The Grand Canal Museum Complex is located in Hangzhou – the former imperial capital at the southern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, an 1800km man-made lin­ear water system connecting China’s north and south. For more than 2500 years, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has ensured China’s agricultural, economic and cultural development, and promoted urbanization along its banks, drawing a significant line on China’s vast map. The plot of the Grand Canal Museum Complex is situated at the pivotal junction of the Grand Canal and the Hanggang River – the main artery connecting to other large urban development areas in Hangzhou’s north – and is surrounded by water on three sides. Our proposal aims to reflect the Grand Canal’s importance in Chi­nese cultural and natural landscapes, and to create a vibrant, contemporary gathering place at the Grand Canal.