真州位於長江與運河的交口，以一處重要的轉運城市著稱。作為一處轉運城市，真州所扮演的角色在南北宋間曾有所轉變。北宋時期，主要的功能是連繫南北，南方豐盛的物資從各地集中於此，經由連貫南北的運河，轉運到北方，供應以首都開封為主的政治中心的需要；連繫南方東、西之間的轉運功能雖然存在，但為南北之間的轉運功能所掩蓋。南宋時期，由於北方已是金國領土，運河只有淮河以南的河段在南宋境內，真州作為轉運城市所發揮的功能，便以東、西之間的連繫為首要。淮南沿海的鹽產，聚集於真州，轉運至長江流域內陸各地，供應大眾生活的需要。這項運輸在北宋原已存在，到南宋成為支持真州繁盛的主要因素。南北連繫的功能在這時雖然並未完全喪失，重要性卻遠不及東西連繫的功能。本文討論此一轉變過程，兼及宋代真州內外情勢環境的變化。

Zhenzhou was located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal. The city was famous as a transfer port. The role of Zhenzhou as a transfer port changed between the Northern Song dynasty and the Southern
Song dynasty. In the Northern Song dynasty, its main function was to link
southern China and northern China. Abundant goods were transported to
Zhenzhou from different regions of the south, then transported to the Capital Kaifeng and elsewhere in the north by the Grand Canal. Although it also linked the eastern part and the western part of the south by the transportation network of the Yangtze River, this function was covered by the function of linking the south and the north. In the Southern Song dynasty, as northern China was ruled by the Jin dynasty, the main function of Zhenzhou as a transfer port changed. The linking of the eastern part and the western part of the southern Song’s territory was more important than the linking of southern China and northern China. Salt produced along the seashore of Huainan was transported to Zhenzhou, then transported to the hinterland of the Yangtze Valley. This article tries to illustrate the process of the change, and the situation and environment of Zhenzhou as a transfer port before and after the change.