The Grand Canal is the world's longest man-made waterway, 2,500 km long, connecting the present cities Beijing (北京) and Hangzhou (杭州), 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 (长江) and the Yellow River valley, including the Huai River (淮河) valley and other minor river systems. It is being restored as a water-diversion conduit (南水北调东线工程). [右图红线为东线工程路线, 大运河沿东线南下至苏杭. 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.]
