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The topoekphrasis in D. du Maurier's short story «Don't Look Now» has been investigated. Under the term ‘Topoekphrasis’ we mean a description of the scene of action, which "is the hero of a literary work" (O. Kling) and has a special aesthetic significance. Such a place in the analyzed novel is Venice, which, thanks to its unique architectural appearance, has become a true work of art. The image is created by a description of the world-famous architectural monuments of Venice, as well as the use of toponyms reflecting the features of the urban landscape. Speaking about real-life art objects, the author does not strive for an accurate description of his visual image but fills it with additional meaning. The text of the novel demonstrates various types of ekphrastic descriptions. Their usage depends on the purpose, the amount of necessary visual information and the specifics of the art object described. The absence of detailed descriptions determines the use of zero and paratactic variants of topoekphrasis, the emphasis on the state of the characters, on the perception and interpretation of the visual image and the development of the action indicates its interpretive nature. The role of mortal motifs and labyrinth in the formation of topoekphrasis is noted. We have also knotted that the novel by D. du Maurier fits into the context of the world Venetian, expanding its semantic field.

After the decline of water transportation along the Grand Canal, the integration of urban development and the preservation of cultural heritage along the canal has become imperative. This paper takes the titled landscape as its research perspective and investigates the cultural significance of the canal through its historical, spatial, artistic, and spiritual dimensions, identifying the "Ten Canal Scenes" (TCS) that encapsulate both the canal's heritage and the unique characteristics of Hangzhou, with the aim of establishing notable urban cultural landmarks. Archival analysis, average nearest neighbor (ANN) analysis, nuclear density analysis, and clustering of resource sites are first used to identify cultural landscape features. Evaluation and decision-making techniques are then used to comprehensively assess and categorize the conservation and utilization value for the TCS based on the value evaluation framework. Finally, it proposes strategies for enhancing the comprehensive values of titled landscapes and addressing socio-economic and cultural dimensions. These efforts seek to reconcile the preservation of the canal's cultural heritage with the ongoing regeneration and development of the city and propose references for a localized canal development model based on titled landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism utilization is an important means for revitalizing canal heritage. Exploring the utilization models of canal heritage tourism is the prerequisite to realizing the sustainable development of canals. Based on previous studies, this study defines two important models of community concentration and corridor expansion. Through an empirical comparison of the Old City section and the Tongzhou section along the Grand Canal in Beijing, this study systematically explores the theoretical mechanism and law of the differences between the two models of tourism utilization. Utilizing a collection of the literature, field investigations, and in-depth interview data and using the theory of a figure-ground relationship, this study discusses the characteristics of the two models of canal heritage tourism utilization and the reasons for their differences. The results reveal that community-concentrated and corridor-expanded models show great differences in the development process, heritage and tourism resources, and spatial organization. The formation of the differences results from location, economic, cultural, ecological, and accidental factors as the driving forces and the continuous self-adjustment of the areas along the canal. This study provides theoretical constructs and policy recommendations for optimization and sustainable canal heritage development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various methods for evaluating the visual quality of landscapes have been continuously studied. In the era of the rapid development of big data, methods to obtain evaluation data efficiently and accurately have received attention. However, few studies have been conducted to optimize the evaluation methods for landscape visual quality. Here, we aim to develop an evaluation model that is model fine-tuned using Scenic Beauty Evaluation (SBE) results. In elucidating the methodology, it is imperative to delve into the intricacies of refining the evaluation process. First, fine-tuning the model can be initiated with a scoring test on a small population, serving as an efficient starting point. Second, determining the optimal hyperparameter settings necessitates establishing intervals within a threshold range tailored to the characteristics of the dataset. Third, from the pool of fine-tuned models, selecting the one exhibiting optimal performance is crucial for accurately predicting the visual quality of the landscape within the study population. Lastly, through the interpolation process, discernible differences in landscape aesthetics within the core monitoring area can be visually distinguished, thereby reinforcing the reliability and practicality of the new method. In order to demonstrate the efficiency and practicality of the new method, we chose the core section of the famous Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal