於元明兩代，南糧北運最經濟的運輸方法是海運，因海運有難於克服的山東省成山角的海險，故明永樂13 年 (1415) 以後專行河運。但漕河備受黃河的沖阻，於明代中晚期，每當漕河被黃河沖斷時，即有倡議復行海運者；而海運行程要避開成山角的 險要，於是主張開挑膠萊新河。 膠萊新河首挑於元代的姚演，明代嘉靖年間的王獻、萬曆初年的劉應節又開挑兩次，終未能開鑿成功。本研究旨在探討元明時期開挑膠萊新河未能成功的原因和各朝議論，以作為今日若重開此段運河的借鏡。

n Yuan and Ming Dynasty, the most economic way of transporting foods from the south to the north was by sea. River transport became the only means of transportation after 1415 due to the risk people had to take at Changsha Cape, Shandong Province. However, Cao River was often blocked by Yellow River. During mid and late Ming Dynasty, people would advocate the restoration of sea transport whenever Cao River was blocked by Yellow River. People therefore suggested the opening of Jiaolaixin River due to the risk at Chengshan Cape. Jiaolaixin River was opened by Yao Yen in Yuan Dynasty, Wang Xian in Jiajin Period of Ming Dynasty, and twice by Liu Yingjie in the 1st year of Wanli period which all turned out to be failures. The purpose of this research is to discuss the causes of these failures and the opinions from people who opposed the opening of Jiaolaixin River during Ming and Yuan Dynasty as a lesson for people who would like to reopen this river today.