What is the longest canal in the world?

The Grand Canal in China is the longest canal in the world.

Also called the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, it is a vast network of linked waterways stretching about 1,776 kilometres between Beijing and Hangzhou. Rather than being one uniformly straight ditch, it consists of interconnected sections that cross or connect several major river systems, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze.

The oldest sections date to the 5th century BCE, when Chinese states built waterways for transport and military supply. The network was greatly expanded under the Sui dynasty, especially during the reign of Emperor Yang, and was completed as a major north–south route in the 7th century. It carried grain, taxes, soldiers, and goods between China’s productive southern regions and northern capitals.

The Grand Canal is often confused with the Panama or Suez canals, but those are shorter sea-linked shipping routes. The Chinese canal is primarily an inland waterway and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.