in Wujiang District, China, as a case study. The results show the following: (1) Fine-tuning the model can start with a scoring test on a small population. (2) The optimal hyperparameter setting intervals of the model need to be set in a threshold range according to different dataset characteristics. (3) The model with optimal performance is selected among the four fine-tuning models for predicting the visual quality of the landscape in the study population. (4) After the interpolation process, the differences in landscape aesthetics within the core monitoring area can be visually distinguished. We believe that the new method is efficient, accurate, and practically applicable for improving landscape visual quality evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in China became a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2014, and the water quality of this ancient man-made canal has increasingly attracted societal attention. This study focuses on monitoring the water quality of the Beijing section of the Grand Canal (BGC) using remote sensing technology. Analysis of the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI) indicates that the water in the Canal was predominantly light eutrophic from 2016 to 2022. The annual average results of the TLI reveal that the water quality in the Kunming Lake and North Canal of BGC is generally good, characterized by some mesotrophic waters, and others are in light eutrophication. The TLI for the entire BGC water body decreased from 64.7 in 2016 to 60.3 in 2022, indicating an improvement trend in water quality. Notably, the proportion of good water with TLI less than 60 increased from 50% in 2016 to 83% in 2022. This improvement of water quality may be attributed to the reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides and the implementation of various environmental policies by Beijing Municipal government. These findings offer valuable insights for the management and protection of the water resources of the BGC, and further contribute to the evaluation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban park green areas are part of territorial space planning, shouldering the mission of providing residents with high-quality ecological products and public space. Using a combination of several measurement models such as the BCG (Boston Consulting Group) matrix, ESDA (Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis), MLR (Machine Learning Regression), GWR (Geographically Weighted Regression), and GeoDetector, this paper presents an empirical study on the changes in Urban Park Green Areas (UPGAs) in the Grand Canal of China. By quantitatively measuring the spatio–temporal evolution patterns of UPGAs, this study reveals the driving mechanisms behind them and proposes policy recommendations for planning and management based on performance evaluation. The spatio–temporal evolution of UPGAs and their performance in China's Grand Canal are characterized by significant spatial heterogeneity and correlation, with diversified development patterns such as HH (High-scale–High-growth), HL (High-scale–Low-growth), LH (Low-scale–High-growth), and LL (Low-scale–Low-growth) emerging. The evolution performance is dominated by positive oversupply and positive equilibrium, where undersupply coexists with oversupply. Therefore, this paper recommends the implementation of a zoning strategy in the future spatial planning of ecological green areas, urban parks, and green infrastructure. It is also recommended to design differentiated construction strategies and management policies for each zoning area, while promoting inter-city mutual cooperation in the joint preparation and implementation of integrated symbiosis planning. Furthermore, the spatio–temporal evolution of the UPGAs in the Grand Canal of China is influenced by many factors with very complex dynamic mechanisms, and there are significant differences in the nature, intensity, spatial effects, and interaction effects between different factors. Therefore, in the future management of ecological green areas, urban parks, and green infrastructure, it is necessary to interconnect policies to enhance their synergies in population, aging, industry and economy, and ecological civilization to maximize the policy performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the decline of water transportation along the Grand Canal, the integration of urban development and the preservation of cultural heritage along the canal has become imperative. This paper takes the titled landscape as its research perspective and investigates the cultural significance of the canal through its historical, spatial, artistic, and spiritual dimensions, identifying the “Ten Canal Scenes” (TCS) that encapsulate both the canal’s heritage and the unique characteristics of Hangzhou, with the aim of establishing notable urban cultural landmarks. Archival analysis, average nearest neighbor (ANN) analysis, nuclear density analysis, and clustering of resource sites are first used to identify cultural landscape features. Evaluation and decision-making techniques are then used to comprehensively assess and categorize the conservation and utilization value for the TCS based on the value evaluation framework. Finally, it proposes strategies for enhancing the comprehensive values of titled landscapes and addressing socio-economic and cultural dimensions. These efforts seek to reconcile the preservation of the canal’s cultural heritage with the ongoing regeneration and development of the city and propose references for a localized canal development model based on titled landscapes.

