(Left): Brick, coal and sand made up the bulk of the cargo. Photos by Li Qizheng (Right): A dock worker stops for a drink of water.

Every morning, Chen begins work at 4. One shipload of bricks usually takes seven people three days to unload. The workers take a rest at noon. About 200 people work alongside Chen and they share rooms in the sheds at the dock.

But Chen may not be aware of the Canal's importance in history. For centuries, it was the top choice for long-distance transportation. Many emperors inspected the country in grand ships plying the Canal.

The Canal has changed greatly with trucks, trains and planes taking over the transportation task. But it has not been abandoned. In Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, the Canal continues to thrive, meeting the needs of local transportation.

Brick, coal and sand make up the bulk of the shipping cargo, contributing to the boom in cities lying alongside the Canal and offering opportunities to people such as Chen.

(China Daily April 8, 2008)