Cruising China's Grand Canal: Part 3
The Chinese had great respect for power of their rivers. The name of our next stop, Huai'an, means everlasting peace of Huai River, in hopes no doubt that such a name would keep their river in check. The legendary Emperor Yu was supposed to have tamed this river in ancient times. Archaeological evidence of human habitation has been found in the area dating back 5000 to 6000 years ago, notably the Qingliangang Hill Civilization.
During the Spring and Autumn period the region was occupied by one state after another because of its strategic location near the Huaihe, Yanhe, and Huaishu Rivers. During the Qin dynasty a major road was constructed and improvements to irrigation and flood control systems during the Han dynasty enabled agriculture and manufacturing to become the mainstay of the economy. During the Han era, Huai'an was known for its private schools and the town attracted artists and composers. As with the other towns along the Canal, Huai'an became more prosperous after the construction of the waterway. Not far to the west of Huai'an lies Hongze Hu, or Lake of Treasures, which is the fourth largest freshwater lake in China and was begun during the late Han dynasty.
As we leave Huai'an, we'll be entering the section of the Grand Canal known as the Zhong or Middle Canal. Do enjoy the view of the open countryside as we head toward our next stop in Xuzhou. We'll be passing through Suqian, another very old city which has been known for its production of verious alcoholic beverages since the Ming Dynasty.
We'll be stopping at Xuzhou to load supplies for the long trip north. The way you people eat and drink, I can only hope there will be enough. I'm sure you'll want to get out and stretch your legs before we travel on. Originally called Pengcheng, the town was one of the first cities in Jiangsu Province. Back then, Xuzhou denoted surrounding countryside with its farming and fishing villages. During the Xia dynasty this was Dapeng State and in the Qin dynasty, it was called the state of Chu.
 Xuzhou's most illustrious son was General Liu Bang, who became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gao. After Liu Bang's victory over General Xiang Yu, he made his own younger brother, Liu Jiao, king of the Chu state and it was this brother that made Xuzhou the capital. Control of Xuzhou stayed in the family for eighteen generations.
Just north of Xuzhou there is another lake, Weishan Hu, which is actually four lakes fed by forty rivers and streams. The town of Nanyang along the southern shores of the lake was a busy place during the Ming and Qing dynasties, serving as a water transportation axis between the North and South of China. Today Nanyang and its thirty related villages float on a huge body of water created by a dam, connected by lotuses and reeds, reached only by boat.
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