In five chapters, the book demonstrates the historic and aesthetic values of the Grand Canal from the perspective of art history. The book covers the span of 13 centuries, from the inauguration of the Tongji Canal – the first and major section of the Grand Canal linking Huang River and Huai River - in 605 during the Sui Dynasty (581–618), to the official abandonment of canal transportation in 1904, a few years before the fall of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). The three main research topics of the book include the Grand Canal and its auxiliary facilities, corresponding human environment, and visual materials in relation to the Grand Canal.