Han Gou
Han Gou (Han Canal), connecting theYangtze Riverand the HuaiheRiver, is China's oldest canal in record. During the late years of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), when Fu Chai, king of the Wu Kingdom, went up to the north to conquer other kingdoms, he ordered Han Gou to be constructed.
In the Sui Dynasty (581-618), the canal became one of the most important parts of theGrand Canal. During the North Song Dynasty (960-1127), Han Gou had the world's earliest ship lock. Later, the canal became an important part of theGrand CanallinkingBeijingandHangzhouduring the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
Hong Gou
Hong Gou (Hong Canal) wasChina's earliest man-made canal linking theYellow Riverand the HuaiheRiver. The construction of the canal began in 361BC during the Warring States Period(475-221BC).
The canal was one of the major waterways between theYellow Riverand the HuaiheRiverfrom its completion till 581AD when the government of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) finished digging the Ji Qu, replacing the role of Hong Gou. But part of Hong Gou still played a role in connecting theYellow Riverand the HuaiheRiver.
During the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), the capital was removed to Dadu (currentBeijing), and theBeijing-HangzhouCanalwere constructed, which became the most important waterway in ancientChina. From then on, Hong Gou was gradually buried in silt.
Houtao Bada Qu
Houtao Bada Qu (eight major canals in Houtao), located in the current Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, are eight canals that diverted water from theYellow Riverto theWujiaRiver. (Qu means canal.) The canals were dug during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), mostly by private organizations.
The eight canals are (from west to east): Yongji Qu (or Chanjin Qu), Gangmu Qu (or Gangji Qu), Fengji Qu, Shahe Qu (or Yonghe Qu), Yihe Qu, Tongji Qu (or Laogou Qu), Changji Qu (or Changsheng Qu) and Tabu Qu (or Tabu He).
During the tens of years after completion, the canals could not divert much water for irrigation in the area as the private organizations failed to keep the canals in good shape. But in 1903, the government of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) bought all the canals and all the lands along the canals and revamped all the canals. As a result, more land along the canals could be irrigated.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the central and local governments invested substantive funds to reinforce the bank and extended the bank. The bank is currently 182.35 kilometers long.
Ling Qu
Ling Qu (Ling Canal), also called Dou River or Xing'an Canal, was an ancient canal that connected the Yangtze River system and Pearl River system. Ling Qu, located in the current Xing'an County in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was the earliest canal with sluice gate in the world.