The Grand Canal is located in the north-eastern and central-eastern plains of China, running from Beijing in the north to Zhejiang province in the south, and is the longest canal in the world (1800 km) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From a tourism perspective, the Grand Canal can be considered as a linear heritage attraction linking many individual heritage sites. This research was conducted with a mixed qualitative–quantitative method in the 2021–2022 period. First, in-depth interviews with an unstructured methodology of image measurements were conducted to determine attributes of the perceived destination image (PDI) of the Grand Canal as a whole. Next, a measurement scale was developed using these attributes to examine the PDI of two canal sites near Beijing. A total of 274 valid questionnaires were used for data analysis. The results identify differences between the two sites' PDI and the overall image of the Grand Canal. The t-test results shows that, in terms of the CDI, Shichahai Park has much better tourism activities, while Tongzhou Canal Park has better water quality. Shichahai Park's ADI provides a stronger image of pride/impressive heritage of the Tongzhou Canal Park. Based on these results, a marketing strategy is proposed and discussed. This is the first study to develop a method and measurement scale to examine cohesion in the PDI of linear heritage attractions. The method may be used by other linear heritage management practitioners to link their attractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water system plays a key role in the coupled human‐nature system, and ancient people's experiences to build a water‐adaptative way of life still shed light on human's pursuit for climate resilience today with their innate traditional ecological wisdom. In this paper, taking the Huai'an‐Yangzhou Section of China's Grand Canal, and particularly its hydraulic engineering system as an example, we show the system's success in addressing the multi‐dimensional challenges in a historical geographical context, as well as its landscape‐shaping power across the entire lower Yellow‐Huai River Basin up until today. Therefore, we argue that the system is not merely a hydraulic engineering project, but a cross‐scale adaptive strategy that has deeply impacted generations of people's way of livelihood with its intrinsic resilient nature. We attribute the success to the advantages brought about by the "distributive hydraulic engineering" approach, which is reflected in the ancient Grand Canal‐management, over the "master‐structure dependent" approach which appears to be the common practice in modern hydraulic engineering. For testing the hypothesis, we build complex system models representing the two approaches with the Qingkou Hydraulic Nexus as an example, and by running long‐term simulation, we evaluate the performance of the two approaches with respect to long‐term resilience. We show from a complex network perspective that the former has significant flexibility advantages, and outperforms the former in multi‐goal fulfillment capacities and long‐term resilience especially under a low‐tech, tight resource constraints condition. We conclude the paper with discussions on the implications of the findings, and argue that though with limitations, the traditional ecological wisdom as reflected in the Grand Canal case, with its holistic approach and flexibility design, still sheds lights on today's large‐scale hydraulic engineering projects that pursue a resilient solution for long‐term adaptive survival for the mankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism utilization is an important means for revitalizing canal heritage. Exploring the utilization models of canal heritage tourism is the prerequisite to realizing the sustainable development of canals. Based on previous studies, this study defines two important models of community concentration and corridor expansion. Through an empirical comparison of the Old City section and the Tongzhou section along the Grand Canal in Beijing, this study systematically explores the theoretical mechanism and law of the differences between the two models of tourism utilization. Utilizing a collection of the literature, field investigations, and in-depth interview data and using the theory of a figure-ground relationship, this study discusses the characteristics of the two models of canal heritage tourism utilization and the reasons for their differences. The results reveal that community-concentrated and corridor-expanded models show great differences in the development process, heritage and tourism resources, and spatial organization. The formation of the differences results from location, economic, cultural, ecological, and accidental factors as the driving forces and the continuous self-adjustment of the areas along the canal. This study provides theoretical constructs and policy recommendations for optimization and sustainable canal heritage development.

Various methods for evaluating the visual quality of landscapes have been continuously studied. In the era of the rapid development of big data, methods to obtain evaluation data efficiently and accurately have received attention. However, few studies have been conducted to optimize the evaluation methods for landscape visual quality. Here, we aim to develop an evaluation model that is model fine-tuned using Scenic Beauty Evaluation (SBE) results. In elucidating the methodology, it is imperative to delve into the intricacies of refining the evaluation process. First, fine-tuning the model can be initiated with a scoring test on a small population, serving as an efficient starting point. Second, determining the optimal hyperparameter settings necessitates establishing intervals within a threshold range tailored to the characteristics of the dataset. Third, from the pool of fine-tuned models, selecting the one exhibiting optimal performance is crucial for accurately predicting the visual quality of the landscape within the study population. Lastly, through the interpolation process, discernible differences in landscape aesthetics within the core monitoring area can be visually distinguished, thereby reinforcing the reliability and practicality of the new method. In order to demonstrate the efficiency and practicality of the new method, we chose the core section of the famous Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal in Wujiang District, China, as a case study. The results show the following: (1) Fine-tuning the model can start with a scoring test on a small population. (2) The optimal hyperparameter setting intervals of the model need to be set in a threshold range according to different dataset characteristics. (3) The model with optimal performance is selected among the four fine-tuning models for predicting the visual quality of the landscape in the study population. (4) After the interpolation process, the differences in landscape aesthetics within the core monitoring area can be visually distinguished. We believe that the new method is efficient, accurate, and practically applicable for improving landscape visual quality evaluation.

