Tianjin's Canal Culture: A Vital Hub of the Grand Canal System
The Grand Canal, specifically its section in Tianjin, spans 182.6 kilometers, starting from the Muchang Lock（木厂闸） in Wuqing District （武清区）to the Jiuxuan Lock（九宣闸）in Jinghai District（静海区）. It consists of two segments: the North Canal and the South Canal. These two sections converge at the Sancha Kou（三岔口）, flow into the Haihe River（海河）, and ultimately discharge into the Bohai Sea（渤海）.
During China’s Ming and Qing dynasties (around 1368-1912 AD), the Tianjin Canal served as a vital route for transporting grain to the imperial capital, making it a key hub within the entire Grand Canal system.
Tianjin's North and South Canals
The North Canal, located at the northernmost end of the Grand Canal, was historically a mandatory route for imperial waterborne inspections, earning it the nickname Imperial River. Its upper reaches are primarily comprised of the Bai River, with the Chao River（潮河） and the Yu River（榆河） joining from the east and west, respectively. These three rivers converge in the Shunyi District of Beijing（北京市顺义区）and, after merging with the Tonghui River（通惠河） at Tongzhou Beiguan（通州北关）, become the North Canal.
The North Canal flows through several districts in Beijing before meeting the South Canal at Sancha Kuo, continuing into the Haihe River（海河）, and finally reaching the Bohai Sea, with a total length of 186 kilometres.
The North Canal has a long and rich history. As early as the late Eastern Han Dynasty (around 189 AD), during Cao Cao's military campaign against the Wuhuan（乌桓） tribes, the Quanzhou Canal was excavated, connecting the Ju River（泃河） to the Lu River（潞河）. In the fourth year of the Xuanhe era (1122 AD) during the Northern Song Dynasty, the Northern Song and the Jin Dynasty （1115-1234 AD） united to defeat the Liao Dynasty（916-1124 AD）, subsequently taking control of Yanjing (modern-day Beijing). They utilized the Lu River to transport grain to the Yanshan（燕山） Prefecture.
In the first year of the Zhenyuan era (1115 AD), the Jin capital was moved to Zhongdu (present-day Beijing), and the Jin Dynasty used the Lu River to transport grain from Hebei and Shandong provinces to Tongzhou（通州）. In the fifth year of the Dading era (1115 AD), the Jin emperor issued an edict to open the Jinkou River, diverting water from the Lugou River to flow eastward into the Lu River to facilitate the transport of grain arriving from Tongzhou to the imperial capital.
In the fifth year of the Taihe era (1205 AD), the Jin emperor further modified the northern section of the Imperial River, allowing it to flow northward through the Tianjin Sancha River and then via the Lu River to Tongzhou and the capital. The waterways excavated and managed by various dynasties laid the foundation for the North Canal and the Tonghui River. After the Yuan Dynasty, further improvements were made to the North Canal to ensure smooth grain transport.
The South Canal can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods（770-221 BC）. In the Book of Documents: Yu Gong, it is recorded that Emperor Yu（大禹） tamed the floods in Haihe Plain, where he directed the Nine Rivers to drain floodwaters into the sea. The southernmost of these rivers is the Lijin River(鬲津河), which is the ancient course of the Sinüsi River (四女寺减河)and the precursor to the modern Zhangwei New River(漳卫新河).
In the 25th year of the reign of Duke Wen of Wei (魏文侯）, around 403 BC, Ximen Bao (西门豹， a Chinese hydraulic engineer, philosopher, and politician）constructed the Twelve Canals to divert water from the Zhang River to irrigate the Ye City（邺城, the present-day Handan in Hebei province）, marking one of the earliest recorded irrigation projects in China.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, from 204 to 213 AD, Cao Cao （曹操） undertook infrastructure projects to unify northern China and strengthen defences. He built the Fangtou Weir to "divert the Qi River into the Baigou to facilitate grain transport" and subsequently constructed other canals such as the Pinglu Canal（平虏渠） and the Licao Canal（利漕渠）, which opened up navigation routes on the Wei River（卫河）, connecting the Zhang River（漳河）, Wei River and Yellow River.
