The dam breaking relics, which are of great significance both to study in application for the World Heritage and to academic study, rank among the most recent discoveries on the Tongji Ditch of the Great Canal. The relics are located around the Putian Pond, a wellknown lake in what was known as central China in ancient times. The Putian Pond served as a natural reservoir in the ZhengzhouKaifeng part of the Great Canal in times of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, so the discovery of the dam breaking relics is of important value to study of the Tongji riverway of the Great Canal. The discovery proves that the Bianhe riverway was actually located some 20 li north of the present riverway while the old riverway east of the relics was the waterway of the Jialu River in times of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

the Great Canal in times of the Sui and Tang Dynasties; the Bian River; dam breaking relics; the Putian Pond