Urban park green areas are part of territorial space planning, shouldering the mission of providing residents with high-quality ecological products and public space. Using a combination of several measurement models such as the BCG (Boston Consulting Group) matrix, ESDA (Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis), MLR (Machine Learning Regression), GWR (Geographically Weighted Regression), and GeoDetector, this paper presents an empirical study on the changes in Urban Park Green Areas (UPGAs) in the Grand Canal of China. By quantitatively measuring the spatio–temporal evolution patterns of UPGAs, this study reveals the driving mechanisms behind them and proposes policy recommendations for planning and management based on performance evaluation. The spatio–temporal evolution of UPGAs and their performance in China’s Grand Canal are characterized by significant spatial heterogeneity and correlation, with diversified development patterns such as HH (High-scale–High-growth), HL (High-scale–Low-growth), LH (Low-scale–High-growth), and LL (Low-scale–Low-growth) emerging. The evolution performance is dominated by positive oversupply and positive equilibrium, where undersupply coexists with oversupply. Therefore, this paper recommends the implementation of a zoning strategy in the future spatial planning of ecological green areas, urban parks, and green infrastructure. It is also recommended to design differentiated construction strategies and management policies for each zoning area, while promoting inter-city mutual cooperation in the joint preparation and implementation of integrated symbiosis planning. Furthermore, the spatio–temporal evolution of the UPGAs in the Grand Canal of China is influenced by many factors with very complex dynamic mechanisms, and there are significant differences in the nature, intensity, spatial effects, and interaction effects between different factors. Therefore, in the future management of ecological green areas, urban parks, and green infrastructure, it is necessary to interconnect policies to enhance their synergies in population, aging, industry and economy, and ecological civilization to maximize the policy performance.

Throughout Chinese history, the Grand Canal served as a regional infrastructure in facilitating socio-economic and political development. The core regions of each dynasty were located in China's eastern plain, and the Grand Canal ran from south to north through the plain, connecting northern and southern China. In unison, the areas along the Grand Canal also suffered from frequent wars. The role of the Grand Canal in influencing regional stability has yet to be sufficiently explored in the literature. This study seeks to (1) figure out the spatial distribution of population and wars, and (2) quantitatively measure the relationship between wars, population, and the distance from waterways in the Grand Canal Area in AD752–1910 by using their high-resolution geo-referenced data. Kernel density analysis was employed to serve the first purpose, while Pearson correlation and curve estimation analyses were applied to serve the second. Our results show that the areas surrounding the Grand Canal were densely populated. There was a war hot zone in the Beijing–Luoyang–Nanjing region near the Grand Canal, which shifted gradually over time. The correlation between war and population densities was positive, whereas the correlation between war density and distance from the waterway was negative. Finally, the cubic model captures the non-linear relationship between population, wars, and waterways. The above findings may shed more light on the Grand Canal's role in influencing regional population and war patterns in historical China, a topic that has received little academic attention. More importantly, they may help advance empirical understanding of the impact of large-scale infrastructure on regional sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship-induced hydrodynamics play an important role in shaping the cross-sectional profile of inland waterways and produce a large amount of pressure on the fluvial environment. This study aimed at quantifying the characteristics of ship-induced waves and currents in a heavy shipping traffic waterway via intensified field measurements conducted in the Changzhou segment of the Grand Canal, in Jiangsu Province, China. Based on the processed hydrodynamic data, waves and currents caused by single ships and multiple ships were investigated. For single ships, the ship-induced wave heights estimated with empirical formulas were not consistent with the observations. Categorized by the loading conditions of barges, the drawdown height was characterized by the ratio of ship speed to its limit speed. The maximum non-dimensional ship-induced wave height was parameterized by a nonlinear combination of the depth Froude number and a blockage coefficient. For multiple ships, when ships closely followed each other or interlaced each other's paths, it was difficult to characterize the superposition of several ship wakes. The magnitudes of current velocities induced by single ships and multiple ships were respectively nine and six times as large as those of natural flow. This may result in more severe sediment (re)suspension than natural flows.

The Li Canal has a reach that extends from Huai’an to Yangzhou, lying between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. Moreover, this region divides China geographically and climatically into north and south. It can also be considered as an intersection where cultures from the north and south meet and integrate. Running through the north and south of China, the Grand Canal has become an important channel of cultural integration. Vernacular buildings aren’t an exception, as they are simultaneously affected by architectural styles from the north and south. This paper exhaustively studies the characteristics of the vernacular dwellings in the Li Canal reach across Huai’an and Yangzhou, from the perspective of layout, structural style and construction approach. Influenced by architectural cultures of the north and south, dwellings at both these places possess features of the north and south, and have created their own unique architectural styles. This paper attributes climatic conditions, customs, and regional culture as the fundamental reasons for these styles. Meanwhile, the paper further proves this conclusion by comparing features of vernacular dwellings in Huai’an and Yangzhou based on geographical nuances.