In the fourth year of the Daye era (608 AD), Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty （581-619 AD）mobilized over a million people from Hebei to excavate the Yongji Canal, which is part of the North-South Grand Canal north of the Yellow River. The Tang （618-907 AD） and Song （960-1279 AD） dynasties continued to improve the canal system north of the Yellow River.
With the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty’s capital in Beijing （1260-1368 AD）, the Grand Canal was straightened, reducing the distance by nearly 1,000 kilometres. The Wei River and South Canal below Linqing became important components of this system.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, several channels were created along the South Canal, including the Sinüsijian River, the Shaomaying River （哨马营减河), the Jiedi River (捷地减河), the Xingji River(兴济减河), and the Machang River(马厂减河). These constructions aimed to manage floodwaters and ensure smooth grain transport.
The Throat of Grain Transport: Sancha River Estuary
The convergence of the North Canal and South Canal, which flow into the Haihe River and ultimately to the sea, creates a T-shaped junction known as the Sancha River Estuary (三岔河口）. In contemporary terms, the Lu River corresponds to the North Canal, while the Wei River represents the South Canal.
As early as the fourth year of the Daye era (608 AD), Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty initiated the construction of the Yongji Canal, connecting various rivers north of the Yellow River to the sea via the Bai River at Tianjin. By the time of the Tang and Song dynasties, the Sancha River Estuary had already become a vital shipping route, and records from the Tang Dynasty mention the "Three Rivers Meet at the Sea Mouth." The earliest documented mention of the Sancha River Mouth appeared in the History of Song during the Northern Song Dynasty.
After the Jin Dynasty moved its capital to Zhongdu (modern Beijing), it organized grain transportation using the rivers of the Hebei Plain. In the second year of the Zhenyou era (1116 AD), the Jin emperor established military camps at the Sancha River Estuary, turning it into a strategic military site known as Zhigu Fort, which marks the earliest recorded name for Tianjin. Subsequently, settlements such as Dazhigu, Xiaozhigu, and Sancha Gu emerged.
With the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty's capital in Dadu (now Beijing), maritime trade flourished, and the Sancha River Estuary became a critical distribution centre for grain transported by sea to Dagu（大沽）, then flowing through the Haihe River and north along the North Canal. In the third year of the Yanyou era (1316 AD), Zhigu（直沽） was renamed Haijin Town（海津镇）. By April of the ninth year of the Zhizheng era (1349 AD), the Yuan emperor established a military office at the town, which oversaw salt production, granaries, and salt processing facilities along the banks of the Haihe River, leading to rapid urban expansion.
During the Ming Dynasty（1368-1644 AD）, specifically under the reign of Emperor Yongle (朱棣)， whose name was pronounced as Zhu Di, he moved the capital to Beijing, thereafter Tianjin became known for its ferry crossing at the Sancha River Estuary. As a result, it was named Tianjin (Heavenly Ford). In the second year of the Yongle era (1404 AD), Emperor Yongle ordered the construction of city walls at the Sancha River Mouth and established Tianjin Wei ("Wei" in Chinese refers to a military garrison). After dredging the canals to improve navigation, the Ming court decided to halt maritime transport in favour of canal transport, leading to a significant influx of people and goods, marking the beginning of Tianjin's prosperity. The famous line by Ming poet Li Dongyang(李东阳） described the landscape: "Two rivers join the sea, a solitary village embraces the city."
By the Qing Dynasty（1636-1912 AD）, grain transport via Zhigu reached its peak, with descriptions of "daily grain ships arriving at Zhigu, Wu porcelain and Zhejiang cloth filling the streets." The prosperity of Zhigu was thus solidified.
Effective Canal Management
To ensure the safety and efficiency of the Tianjin Canals, the Ming and Qing dynasties strengthened their management of the North and South Canals. The Ming court dispatched officials from the Ministry of Works to oversee the waterways in Tianjin. According to the Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty （《大明会典》, it is one of the laws of China in the Ming dynasty）, five officials were appointed to manage the canal system, with one specifically overseeing the Tonghui River and Tianjin waterways.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong in the seventh year of the Xuanhe era (1432 AD), due to the winding and shallow nature of the canal from Tongzhou to Zhigu, the court-appointed Wang Zuo, a vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, to manage the dredging operations. Throughout the Zheng Tong period (1436-1449 AD), officials were assigned to oversee the Tianjin waterways, as recorded in the Gazetteer of Hejian Prefecture （《河间府志》）which states that officials were responsible for the canal management.
