Yuan Grand Canal Grain Transport and Maintenance in the 1320s

Timeline

1. 1321–1325Linqing · ShandongYuan grain transport relied mainly on sea routes with river transport secondary; after the Huitong Canal opened in 1289 with 31 locks, in the 1320s grain ships from Jiangnan could still travel via the Jizhou and Huitong canals to Linqing, enter the Wei River, and reach Tongzhou.
2. 1322–1327Dongchang Circuit · ShandongBecause of Shandong's high horst terrain and unstable water sources, the Huitong Canal often suffered shoaling and silting in the 1320s; the court had to dredge regularly and maintain locks, limiting cargo loads, with the problem of 'narrow banks and shallow water unable to bear heavy loads' persisting.
3. 1324–1328Yellow River-canal junction · ShandongIn the mid-to-late 1320s, Yellow River breaches alternated with floods and droughts in the Jianghuai region; some sections were silted or struck by floods, and the court still relied on sea routes to ship grain from Jiangnan to Zhigu, running river and sea transport in parallel to maintain northern grain supplies.
4. 1328–1330Tongzhou · North ChinaDuring the Tianli upheaval of 1328-1330, rivalry between the two capitals caused requisitions and disorder along the route, at times blocking grain transport scheduling and ship passage, showing the direct impact of political turmoil on canal operations.