Connecting the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and other three big rivers, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is a world-renowned man-made project constructed by the Chinese people. Hangzhou is at the southern end of the canal. Tangqi Town in Yuhang County of Hangzhou is a famous town on the Grand Canal.

The x,3oo-year-old seven-arched Tongji Bridge and the ancient streets along the canal are well preserved. To take a boat ride on the Grand Canal here gives one a full view of the landscape of a typical river town in southern China. Going up north along the Grand Canal from Hangzhou will take one to Suzhou, a famous sister city of Hangzhou.

On the way, one may stop at Wuzhen Town, the hometown of Mao Dun, the noted contemporary Chinese writer, to see its simple and typical southern rural scene.