The Old Site of the Canal Wharf

The Old Site of the Canal Wharf

The old site of the canal wharf is a cultural tourism attraction.

The old site of the canal wharf is located on the west bank of the ancient canal in Dongguan, Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng City, and was originally a private wharf for wealthy merchants. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, when water transport was thriving, Liaocheng (formerly known as Dongchang) became “the throat of canal transport and the armpit of the imperial capital” and “a metropolis north of the Yangtze River.” The area around the Dongguan section of the canal was bustling with merchants and lined with shops. In addition to the large Chongwu Ferry Wharf, major merchants and wealthy families built several smaller private wharves, one of which is the surviving small wharf.

The small wharf is built with blue flagstones and has a concave layout, measuring 8 meters in width, with stone steps on both sides. The top layer of the steps features circular holes in the bluestones, used for mooring ropes of boats. The canal wharf is now well-preserved and is a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit.