京杭大运河与聊城的兴衰

The Grand Canal and the Rises and Falls of Liaocheng

京杭大运河开通之后,地处山东运河沿岸的聊城逐渐由一个地方政治中心城市转变为一个发达的商业城市。来自各地的商人特别是山陕商人扮演了重要的角色。商业经济的发展对聊城的文化、民间信仰和风俗产生了巨大的影响。清朝末年,由于天灾人祸频繁,山东运河逐渐被废弃,聊城也衰落下来。

After the completion of the Grand Canal, Liaocheng, a city along the Grand Canal in Shandong Province, gradually transformed from a regional political center into an advanced commercial city, during which process businessmen from Shanxi Province and Shan＇xi Province played an important role. Commercial development has remarkably influenced the culture, beliefs and customs of Liaocheng. However, in the late years of Qing Dynasty, due to frequent natural disasters and wars, the part of the Grand Canal in Shandong Province was discarded, and Liaocheng declined as well.