City's fortunes flow in tandem with river

Grand Canal: lifeline in the past, heritage in modern times

Throughout history, many cities have prospered because of their proximity to rivers. One such settlement is Wuxi, where the main river has greatly benefited the city's standing.

The Bodu canal was ordered dug for a princess of the royal family 3,000 years ago to transport soldiers and produce and to irrigate farms in Wuxi's suburbs. Today, it is one of the oldest canals in the world that still functions well.