BATEAUX SUR LE GRAND CANAL

Shortly after the departure, the boat passes under the Gongzhen Bridge, built under the Ming River, in 1631. After two hours of navigation, we arrive at the town of Tangqi, a top of the docks where the large Chinese companies were once installed to make trade along the Grand Canal. There are still many old hangars and social headquarters. At the beginning of the century more than river transport companies operated in Tangqi. A little further north, the county of Tongxiang is one of the largest centres of silk production; the banks are plantées. The old town of Shimen was the site of the great battle between the kingdom of Yue and the Kingdom of Wu during the Zhou dynasty (1122-221 BC): a stone arch (Shimen) was built to delimit the two territories. This monument that gave its name to the city still exists today. To the east is Jiaxing with the famous Tour tower (mist and rain) built on an island in the centre of Nanhu Lake in 940.