The Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the world's longest man-made waterway, 2,500 km long, connecting the present cities Beijing and Hangzhou, which served as dynastic capitals in the past. Since most of China's major rivers flow from west to east, the Grand Canal running north and south provides an important connector between the Yangtze River valley and the Yellow River valley, including the Huai River valley and other minor river systems. It is being restored as a water-diversion conduit. [The water-diversion project is shown by red line in map. The Grand Canal extends a little south, to the south of the Yangtze River.]
This is the Grand Canal as it enters Hangzhou (left). This is the Grand Canal at Suzhou (right). Its waterways serve an urban population very much like the canals of Venice.
Picture source: The Grand Canal of China, ed and pub by South China Morning
Post, 1984.