Last updated 2026-10-17

Dezhou Old Canal Street, the Upper Wharf on the Southern Grand Canal

The old canal street in Dezhou marks the place where travellers once stepped off the Grand Canal on their way to or from Beijing. Today it is a short pedestrian street of grey brick buildings, courtyards and small galleries on the west bank of the canal in Decheng District, with embankment paths along the water. It is free, it is easy to reach from the city centre, and it gives the canal theme in the Dezhou guide a concrete place to stand.

Calligraphy wall in the Dezhou old canal scenic area — Calligraphy wall in the old canal scenic area. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, by Cartonfox, CC0.

Why Dezhou mattered on the canal

The stretch of canal through Dezhou is the Southern Canal, a name that only makes sense from Tianjin, since it is the section south of that city. It follows the canalised Wei River north from Linqing toward Tianjin, and its first channel was dug in 608 under the Sui dynasty. Shandong's canal heritage plan gives about 45 kilometres of it inside the province, from the Siniusi water control works to Disandian, almost all of it through Dezhou.

In the Ming and Qing periods Dezhou was a grain storage centre and a key stop on the road to the capital. Two old nicknames, Jiuda Tianqu, the crossroads reaching nine directions, and Shenjing Menhu, the gateway to the capital, came from that role. Grain barges, officials heading to exams in Beijing and opera troupes moving north all passed through. In 2014 the Grand Canal was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the canal through the Cangzhou and Dezhou area is one of its listed river sections.

What the old street is today

A Dazhong news feature from 2024 explains the site's background. The street stands on the former Xujia ferry village, one of Dezhou's four main ferry crossings in the Ming and Qing periods. Locals also call the spot the upper wharf or the old dragon head. Local tradition says the Qianlong Emperor came ashore here on his southern tours, a story worth enjoying without treating it as recorded fact.

The present street was planned from 2009 and upgraded in 2022 with an investment the city reported at nearly 30 million yuan. That work added seven exhibition rooms for calligraphy, oil painting, ceramics, tea and wine vessels, Buddhist art, old furniture and porcelain panels, filled with loans from private collectors and open free of charge. A tall memorial arch reading Jiuda Tianqu and Shenjing Menhu stands at the south square. It is a modern rebuilding. Researchers at Dezhou University note the original arch stood on the old official road west of the city wall and was taken down long ago.

Southern Canal channel passing through Dezhou — The Southern Canal in Dezhou. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, by Suginami, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to spend an hour or two

Start at the south square and the arch, walk the main street with its shops and galleries, then step out onto the canal bank. The water here is held by weirs and looks deep in town, though the channel runs low in the countryside. Walk an embankment stretch in either direction for views of the old channel and the modern city behind it. Late afternoon light suits the brick facades, and the street stays lively into the evening with snack stalls and shops selling Dezhou souvenirs.

Most visitors spend between one and two hours. The street is compact, so most of the time goes into the galleries and the water. Canal parks further along the embankment offer longer walks if you want them.

Braised chicken and other pairings

Dezhou braised chicken is the city's food signature, and the Dezhou guide treats it as a planned meal. Plan a sit-down lunch or dinner around it and ask the shop how fresh the day's batch is. For a full Dezhou day, visit the Sulu King Tomb in the morning, eat chicken at lunch, and come to the canal street for the late afternoon and dusk. That keeps the day to two short transfers.

Getting there and seasons

The Dazhong report gives the address as 525 Dongfeng West Road in Decheng District. A taxi from Dezhou station takes only a short time, and Dezhou East on the high-speed line is further out, so allow extra time. Spring and autumn are best for embankment walks. Summer evenings are pleasant once the heat drops, and winter wind along the open water is cold.

Before you go

Entry to the street and galleries was free when last reported. Check gallery hours on the day.
Bring a light layer for wind off the water.
Combine the visit with the Sulu King Tomb.
Plan a proper braised chicken meal nearby.
See the Dezhou travel guide for rail timing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dezhou canal part of the UNESCO Grand Canal?

Yes. The Grand Canal was inscribed in 2014, and the Southern Canal through Cangzhou and Dezhou is one of the listed sections.

Is the memorial arch old?

No, the arch on the square is a modern rebuilding. The original stood elsewhere in the old city and no longer exists.

Are boats available?

The sources used for this page do not mention regular boat services here, so plan on walking and ask locally.

How long do I need?

One to two hours is enough for most travellers, longer if you linger in the galleries.

Sources

Facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved 17 October 2026.

Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown in each caption.