A ride on the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is an engineering marvel of great antiquity. In the 7th century, the emperors of the Tang dynasty recognized that there was no waterway running north and south. Using over a million laborers, the Grand Canal was created by linking existing waterways.

The Emperor Grand Canal remains the longest and largest, as well as the oldest man-made waterway in the world, and it is still an important link between Beijing and the industrial cities to the south.

We rode on the Grand Canal between Suzhou and Wuxi, about a 4 hour ride. The day was raw and rainy, and not conducive to standing on deck to watch the passing scene, although we were told that this was the most interesting stretch of the canal.
It certainly was in heavy use! Hundreds of little barges, each powered by a set of outboard motors - 3 or 4 - puffing and chugging along and laden high with all sorts of goods -- recycled plastic bottles to sand and logs. Toward the rear of each barge was a small house, where the bargeman and his family lived. Pots of herbs often sat on the roof of this little house, occasionally a dog would be seen on deck.

With bad weather outside, we huddled inside, drinking tea and other libations. Every half hour or so, the boat's captain would bring out another set of Chinese crafts for us to examine and buy. Silk ties and scarves, pearl necklaces, cut paper, carvings.

The end of the ride was in Wuxi, where we visited an after-school arts program for gifted elementary school children. We went first to a classroom for 6 yr. olds, who were expecting us. They ran out into the hallway and dragged us into their classroom, and made us sit down on their little chairs while they performed for us. They sang a harvest folk song, with appropriate miming motions. One little girl played an electric piano, and another little girl played a traditional chinese zitar. We were impressed with how well these little children performed.

Then we went upstairs to watch a dance class for older children. We were also expected there, and after seating us along one wall of the room, the girls performed a modern dance for us that was very gymnastic.

Coming as it did, towards the end of the trip, and on such a dismal day, this school visit was a real high point.