Which canal in China is widely described as the world's longest canal?

The Grand Canal in China is widely described as the world’s longest canal.

Rather than being one uniform ditch, it is a vast system of linked canals, rivers, and lakes connecting northern and eastern China. Its historic route runs between Beijing and Hangzhou, crossing or joining the Hai, Yellow, Huai, Yangtze, and Qiantang river systems.

Some sections date to the 5th century BC, but the network was greatly expanded under Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty. Major construction between 604 and 609 connected important agricultural regions in the south with northern capitals and military centers. The canal became a crucial route for grain, supplies, commerce, and government administration.

The modern Beijing–Hangzhou route is about 1,776 kilometers long, though navigability varies by section. The Grand Canal is sometimes confused with the Panama or Suez canals, which are shorter international sea passages. UNESCO added the Grand Canal to its World Heritage List in 2014.