Co-produced by China and the U.S.A., the documentary The Grand Canal: China and Its Wondrous Waterway was aired recently.
In the two 44-minute episodes, Andrew Field, an American researcher of Chinese history, professor at Duke Kunshan University, and renowned documentary producer, leads the audience into more than 20 cities and towns along the Grand Canal in China, presenting the dynamic Grand Canal to the world through the stories of contemporary Chinese.
As the longest and oldest artificial waterway in the world, the Grand Canal of China stretches over 3,000 kilometers across the country, connecting China’s past and present. If you understand the Grand Canal, you will understand China.
Suzhou is the only city along the Grand Canal that has been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list with the concept of an ancient city. Four old canals and seven heritage sites within the city are included in the World Heritage List. The Suzhou section of the Grand Canal starts from Wuqi Bridge in Wangting Town of Xiangcheng District in the north and ends at Youchedun in Taoyuan Town of Wujiang District in the south, running 96 kilometers between the ends (including 81 kilometers in Suzhou and about 15 kilometers in the border between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces).
In the docuseries, Andrew came to Suzhou to experience the charm that people in Suzhou live by water. He went to the famous Suzhou classical gardens. The construction of the Grand Canal has brought prosperity to the economy in the Jiangnan region. The water system of Suzhou gardens is connected to that of external rivers such as canals, and the connection of water systems and the development of water transportation are important factors in promoting the development of a city.
The excavation of the canal has improved north-south transportation, allowing the famous silk from Suzhou to be transported to the north and across the country.
Andrew said, "The filming of the documentary is a wonderful experience." During the journey, he learned about the long history and advanced technology of the Grand Canal in China, as well as its significance for China and even the world's culture and economy. More importantly, he met people from all walks of life.
