Why did Kaifeng decline after new Grand Canal routes were built farther east?

Kaifeng’s commercial decline was primarily due to its loss of status as a vital hub on China's main north-south transportation artery. During the Northern Song dynasty, the city flourished as a major trade center because it served as the junction for four major canals, including the Bian Canal, which linked the Huang He to the Huai River and the Yangtze River basin.12

However, following the shift of the political center to Beijing during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, a new Grand Canal route was constructed farther to the east to facilitate grain transport to the capital. As a result, Kaifeng was bypassed and no longer functioned as a key point for north-south traffic. This decline was further exacerbated by the neglect of river works on the Huang He, which rendered the river less effective for navigation and led to frequent, devastating floods.12