Why is the Grand Canal still important in the era of airplanes, high speed rail, and ships?

In addition to shipping, the main function of the Grand Canal is that the canal can also be used for irrigation, flood distribution, drainage, water supply, etc.

China has a long history of canal construction, and the Xu River, which was dug in 506 B.C., is the world's oldest man-made canal, the earliest canal recorded in China, and the earliest canal in the world. In the twenty-eighth year of Qin Shi Huang (219 BC), the Ling Canal was dug to communicate shipping between the Xiang River and the Li River. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, built mainly during the Sui Dynasty in China, is the longest canal in the world.

In ancient times, there were two types of river transport: natural river transport and artificial canals. Natural river transport has brought convenience to human transportation, both labor-saving, and economical, as long as the water power can be competent, it can reach all parts along its coast with the waterway.

Although transportation on land is not limited by rivers and can be done at will, in addition to the flat land, mountains and hills, there are difficulties in transportation everywhere; Moreover, in terms of transportation volume, the gap between vehicles and ships is very large, and the disparity in force is also very large. Of course, the transportation of natural rivers also has its shortcomings and shortcomings, that is, the river should be determined with the highland of the terrain, and the river has a certain flow direction and flow problems, and the area far away from the river will not be convenient. In this way, the method of artificially digging canals has emerged to supplement the lack of natural river channels.

The canal corridor spans a variety of different types of natural, semi-natural and artificial ecosystems in the north and south for a long time, through the long-term flow and circulation of energy, materials and information.

Although transportation on land is not limited by rivers and can be done at will, in addition to the flat land, mountains and hills, there are difficulties in transportation everywhere; Moreover, in terms of transportation volume, the gap between vehicles and ships is very large, and the disparity in force is also very large.

The Grand Canal can also bring benefits to the country, natural river transportation to human beings to bring convenience of transportation, both labor-saving, and economical, a reed navigation, as long as the water power can be competent, can reach all parts of its coast with the waterway.

The Grand Canal has many functions and is used for irrigation, flood distribution, drainage, and water supply.

Canals can also be used for irrigation, flood distribution, drainage, water supply, etc.

In addition to the open land, there are mountains and ravines, and there are transportation difficulties everywhere, which need to be compensated for by the Grand Canal.

I think that apart from the open land, there are difficulties in transportation everywhere in the hills and ravines; Moreover, in terms of transportation volume, the gap between vehicles and ships is very large, and the disparity in force is also very large.