The Grand Canal, which traverses China from north to south, had undergone continuous maintenance and improvement since its successful construction during the Yuan dynasty. By the Ming and Qing periods, it had developed into a highly efficient transportation route and served as the main artery of national communication. However, from the late Qing dynasty through the Republican era, the canal gradually fell into disrepair. The once-flourishing scene of boats in constant succession and sails rising and falling became increasingly rare. Moreover, several stretches of the canal became intermittently silted up. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, substantial efforts were made to restore navigation, and the canal is poised to surpass the accomplishments of past dynasties.