The canal and the settlements along its bank are mutually cause and effect. On the one hand, the excavation of the canal optimizes the economic environment of the coastal regions, and creates unique advantages in natural conditions, and the rise and fall of the settlements along the canal and the spatial forms are affected by the canal; and conversely, the settlements along the canal also drive the canal system to become more mature and accelerate the development of the canal. This paper sorted out the overall spatial characteristics and distribution factors of the settlements along the Grand Canal in Handan, and summarized various laws and directions presented by the generation and distribution of cultural heritage of such settlements, aiming to provide a new research perspective for the protection and utilization of settlements along the canal in Handan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Architecture is the property of New Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Premodern water level observations are unique and effective sources of lake evolution research. Lake Nansi is a large shallow freshwater lake in East China, and its water level observation is among the earliest observations of reservoir and lake water levels in the world. It is composed of four connected lakes: Lakes Weishan, Zhaoyang, Nanyang, and Dushan. On the basis of premodern water level observations and historical documentary records, we reconstruct the water level changes of Lake Nansi on annual and decadal scales over the past 300 years and discuss their relationship with precipitation and the flooding of the Yellow River. A united lake, Lake Weishan–Zhaoyang–Nanyang, appeared in the late seventeenth century, and since then, the lake expanded northward in the following decades. The north boundary extended approximately 3 km during 1684–1755. It expanded significantly further north in 1851 and merged with Lake Dushan, thus forming the united Lake Nansi in 1871. Water level observations of Lake Nansi began in the middle eighteenth century, and regular monthly observations began in 1814, as a result of the drying up of Lake Nansi during 1810–1814 due to a prolonged drought. The purpose of water level observations of Lake Nansi was practical, i.e., to regulate the water supply and ensure the continuous transportation of goods along the Grand Canal. Lake Nansi was flooded by the Yellow River for seven times during 1758–1902. The flooding always resulted in very high water levels, including two prolonged extremely high water level events. The 1851–1855 event marked the highest water level of Lake Nansi, which resulted in a massive northward expansion of the lake. The 1871–1873 event resulted in the formation of the united Lake Nansi. The correlation between the water level of Lake Nansi and a dryness/wetness index in its drainage basin is significant, indicating that precipitation is a dominant factor regulating the water level. The correlation of water level changes between Lake Nansi and Lake Hongze is also significant. Overall, the water level observations of Lake Nansi have proven to be a very valuable archive of regional hydrology and precipitation changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even before receiving the World Heritage designation in 2014, the Grand Canal in China presented a challenging conservation task. Chinese governments lacked an appropriate evaluation system and conservation principles for this particular type of heritage asset; rather, they tended to follow international institutional guidelines. This paper discusses the ideological and institutional factors in the authorized heritage discourse (AHD) framework to address current strategies and problems in conserving the Hangzhou Section of the Grand Canal. From an ideological perspective, the paper analyses the consequences of dominant Western values in regulating Chinese heritage practices, exemplified by the UNESCO evaluation system; from an institutional perspective, it identifies governments' tendency to impose strict control over canal conservation projects. This paper argues that the existing hegemonic conservation approaches have failed to bring out the unique values of the Grand Canal. In addition, local governments focus more on reaping the economic benefits of heritage than on conserving the heritage in terms of sustainability, and local people's interests tend to be dismissed in these processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1794-km-long Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 5th century BCE, is the longest canal in the world and a vast waterway system in the eastern plain region of China. Starting at Beijing in the north, it passes through Tianjin and other four present-day provinces to the city of Hangzhou in the south, linking five of China's major rivers, including the Yellow River and Yangtze River. This paper first makes a brief introduction of the general features of the canal, then categorizes the major engineering achievements of the canal into four aspects to highlight its heritage values and explain why the canal, the world's largest and most extensive civil engineering project prior to the Industrial Revolution that is still in use today, is a world heritage site and a great project that has played an important role in ensuring the country's economic prosperity and social stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Southern Yangtze University: Humanities & Social Sciences Edition is the property of Jiangnan Daxue and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Southern Yangtze University: Humanities & Social Sciences Edition is the property of Jiangnan Daxue and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since the late imperial era, Yellow River floods have endangered the environmental equilibrium of North China, including parts of the Grand Canal. The Republican government's response to water disasters reflected the influence of global networks and institutions of expertise. By turning to an American company for infrastructure work on the Grand Canal, Chinese government officials placed their faith in global science and finance to renew a domestic symbol of state power. The