Meet Yangzhou, where the Grand Canal begins

The cross-section of the old course of the Bianhe River, extracted near Kaifeng in Henan province, on display at the Yangzhou China Grand Canal Museum. [Photo by Yang Xiaoyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

For a panoramic and immersive view of the Grand Canal, the Yangzhou China Grand Canal Museum, which has become a must-see attraction since its opening in June 2021, is unmissable.

On display are over 10,000 pieces (sets) of various cultural relics featured in 11 exhibition halls, reflecting the history of the Grand Canal from the Spring and Autumn Period to the present day. These exhibits comprehensively showcase the canal culture across the entire watercourse and throughout different historical periods, said Zheng Jing, the museum's director.

For example, the largest exhibit in the museum is the cross-section of the old course of the Bianhe River, extracted near Kaifeng in Henan province. It measures 25.7 meters long and 8 meters high, occupying an entire wall. Marked with different lines, the cross section vividly showcases the change of the canal's depth from the Sui and Tang dynasties to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when it was almost in disuse.

Widely acclaimed for its tourist-oriented exhibitions featuring cutting-edge multi-media technologies, the museum offers tourists an immersive, interactive experience of the Grand Canal. For instance, teenagers can participate in a room escape game at the museum to experience the thrill of solving a mystery while learning more about the hydraulic engineering wonder.