A small local branch of the Jing-Hang Canal as it flows through Deqing, China.

Often when we think of the incredible historical wonders of China, the Great Wall comes to mind; the 21 000 km long northern border defence which started it’s construction as early as the 7th century BC, and still today cuts across China, snaking over countless ridges and mountaintops.

However, a lesser known, but staggeringly impressive feat began happening in 5th century BC, the Jing-Hang Canal, a 1776 km long, series of canals that connect Hangzhou (just south of Shanghai) to Beijing in the north. Featuring lock systems, connecting rivers, and supplying networks of waterways that serve entire cities (pictured above is the Ancient quarter of Deqing city) the waterway system was the lifeline of the country for centuries.

Although the system has been altered, expanded, reduced and changed over the past 2000 years, it is still an active waterway seeing ships moving freight up and down, and even with China’s rapid infrastructure expansion in rail and highways, it’s still possible to sail from Hangzhou, all the way to Beijing.