it also transported other commodities and the corridor along the canal developed into an important economic belt. Records show that, at its height, every year more than 8,000 boats transported 4 to 6 million 240,000–360,000 metric tons of grain. The convenience of transport also enabled rulers to lead inspection tours to southern China.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the canal has been used primarily to transport vast amounts of bulk goods such as bricks, gravel, sand, diesel and coal. The Jianbi ship locks on the Yangtze are currently handling some 75,000,000 tons each year, and the Li Canal is forecast to reach 100,000,000 tons in the next few years.
Jamie Banks- 08/11/2010
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"Grand Canal (China)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canal_of_China.
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