project failed; nonetheless the efforts to restore the waterways and provide relief reveal the entangled humanitarian, corporate, and educational interests of modern China's state building and environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Su Shi has a special relationship with Jiangsu. He once served as a magistrate in Xuzhou and Yangzhou, where he helped to benefit local residents; he bought land and houses in Yixing and Changzhou, and eventually passed away in Changzhou; he had a special affection to Runzhou for he cared about the families and friends living there; Su Shi had come to live in Zhenzhou many times when in difficult positions; he also passed for many a time by cities along the Grand Canal, such as Suzhou, Sizhou, Chuzhou and Gaoyou, and built connections with local scholars or those staying there. Studying the traces of Su Shi in Jiangsu and analyzing the development and research status quo of his relics can therefore not only help to interpret fully the connection between Su Shi and Jiangsu, but also provide an overview of the role of Grand Canal as a traffic hub in Song dynasty. This is of great value and significance for furthering researches related to Su Shi, the culture of Grand Canal and the culture in Jiangsu Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grand Canal was born in Jiangsu and shaped Jiangsu, which is both the Grand Canal Province and the Canal Province. With its profound historical origin, prosperous and pluralistic canal culture, developed canal economy, rich Canal Heritage and coherent canal channels, Jiangsu has unique advantages in the construction of the cultural belt of the Grand Canal. Therefore, it is a necessity for Jiangsu to lead the whole country by playing a leading role in the cultural project of the Grand Canal. Meanwhile, it is also a prerequisite for the development of relevant construction to fully understand the comprehensive functions, spatial coherence, regional cultural diversity, cultural heritage richness and river activity of the Grand Canal in Jiangsu. Based on these characteristics, in the construction of Jiangsu Grand Canal Cultural Belt, we should not only keep strengthening the protection of ancient canals and cultural heritage everywhere, but also make full use of the resources of the canal to develop tourism and enhance its popularity. In addition to these key points, we should still bear four more points in our mind. First, we should maintain the existing canals, fully develop shipping to keep the vitality of the Grand Canal. Second, we should fully elaborate and refine the canal culture. Third, we should focus on the Huaiyang culture as well as the culture of Wu and Chu, to build the cultural brand of the Canal in our province. Fourth, we should fully demonstrate the high level of science and technology and ecological civilization of the Grand Canal, and better expand its international influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grand Canal is the cultural source of Yangzhou's historical development. The heritage and development of the canal culture are conducive to enhancing the image of Yangzhou, building cultural brands, and enhancing core competitiveness. Taking the canal in the Gaomin Temple section of Yangzhou for example, this study was based on the regional canal culture and the humanistic characteristics of Gaomin Temple, and explored the unique cultural communication mode of the important landscape node of the canal. Through the analysis of the status and development of the landscape of the section, this study concluded corresponding cultural orientation content and direction, and analyzed the integration and communication ideas of regional culture in landscape planning and design, in order to provide a reference for the promotion of cultural brands in the canal city of Yangzhou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New History / Xin Shixue is the property of Xin Shixue Zazhishe and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The section from Yangtze River to Huaihe River of the grand canal was originally excavated in the Spring and Autumn period, when it was called Hangou. Before the Tang and Song dynasties, the flow direction of the section from Yangtze River to Huaihe River of the grand canal is from south to north. However, through hundreds of years of evolution, it changed to the opposite flow direction during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which is the inevitable consequence of the policy of 'Borrowing water of Huanghe river to rescue the grand canal'; in the meantime, it reflects the major changes of the grand canal's topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods of urban planning mainly focus on urban land, population size and transport priorities, and fail to consider environmental quality and welfare. To build a suitable urban form for future residents, urban eco-planners should consider the various data and technologies available, especially a resident’s sensitivity in their planning. Rational and scientific planning needs comprehensive analysis of urban ecosystems, including both natural and human factors. The new concept and theory, ‘landsenses’, can help urban planners to integrate human sensitivity into their blueprint. Excellent eco-planning should include all forms of human senses, that is sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Based on the framework of landsenses ecology, we tentatively made a landsenses ecological planning for the Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal (XSCGC), in which we addressed the importance and challenges to incorporate a resident’s sensory information into the ecological planning process, to promote the use of mix-marching data and the Internet of Things. