Photo:IC
The Silent Grand Canal
The Grand Canal of China, also as known as the the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, is the largest ancient canal or artificial river in the world. For many years, it has been the primary channel connecting south and north of China. As one of the country's eight large coal bases, Jining City, in the south of Shandong province, sees over 90% of its shipment volume come through it. However, as demand for coal and steel has slid, the once busy and bustling Grand Canal has become idle and silent.