The Ancient Canal in Wuxi

The Ancient Canal in Wuxi

The section of the ancient canal that runs through Wuxi City, stretching approximately six kilometers from Wu Bridge via Xishuidun and South Gate to Qingming Bridge, boasts the most quintessential charm of the Jiangnan water town. Qingming Bridge, located at the confluence of the ancient canal and Bodu Port outside South Gate, is the premier scenic spot along this section of the canal in Wuxi.

The Wuxi Ancient Canal is a segment of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It extends northward to the Yangtze River and southward to Taihu Lake, spanning over forty kilometers in total and cutting through the urban area of Wuxi. The history of the Wuxi Ancient Canal dates back to the late Shang Dynasty. Three thousand years ago, Taibo, the eldest son of King Tai of Zhou, established the State of Gouwu in Meili and, in response to the needs of irrigation and flood control, led the people in digging the Bodu River. Historically, both King Helü of Wu’s campaign against Chu and King Fuchai’s northern expedition against Qi utilized this waterway. This demonstrates that the canal not only played a significant role in transportation and agricultural irrigation at the time, but also held important military significance.

Since the inception of the canal, the ancestors of Wuxi have lived along its banks, established markets because of it, and made a living from it. This gave rise to the unique culture of the Jiangnan canal water town. Nowadays, the best vantage point to take in this quintessential Jiangnan water town lifestyle in Wuxi is from Qingming Bridge. The water lanes on both sides of Qingming Bridge represent the most distinctive scenery of the Wuxi water town. Residential buildings stand at varying heights, while docks and stone wharves are neatly arranged. By day, families face the water from their windows; by night, boatmen’s oars splash in the lantern-lit shadows as residents wash behind their homes and step off boats, then stroll through the streets or cross the bridge at the front—truly a folk painting of “homes nestled by the river.” Although some houses may now be worn and their walls faded, many people still find themselves enchanted, lingering by these water lanes filled with small bridges, flowing water, riverside homes, and the dreamlike sound of paddles.

Spanning the water lanes, Qingming Bridge is the largest and best-preserved single-arch stone bridge on the Wuxi Ancient Canal. Constructed during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of over four hundred years. In the hearts of the people of Wuxi, the historical prosperity of Qingming Bridge is akin to the scenes depicted in the famous painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival”—a symbol of the ancient canal’s history, a mark of its flourishing past, and a microcosm of its culture. The canal families living beneath Qingming Bridge lead peaceful and contented lives, perhaps a reflection of the confidence and satisfaction bestowed upon them by the timeless old canal. In their ordinary daily lives, they reminisce about the past and savor the present. Qingming Bridge serves as a window—a portal to experiencing the cultural legacy of the canal that has endured for centuries.