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the emerging problems of air pollution and urban heat island associated with urbanization, urban microclimatic spatial planning was attended unprecedentedly. Microclimatic spatial planning is proposed within the framework of landsenses ecology and its aim is to harmoniously integrate human with nature and specifically to improve the microclimate comfortable sensation for people from wind speed, temperature, humidity, etc. In this paper, we analyzed the current spatial pattern of the microclimate in Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal (XSCGC) based on meteorological data, and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of human comfort and microclimate expandability. Finally, spatial planning recommendations for XSCGC were proposed to suppress northeasterly winds and protect southwesterly winds, which helped divide the planning area into four functional land-use types to improve the livability and security of microclimate, including microclimate regulatory areas, development core areas, natural ventilation corridors areas, and development extension areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The application of ecosystem services (ES) is at the frontier in ecological planning and has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The China’s Grand Canal, a UNESCO world heritage site, is the longest artificial river in the world. The Canal is an important heritage corridor, and plays a role in the history of transportation, politics, military, and cultural exchange in China. It was the main artery joining the south and north of China. The functions of the heritage corridor have been eliminated at present. The Canal became a conduit for the disposal of wastewater; consequently, its water quality deteriorated. Ecosystem services declined as well. Modern ecological theory has been applied in ecological planning to recover the cultural services and increase landscape sustainability. To improve environmental quality and optimize the ecological pattern, we redesign the waterfront landscape, and establish a wetlands system and environmental governance. These measures can provide synergistic effects, especially in the restoration of historic landscapes and cultural services. Implementing the ecological planning has resulted in a 67% increase in ES. Cultural and regulating services have replaced regulating and supporting services, becoming the major ES. Ecological planning is essential in restoring cultural services and implementing ecological renewal. The method is useful in sustainable landscape management of the heritage corridor. This paper reports on a practical technology in the application of ES in ecological planning. The synergic effects of ES can revitalize the ancient Canal heritage corridor, giving a new connotation to the idea of ecological civilization. The cultural heritage can be developed and preserved in landsenses ecology framework. The research will provide scientific bases for heritage planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Digital Earth is an information-rich expression of the real Earth and is a new way of understanding the Earth in the twenty-first century. Archeology has found great potentialities in Digital Earth, strongly increasing its development and its interdisciplinary experimentations. With the rapid development of remote sensing, the importance of applying Earth observation technology to archeological research has caught a great amount of attention worldwide. The objective of this study is to apply Radarsat-1 and Landsat imagery, historical maps, and aerial photographs in the detection and verification of disappeared reservoirs built 500 years ago as part of the Grand Canal of China. The results of the study show that the potential sites present distinct variations in soil moisture, biomass, and biological vigor, characterized by weak backscattering in Radarsat imagery; high vegetation indices in Landsat imagery; and distinct anomalies in a Landsat principle components image. Historical maps and aerial photographs also verified the existence of the sites of disappeared reservoirs. Since the sites have so far not been extensively explored, the results should represent a significant contribution to the understanding of the Grand Canal of China and its auxiliary facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

China is undergoing one of the most intense and rapid processes of urbanisation in the world today. It also has one of the most centralised planning systems, which is driven by a Soviet-style, five-year plan. Edward Denison looks at the relationship between China's highly systematised planning process and the high-density, standardised form that urban development typically takes. Amidst this formal context, he locates a 'whisper' of change afoot for architects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Grand Canal is of incomparable importance to ancient China, which still serves it''s original functions in the current society. Given it''s outstanding value, the conservation of the Grand Canal in China is drawing an increasing attention, and there is a proposal to inscribe it in the World Heritage List in the near future. The different functions of the Grand Canal determine the roles of the different departments; however, there are some contradictions that will harm it''s conservation. The current paper attempts to find solutions toward the better management of the Grand Canal in the context of world heritage conservation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: In order to evaluate water quality of a canal system, the spatial pattern of protozoan communities in response to physicochemical variables was studied in the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal, northern China during a 1-year cycle (February 2008-January 2009). Materials and methods: Protozoan samples were monthly collected at six sampling stations with a spatial gradient of environmental status. Physicochemical parameters, e.g., water temperature, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), were measured synchronously for comparison with biotic parameters. Results: The protozoan community structures represented significant differences among the six sampling stations. The spatial patterns of protozoan communities were significantly correlated with the changes of chemical variables, especially COD, either alone or in combination with TP and/or TN. Of 88 protozoan taxa recorded over the study period, ten species (e.g., Carchesium polypinum, Colpidium campylum, Prorodon teres, Vorticella putrina, Zoothamnium arbuscula, Euglena