With a length of 98 meters and a height of 16 meters, the Gongchen Bridge in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, is the landmark and the southmost terminal of the Hangzhou section of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

It dates back to 1631 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was rebuilt in 1881 in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911). Silk and cotton factories were launched here in 1950s and 1960s, bringing prosperity to the area along the canal.

The combo photo shows the Gongchen Bridge in 1965 (above) and in 2009 in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Tan Jin)

Nevertheless, the plants underwent a decline since the moving of the factories in 1990s. Things have been changed from 2000. The area along the canal became a zone housing a thriving artist and designer community in 2003.

Thanks to the four-year project carried out by local government to protect the environment of the canal, the shabby houses and the abandoned factory plants along the canal were replaced by the beautiful scenery of the park and the 20-kilometer sidewalk in 2006.

At the same time, the Canal Culture Square and the Museum of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal were opened to the public. The canal was named on a waiting list for application for World Heritage in December, 2009.

Three more museums would be opened here during the National Day Holiday in 2009 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Gongchen Bridge has witnessed a number of changes and it will surely witness more and more better changes.