This book summarizes the historical changes of China's canals, sorting out the use of waterways from ancient times to the Ming and Qing dynasties, the evolution of the water transport network and its relationship with politics and economy, and revealing the interaction between geographical environment and human activities. This book breaks through the traditional historical geography research framework, and through the examination of cases such as the early canal engineering of the Chu State and the water transport function of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it introduces a theoretical system of how transportation progress favors a process of geographical changes, laying the foundation for the study of canal water conservancy history. This book is included in the academic communication project in China after the announcement of China’s Grand Canal to be selected onto the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Shi Nianhai (1912–2001) was a pioneering founder of modern historical geography in China. He held key academic positions at Shaanxi Normal University, Northwest University, and Lanzhou University, where he served as Vice President and Director of the Institutes of Historical Geography and Tang Dynasty Studies. Shi contributed significantly to the study of China's territorial evolution and canals, co-authoring A History of the Evolution of China's Territory with Gu Jiegang. His major works include China's Canals and Outline of Chinese Historical Geography. He was also President of the Shaanxi Historical Society and the Chinese Society of Ancient Capitals.