This chapter  explores the crucial roles canals and waterways played in shaping ancient China’s economic landscape and facilitating north–south exchanges. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Qing Dynasty, ambitious projects like the Han’gou, Heshui, and Honggou Canals, the Grand Canal of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the Northern Song’s Kaifeng canal network connected major rivers such as the Yangtze, Huai, Yellow, and Ji. These waterways enabled efficient transport of goods, grains, and resources. The Grand Canal integrated northern and southern water systems, shifting China’s economic center of gravityEconomic center of gravity southward during the Sui and Tang dynasties. In the Northern Song, Kaifeng’s demand for grain led to the excavation of canals like the Guangji and Jinshui Rivers, enhancing resource control. During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, the Grand Canal extended northward to Beijing, with the Jizhou, Huitong, and Tonghui Canals’ excavation maintaining its navigational value. Natural waterways, including those described in the Tribute of Yu and the Ling Canal in Lingnan, were essential for connecting regions and facilitating transportation across ancient China. These strategic canals boosted economic growth and supported political centers and military campaigns, requiring immense resources and expertise.