Suzhou's history is deeply intertwined with the Grand Canal. The city was born from and flourished alongside this vital waterway. Known as the Bianhe River during the Tang (618 - 907) and Song (907 - 960) dynasties, the Tongji Canal was the most important grain transportation route of its time. To ensure the smooth operation of the Bianhe River, Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty established Suzhou in 809. As a strategic hub of the Bianhe River and a crucial crossroads of nine provinces, Suzhou thrived in the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), becoming a bustling center of commerce and transportation, earning the praise of Su Shi, who referred to it as "the premier state of Huainan."

Though the grandeur of the ancient Bian River has faded over time, the people of Suzhou still regard it as their "mother river." In the 1960s and 1970s, a large artificial river was excavated from Suzhou to Sihong in Jiangsu province, running parallel to the remnants of the Bianhe River, thus named the New Bianhe River. Besides serving purposes such as flood control and irrigation, this river, flowing through the city, has endowed Suzhou with a poetic and vibrant ambiance.

Building on the heritage of the Grand Canal, Suzhou has developed the Grand Canal Ruins Park along the banks of Sanba River in the city. This park revitalizes the historical charm of the Bian River, breathing new life into the ancient "Grand Canal" and allowing the legacy of Suzhou's waterway to shine once more.

Editor: Zhong Xinyi