The Grand Canal listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Last June 22, the Grand Canal and a section of the Silk Road were registered on the World Heritage List, reflecting the importance of protecting China’s ancient road networks and ways of circulation.

Construction on the Grand Canal, which links Beijing to Zhejiang Province, started in the 5th century B.C. It is still used today by river freight through sections that were renovated and widened in the 1960s, especially those circum navigating huge conurbations in Jiangxi and Shandong provinces. The listed sections of the Silk Road, used from the 1st to 2nd century B.C. to the 16th century, crosses China, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. 33 elements are included in the nomination (temples, palace complexes, fortifications, natural landscapes), of which 22 are located in China.