Located in the Jiangbei Shuicheng (Waterside Town) Tourist Resort, Liaocheng, Shandong, Sihetou is an important water conservancy hub on the canal site. Four rivers, including Tuhai, Jinxian, Zhaowang, and the Grand Canal, meet here, so it is named Sihetou (“Head of Four Rivers”). Sihetou is not only famous for its unique geographical features and well-designed water conservancy works, but also a recreational attraction for leisure and recreation of citizens in Liaocheng.

In 1289 (26th year of the Zhiyuan Period), the digging of the Grand Canal commenced. In the Yuan Dynasty, at the suggestion of Han Zhonghui, head of Shouzhang County, et al., Kublai dug the Huitong River, and implemented cutoff works on the Sui and Tang Grand Canal, thereby greatly shortening the shipping distance.

In the Yongle Period of Ming, Zhu Di decided to reopen up the Huitong River. In the Jingtai Period of Ming, to solve the flood problem, the Water Intake Gate, the Water Reducing Gate, the Sankong Bridge and other buildings were built on both banks of the canal in Sihetou nearby, and a water reducing river (source of Tuhai) was dug in the meantime. The boom of canal transport directly brought 400 years of prosperity to Liaocheng, Linqing and Zhangqiu, but meanwhile aggravated the floods on the west of the canal.

In 1957, the expanded digging of the Tuhai River started, and six new culverts across the canal were built. In 1964, the Tuhai River underwent unprecedented control, thereby having the present-day width. In the late 1960s, according to the needs of irrigation resumption of Weishan and permanent control over the Haihe River, the famous Sihetou Water Conservancy Hub was built.

In 2001, the completion of the Changdong Rubber Dam replaced the function of the barrage. In the same year, the Sihetou Gate was listed as a key heritage conservation unit of Liaocheng. In 2008, the completion of the inverted siphon of the Second Trunk Canal replaced the function of the aqueduct diverting water from the Yellow River. With the building of the Canal Model Section, the Sihetou Water Conservancy Site Park was built. In 2023, the Sihetou Water Conservancy Hub was rated as one of the first batch of provincial water conservancy heritage items.

Today, Sihetou can achieve the confluence of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Grand Canal and the Tuhai River. Now, with splendid scenery, it has become a perfect place for citizens’ leisure and recreation in Liaocheng.