For centuries, the power of Chinese emperors rose and fell with (36)
their
control over the Grand Canal. Today, this important waterway is shorter than it once was, (37)
but
it is still the longest man-made river in the world and continues to play an important cultural and (38)
economic
role in modern China.
The original canal system began around the year 605, (39)
when
Emperor Yang realized that—in order to feed his army—he needed a way to transport food quickly from China's southern rice-growing region to the country's north. (40)
Completed
in 611, the canal grew more and more important through the next 500 years. In 1279, Kublai Khan began to repair and build new parts of the canal. This rebuilding work created a more direct north-south route to and from Beijing. Future (41)
rulers
then continued to expand and improve the canal. In addition to (42)
transporting
rice around China, the Grand Canal was also an important cultural waterway. Ideas, regional foods, and cultural practices were transported from one part of China (43)
to
another along the water highway.
Today, boats still carry tons of coal, food, and other goods to points between Hangzhou and Jining. In 2014, the historic Grand Canal was made a UNESCO World Heritage site. It (44)
is hoped
that the Grand Canal, one of the world's greatest engineering accomplishments, will continue to link north and south China for centuries (45)
to come
.
