Located at the intersection of the Yangtze River, Huai River and the Grand Canal, Shaobo Ancient Town has a total area of 98.6 square kilometers and a population of 100,000 residents. Known as Gantang in ancient times, Shaobo rose to prominence when the renowned statesman and military strategist Xie An built a dam here to stop the flood. With a history stretching back nearly 2,000 years, Shaobo Ancient Town has prospered over the years because of the rivers. Shaobo is a key town and large port along the Grand Canal. With its blend of northern and southern cultures, fresh river and lake catches throughout the year, abundant ingredients and unique flavors, Shaobo is also the food capital of Jiangsu and the traditional gourmet base along the Grand Canal. In addition, Shaobo is a key heritage town along the Grand Canal protected area. Remnants of the ancient Grand Canal include the Shaobo Ship Floodgate, the ancient pier, the ancient transport embankments, Xie Taifu Temple, Dong Xun’s Study, Douye Pavilion, Gantang Tree and the salt merchants building etc. Shaobo has long been celebrated as a cultural heritage town, as well as the hometown of Jiangsu folk music. It is home to numerous cultural relics, an excellent ecological environment and unique customs. It is also the main area along the Jianghuai ecological corridor and is surrounded by important wetland reserves such as the Shaobo Lake and Luyang Lake.