Major extensions

Yang Guang, the Sui Dynasty (581-618) emperor Yangdi, was another key figure in the network's development.

Linking even more expansive areas in the north and south became a main task for Sui rulers, following a long period of political turmoil.

Under Yangdi's command, more canals were dredged to extend the Han Gou waterway system.

The final network reached Zhuojun in today's Beijing to the north and Yuhang in today's Hangzhou in Zhejiang province to the south. It connected China's five major river basins, and enabled the shipment of commodities and the deployment of troops over an extensive area.

A gilt-bronze fushou－a beast-faced door knocker－at the exhibition marks Yangdi's contributions. It was one of four such objects found in his tomb in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, in 2013.

But the megaproject's massive investment contributed to the Sui's downfall.

Meanwhile, the improved canal system prompted economic and cultural exchanges along the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. It laid a foundation for the unification of China in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and for prosperity throughout the following centuries.

Subsequent dynasties, including the Ming (1368-1644), engaged in major maintenance and small extensions to keep the vast transportation system clean and efficient. The exhibition displays A Panoramic View of the Grand Canal, a Ming-era scroll painting that Zhao hails as "an important item in the National Museum's collection".

"It vividly illustrates canal scenes in green and the Yellow River in yellow. And it pinpoints major water-conservation projects along the waterway, as well as mountains, cities, temples and bridges, to provide both overall and detailed perspectives," Zhao says.

When appreciating this centuries-old silk landscape painting, one can envision a bustling scene at the time when boats loaded with grain from eight provinces along the Grand Canal sailed to Beijing to feed royals, government officials, soldiers and ordinary people.