In 2006, I found myself floating down the Grand Canal in China, in awe of the way that in the middle of the bustling city, it felt like a moment of calm. As we would approach each bridge, a near perfect circle would appear – half of the arch in the bridge, half in the reflection in the water. The synchronicity, balance, and mystery of it, felt like experiencing something magical.

Perhaps this is a small part of what the UNESCO world heritage site saw when they talked about the Grand Canal as “tangible proof of human wisdom, determination and courage”. It was not simply its utility that gave this ancient masterpiece of hydraulic engineering, but also its beauty, and reminder of the interconnectedness with nature and with each other.