The Zhejiang Eastern Canal waterway — Xitang River

The Zhejiang Eastern Canal waterway — Xitang River

The Zhejiang Eastern Canal waterway — Xitang River is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

The Xitang River enters the urban area of Ningbo through Gaoqiao and reaches Ximenkou (Wangjing Gate), spanning a total length of 12 kilometers, with an average width of 32 meters and an average depth of 3.12 meters. Originally the northern shore of Guangde Lake, in the seventh year of the Zhenghe era during the Song Dynasty (1117), Lou Yi, the prefect of Mingzhou, reclaimed Guangde Lake for farmland. To mitigate the damage to the water conservancy system caused by this, Xitang River was dug along the western edge of the former Guangde Lake and connected to the two sections of the canal that existed before the lake was drained, forming the now-complete Xitang River. According to the Yongjiang Annals (2000 edition), in 1990, the river had a navigational capacity of 30 tons.

The Xitang River connects Ningbo City with the Yao River. As an important waterway that avoids the brackish tide of the Yao River and leads into the ancient city of Ningbo, it serves as the final leg of the river journey for people entering Ningbo, as well as the starting point for departing the city by water to destinations such as Hangzhou and Beijing. It is an essential component of the Zhejiang Eastern Canal and even the Grand Canal of China, bearing the “heavy responsibility” of linking rivers and seas. In January 2011, as part of the Zhejiang Eastern Canal waterway, it was designated as a sixth batch cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

The Xitang River has long been a vital transportation route for Ningbo’s cultural and administrative exchanges with the outside world. Zhang Dezhoong, a scholar from the early Ming Dynasty, wrote in his "Song of the Water Route to the Two Capitals" (included in the Ming-era text Beichuang Suoyu): “A commoner from Yin River, Tai Ying, is commended; with mat sails unfurled, he rides the long wind. The long wind fills the sails past Xidu; amidst the mountains lies Huang’an’s tomb.” ("Song of the Nanjing Water Route"), and “The ancient land of Siming has long been known as a place of culture; outside Wangjing Gate, one crosses the river westward.” ("Song of the Beijing Water Route"), depicting the journey by boat from Wangjing Gate to Nanjing and Beijing. Its unique geographical location brought economic prosperity. Historically, commerce flourished along both banks of the Xitang River. During the Ming Dynasty, Korean official Choe Bu described the scenery of the Xitang River starting from Wangjing Gate in his work Haesangnok: “Over a stretch of more than ten li from the prefectural city to here, the riverbanks on both sides were packed with markets and boats like clouds. Beyond this point, forests of pines, bamboos, oranges, and tangerines lined the shores. Further along are the Tea Pavilion, Jing’an Shop, Jijin Township, and the Chastity Archway of the Yu Family, leading to Xizhen Bridge, which is tall and grand. Along the way there are also two other large bridges, before reaching Xiba Office. Both banks of the dam are reinforced with stone embankments to block the flow, preventing it from connecting with the outer river. On either side, mechanical devices using bamboo ropes as cables are used to tow boats through.”

The Xitang River boasts numerous historical and cultural heritage sites. Its banks still retain the Xitang River Ancient Bridge Cluster (including Wangchun Bridge, Xin Bridge, Shangsheng Yongji Bridge, and Gaoqiao), as well as parts of the well-preserved architecture of Wangchun Old Street and Gaoqiao Old Street, showcasing the cultural and commercial prosperity that once thrived along the canal.

Information provided by: Ningbo Cultural Relics Protection Management Office