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Fishing on the Grand Canal

Or rather than fishing, more removing dead fish from the canal. The inscription on the boat reads "浙杭清卫" or "Hangzhou cleaning". Low oxygen levels, perhaps caused by pollution in the Yangzte River where water for the canal is sourced, means conditions are not ideal for things living in the canal.

Construction of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal began in the 5th century BC, and was finally completed as a single canal during the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD). It has a total length of 1794 kilometres, making it the longest canal ever constructed.

Today, much of the canal is no longer navigable, but the southern part, through Hangzhou, remains in use.