The Grand Canal's southern terminus is at Gongchen Bridge in northern Hangzhou, an area that has been developed into the Grand Canal Cultural Creative Industry Park. The old warehouses along the bank have been converted into museums, galleries, and cafes. The China Grand Canal Museum here is the best single place to understand the canal's 1,500-year history — interactive exhibits, a boat preserved in situ, and excellent displays on the engineering feat of moving water across half a continent.
An evening boat trip from the terminal takes you north through the older canal district, passing ancient granaries and stone bridges. The Gongchen Bridge itself, a humpback stone arch flanked by weeping willows, is one of the most photographed spots in Hangzhou outside of West Lake.