In the evening of April 13th, international friends gathered in Slender West Lake in Yangzhou to experience a dazzling Chinese culture, have a taste of delicate Huiyang food and immerse themselves in Jiangnan natural landscapes.
“The Grand Canal of China, as the first world heritage in terms of its history, length and scale, plays an important role in economic development of China and even world and cultural exchanges.” said Fang Biaojun, deputy head of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, when addressing the welcoming ceremony in the evening. With a total length of 325 kilometers, the canal was inscribe on a list of world cultural heritage including six watercourses and twenty two scenic spots. There are 157 scenic spots that is above 4A level within Jiangsu Province including 17 5A level scenic spots, 4 national tourism resorts and 37 provincial tourism resorts.
“The Grand Canal of China in Jiangsu is home to 9 prominent ancient cities and 12 prominent towns in Chinese history and culture with 11 world intangible cultural heritages closely related to the Grand Canal of China in Jiangsu, as well as 101 national intangible cultural heritages.” Fang Biaojun told international friends. A series of events, including the first Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Expo, International Canal City Culture and Tourism Exhibition, cultural relic exhibition, food carnival, tourism equipment fair and the grand canal forum for investment and cooperation, will be held in May this year to fully showcase the canal culture and discuss its cultural inheritance, protection and utilization.
Yangzhou, located at a place where the Yangtze River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal converge, is prominent in Chinese history and culture with a long history of more than 2,500 years. At the same time, it is also the origin of the Grand Canal of China, as well as an important node of the Maritime Silk Road. “In 2004, Yangzhou was leading in successful inscription of the Grand Canal of China into memory of world register as the Silk Road jointly applied by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was inscribed on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage” introduced Liu Yutong, vice mayor of Yangzhou Municipality, adding that those two cultural routes are of great significance in the history of human development. It is the convergence in Yangzhou that develops its particular advantages in waterway, makes it thriving in several periods throughout the history and consolidates its unique position in the circle of East Asian culture.
Nowadays, Yangzhou featuring beautiful natural landscapes, harmonious society and robust economy is proactively building itself as an unique international city of culture and tourism. “It is an important approach for Yangzhou to strengthen tourism cooperation through international friends” expressed Liu Yutong,, noting that more foreigners are hoped to have a better understanding of Yangzhou and share local tourism resources and products with the world through the trip and promotion of traveling salesmen.