The Wuqing section of the Grand Canal is located in the core area of the Grand Canal cultural belt in China. With a total length of 62.3 kilometers, it is rich in diverse cultural heritage, including river channels, hydraulic facilities, ancient buildings, historical sites and stone carvings.
In 2023, Wuqing focused on the protection and development of the Grand Canal, aiming to integrate the construction of the canal with regional high-quality development.
Highlighting and protecting the unique features of the canal
In terms of strengthening the protection of cultural heritage, Wuqing has fulfilled its responsibilities in ensuring the safety of cultural relics with the completion of inspections on 164 cultural relic sites. Efforts were made to promote archaeological excavations and the restoration of important sites and relics along the canal, with applications submitted to the municipal cultural relics bureau for four archaeological investigation projects. In addition, in order to enhance the canal’s governance, Wuqing implemented the continuous water quality monitoring of seven canal entrances. Feedback and timely rectification measures were taken for water quality that did not meet the standards.
Deepening the cultural connotations of the canal for better inheritance
Since 2023, Wuqing has fully explored the cultural value of the Grand Canal. Local media outlets have focused on the themes of canal history and its intangible cultural heritage. On-site visits to historical architectural complexes were conducted to film documentaries on canal culture. These documentaries are expected to be broadcasted on national, municipal, district-level media, and online platforms.
Meanwhile, 110 types and 1,200 volumes of books on the theme of the canal were collected and showcased on the literature platform of the Grand Canal. A total of 312 poems, essays, and short stories on the theme of the canal were also received for the evaluation of the Wuqing Canal Literature Award.
Integrating culture and tourism to support the development of the Grand Canal
Over the past year, Wuqing has accelerated the promotion of water transport and strengthened industrial support. It has aimed to create a new pattern of integrated tourism, launching high-quality tourism routes such as the "canal-countryside tour" and "urban leisure tour" to stimulate consumer demand.
Furthermore, 36 projects on urban parks were signed, with a total investment of 5.09 billion yuan (about $709.62 million).
In 2024, Wuqing will continue to promote the construction of Grand Canal cultural, facilitate ecological development belt, and support the Beijing-Tianjin industrial new city. It will promote the development of the cultural tourism industry and the integration of new industries, transforming the millennium-old Grand Canal into a shining business card for Wuqing.