Shaoxing Ancient Towpath(Shaoxing Ancient Fiber Channel)

This is the most representative waterway relic of the Zhejiang East Canal, carrying the thousand-year-old water transport culture of Jiangnan, and is one of the core scenic spots of Jianhu Scenic Area. The ancient towpath was first built in the Western Jin Dynasty, took shape in the tenth year of the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty (815 AD), and was rebuilt with local bluestone slabs in the Ming Dynasty, thus being completely preserved to this day. The towpath, about 1.5 meters wide, extends close to the water's surface, sometimes built along the bank, sometimes cutting through the water, resembling a long white jade dike lying across the blue waves, blending seamlessly with the shimmering waters and mountains of Jianhu Lake. The bridge surface is made of stone slabs, reinforced with iron clamps and glutinous rice mortar, making it sturdy and durable, remaining intact despite a thousand years of wind and rain. Arched bridges are placed at intervals to facilitate boat passage, serving both water conservancy, transportation, and navigation protection functions. Strolling along it, one can see the black-awning boats shuttling back and forth, the water and sky reflecting each other, allowing one to appreciate the elegance of the Jiangnan water towns and touch the historical imprints of a thousand years of canal transport and towpath pulling.