spp., and Phacus spp.) were significantly related to COD, either alone or in combination with TP and/or TN. Conclusion: These findings suggest that protozoa can be used as a robust bioindicator of water quality in freshwater river systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years, the Opium War has been considered by Chinese historians a defining moment in Chinese modern history: the beginning of China's modernization, the commencement of fully fledged Western imperialism, and the inception of semi-colonial period in China. The very notion that the event is a watershed between tradition and modernity has been deeply embedded in the psyche of not only those who study modern Chinese history but also the general public and even the movie makers. In deep contrast, however, most scholars in the United States will shy away from a question such as whether the Opium War is a defining moment in Chinese history, given the fact that the field of China studies has largely moved away from this kind of inquiry. Since the appearance of Paul Cohen's criticism of the "impact/response" paradigm known to be associated with John Fairbank and the "Harvard-school of sinologists," we have consciously or unconsciously avoided topics that would might be considered "Western centered" topics (Cohen). The question becomes not only relevant but also important to all of us today as we are all witnessing unprecedented changes in China, after it has open itself to the world since the late 1970s. Because this is the second time China has "opened up"- the first took place right after the Opium War, as a result of China's defeat in the war- it is necessary for us to reexamine how the war relates to the internal changes in the country to draw historical lessons from the past. In order to provide a fresh look at the matter, I approach the question from a unique angle: Rather than looking from the perspectives assumed by precious researchers, I will scrutinize the issue from an angle of trade routes. Step by step, I will discover the main trade routes: how they were utilized by long distance travelers to create an efficient and stable system of interregional trade; how the development of one of the main routes, the Yangzi River, provided opportunities for new cities like Shanghai; then how that system broke down when the Opium War took place; and how the war led to the rise of Shanghai and the opening of the lower Yangzi region, both of which hastened the shifting of main trade routes from the interregionally based to transnationally based. Through the following research, we will be able to see that the Opium War, though unintendedly contributed to the transition of China's trade system, shall not be considered a defining movement in Chinese history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the study of ancient maps preserved in China and abroad, the systematic nature and practical meaning of the maps of the Yellow River and Grand Canal is demonstrated. It is pointed out that the ancient maps not only record the spatial information of the established water conservancy engineering for river harnessing but also the management systems of the rivers in history. Besides, the maps provide abundant information on nature, humanity, and geography and possess high value in academic research and art appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation leads to dramatic changes in regional land use, which significantly affects habitat quality. Research on the coupling coordination relationship between urbanisation and habitat quality is conducive to promoting regional ecological environment improvement and urban sustainable development. In this article, we adopted the InVEST model and linear weighted sum method separately to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of habitat quality and urbanisation level of the Grand Canal. Then, we used the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) to investigate the interactive coercing relationship between urbanisation and habitat quality. The purpose was to provide reference for future implementation of ecological conservation work along the Grand Canal and formulation of sustainable urban development strategies. The results showed that habitat quality has continued to decline from 1990 to 2018. After becoming a world cultural heritage site, the habitat quality of the partial reaches has improved. The comprehensive urbanisation level and the four subsystem urbanisation levels, including demographic urbanisation, spatial urbanisation, economic urbanisation, and social urbanisation, of 35 cities along the Grand Canal have all steadily increased from 1990 to 2018. The social urbanisation level was obviously lower than the urbanisation levels of the other three dimensions in most cities along the Grand Canal, indicating that the quality of urbanisation seriously lags behind the speed. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the urbanisation level of each city and the habitat quality of the reaches in the corresponding city exhibited a fluctuating but increasing relationship. Most cities have developed in a more coordinated direction and very few cities have deteriorated. Meanwhile, the coupling coordination characteristics between urbanisation level and habitat quality have constantly changed, from the urbanisation lagged type to the urbanisation-habitat synchronised type and the habitat quality lagged type. This article has important value for implementing the ecological conservation and restoration projects of the Grand Canal, optimizing land management policies, and improving the sustainable development level of cities along the Grand Canal. • New perspective for the study of the relationship between ecological environment and socio-economic activities. • Becoming a world cultural heritage helps to improve the habitat quality of the Grand Canal. • Successful application for world cultural heritage did not hinder urbanisation development. • Urbanisation quality of most cities seriously lagged behind the urbanisation speed. • The relationship between habitat quality and urbanisation have developed in a more coordinated direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]