Final answer:
The Grand Canal passed through cities like Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, and Luoyang. It served as a major transportation route for grain and troops and was instrumental in the economic development and integration of northern and southern China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Grand Canal of China is an ancient man-made waterway that was completed during the Sui Dynasty, connecting Beijing in the north with Hangzhou in the south. Along its 1,100-mile stretch, the canal passes through several key cities that have been of great importance in China's history, reflecting various stages of the country's development and integration. Some of the significant cities the canal traverses include Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, and Luoyang, eventually reaching Beijing. This waterway facilitated a critical economic and administrative integration of China, enabling economic development and enhancing central control.
Constructed to transport crucial resources such as grain and to facilitate troop movements, this colossal project connected the Yellow, Huai, and Yangtze Rivers. It played a significant role in economic activities, by enabling the transfer of food and luxuries along its route, and was a major factor in the growth of cities along its banks. The canal has gone through various upgrades, including those during the Qing era, which fortified its role in economic development and in connecting northern and southern China.