Research on traditional vernacular dwellings in the Li Canal reach of the grand canal

Abstract

The Li Canal has a reach that extends from Huai’an to Yangzhou, lying between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. Moreover, this region divides China geographically and climatically into north and south. It can also be considered as an intersection where cultures from the north and south meet and integrate. Running through the north and south of China, the Grand Canal has become an important channel of cultural integration. Vernacular buildings aren’t an exception, as they are simultaneously affected by architectural styles from the north and south. This paper exhaustively studies the characteristics of the vernacular dwellings in the Li Canal reach across Huai’an and Yangzhou, from the perspective of layout, structural style and construction approach. Influenced by architectural cultures of the north and south, dwellings at both these places possess features of the north and south, and have created their own unique architectural styles. This paper attributes climatic conditions, customs, and regional culture as the fundamental reasons for these styles. Meanwhile, the paper further proves this conclusion by comparing features of vernacular dwellings in Huai’an and Yangzhou based on geographical nuances.