In the first year of the Tianshun era (1457 AD), the General of the Armies was tasked with overseeing the waterways. By the second year (1458 AD), an inspector was appointed to manage the salt routes in the Longlu area while overseeing the North and South Canals.
In the fourth year of Emperor Wuzong's Hongzhi reign (1491 AD), due to the geographical importance of Tianjin, a vice inspector for Tianjin was established, which later evolved into the Tianjin Military Affairs Office, managing canal operations. In the fifteenth year of the Zhengde era (1520 AD), the Tianjin military also took charge of the Bai River grain transport.
By the third year of the Longqing era (1569 AD), the Tianjin Military Affairs Office and the Bazhou Military Affairs Office were established to manage the North and South Canals respectively, creating a system where the South Canal was overseen by the Tianjin Military Affairs Office and the North Canal by the Bazhou Military Affairs Office.
In the early Qing Dynasty, the management system continued from the Ming practices, with separate offices for the North Canal and Tonghui River overseeing operations. However, in the seventeenth year of the Kangxi era (1678 AD), the North Canal office was dissolved, transferring management to the Tianjin office. By the fortieth year (1701 AD), the Tonghui office was also closed, placing the North Canal under the jurisdiction of the Tongyong office.
In the eighth year of the Yongzheng era (1730 AD), due to the significance of the Zhili River, a chief river inspector was stationed in Tianjin to oversee river management, including all waterways in northern Zhili, known collectively as the North Canal. This oversight ensured the regular maintenance and dredging of the canals, enhancing their operational efficiency.
Flourishing Grain Transport Base in the Ming and Qing Dynasties
The Yuan Dynasty marked a prosperous era for grain transport via the Tianjin canals. As the demand for grain in the capital increased, the volume of grain transported through Tianjin surged, reaching over 4 million shi (a unit of measurement) annually. After Emperor Yongle moved the capital, the importance of canal transport grew, with annual shipments exceeding 4 million shi. The peak year for grain transport through Tianjin was the sixth year of the Xuanhe era (1431 AD), exceeding 6.7 million dan (a traditional unit of weight commonly used for measuring grains and other bulk commodities, historically, one "dan" is equivalent to approximately 120 kilograms, about 265 pounds).
By the thirteenth year of the Yongle era (1415 AD), the capacity of the canals improved, allowing the Ming court to prioritize river transport over maritime and land routes. Annually, 300,000 shi of grain were collected from Henan and Shandong, with a significant portion stored in Tianjin, which became a central grain storage base.
In the seventh year of the Xuanhe era (1432 AD), as grain transport peaked, the Tianjin granaries were insufficient to accommodate the volume. Consequently, the Ming court authorized the expansion of the Tianjin water granaries, resulting in the construction of three granaries: the Dazhong Granary, the Daying Granary, and the Guangbei Granary, each equipped with administrative offices and overseen by military personnel.
In the seventh year of the Zhengde era (1512 AD), the Ministry of Revenue established a supervisory office in Tianjin to manage grain storage operations. By the eighth year of the Jiajing era (1529 AD), the water granaries along the canal stored a total of 1.09 million shi of grain, with Tianjin's facilities holding 487,000 shi, accounting for nearly half of the total storage capacity.
The primary lock at the Sancha River Estuary, known as the Jiuxuan Lock, was pivotal for grain transport. Located in Jinghai County at the southern end of the Tianjin waterway, it served as the first lock of the Grand Canal entering Tianjin, established in the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875 AD).
The Qing court further excavated the Mancang River, designed to regulate the flow and mitigate flooding. This river flows through several towns before entering the Haihe River, totalling over 80 kilometers in length. The Jiuxuan Lock became a crucial hydraulic hub, facilitating the transport of southern grain and silk to Tianjin, with some goods stored for later distribution by water or land to various provinces.
Spanning over 2,500 years in history, the Grand Canal is one of humanity's earliest, longest, and most ambitious artificial waterways, standing as a remarkable achievement of civilization. In 2014, the Grand Canal was successfully designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In April of this year, the canal achieved a historic milestone with water flowing through its entire length for the first time in a century, bringing hope for the future of the Grand Canal and a revival of the Tianjin waterways.