GRAND CANAL PLAYS INTEGRAL ROLE IN JIANGSU'S PROSPERITY

East China coastal province has centuries of history with waterway that enhanced communication, strengthened bonds and ushered in miracle, says official

The economic and cultural well-being of Jiangsu, East China's coastal province, is largely dependent on its network of waterways, with the Grand Canal being the most prominent.

Spanning 790 kilometers, the Jiangsu section of the Grand Canal flows through eight cities in the province — Xuzhou, Suqian, Huai'an, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou — making it the ancient waterway's longest and most well-preserved section.

"The Grand Canal has enhanced cultural communication between the north and the south, strengthening the bonds within Chinese civilization and ushering in a miracle that spans 2,500 years," said Shan Jixiang, director of the expert committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics and former director of the Palace Museum.

The Grand Canal linked six major ancient capitals of China: Luoyang and Kaifeng of Henan province, Xi'an of Shaanxi province, Hangzhou of Zhejiang province, Beijing as well as Nanjing of Jiangsu province.

For centuries, the Grand Canal has been vital for daily water use, transportation and cultural exchange in Jiangsu, carrying the memories and growth of the people alongside it. The waterway facilitated cultural exchange and influenced local customs and arts, giving rise to numerous intangible cultural heritage items.

Su embroidery from Suzhou, one of the four famous Chinese embroidery styles, is a vibrant showcase of Jiangnan culture and stands as a remarkable testament to the traditional craftsmanship of Chinese people.

Featuring meticulous craftsmanship, intricate needlework and vivid colors, Su embroidery was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. The art form is imbued with the distinctive charm of water towns of the Jiangnan, the region along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, epitomizing the aesthetic elegance of Eastern tradition, with a legacy that spans over 1,000 years.

Yao Yuehua, a young representative inheritor and apprentice of Su embroidery master Yao Jianping, is dedicated to preserving the inheritance and innovation of Su embroidery.

"The stitching skills employed in Su embroidery possess features of being even, neat, fine, dense, uniform, bright, smooth and balanced," Yao Yuehua said. "While they may sound simple, each step in the process requires decades of skilled practice. Embroidery threads as fine as a strand of hair can be divided into 352 individual strands. At such an extreme level of fineness, they are nearly invisible to the naked eye, yet our master embroiderers skillfully weave them into intricate designs."

Even a piece as small as A4-sized paper often requires embroidery masters to pour in months of painstaking effort. Every stitch and thread embodies meticulous craftsmanship and unwavering dedication, Yao Yuehua said.

Traditional Chinese medicine is another cultural symbol at the Jiangsu section of the Grand Canal.

The Menghe Medical School, originated in Changzhou's Menghe town, adjacent to the Grand Canal, has a history that can be traced back between the Western and Eastern Jin dynasties (265-420), and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

By the mid-19th century, acclaimed physicians like Fei Boxiong and Ma Peizhi made Menghe a prominent medical hub in Jiangnan, attracting both patients and students.

Across generations, the Menghe Medical School practitioners have used their exceptional medical skills to benefit the people. Listed as an intangible cultural heritage in Changzhou, the Lanling Cheng's Acupuncture technique has a history of more than 100 years.

Known for its inclusive approach and global reach, Menghe Medical School so far has over 2,000 disciples in 17 countries and regions. Changzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, a key hub for Menghe Medical School's heritage, expands the international influence of traditional Chinese medicine by promoting its culture in countries like Britain, France and Malaysia and hosting visits from international guests.

Since 2020, the Changzhou TCM hospital and the European School of Acupuncture have collaborated to establish the TCM clinical institute under the European school and the TCM clinic featuring the Menghe Medical School in Belgium. In November 2023, 10 European students excelled in mastering Menghe Medical School techniques. For instance, student Li Yanling now applies Chinese fire cupping and other therapy methods in Belgium, while Gaelle van Elst opened a clinic in Belgium with a mentor's support.

On top of that, the Changzhou TCM hospital and the European school have signed a cooperation agreement for a Menghe Medical School overseas talent training project, focusing on training, staff exchange and cultural activities. Remote consultations have benefited European patients, promoting cooperation in medical cases and interdisciplinary collaboration. Special lectures and cultural exchanges have showcased the charm of TCM.

According to official data, the Jiangsu section of the Grand Canal boasts 13 national historical and cultural cities, 31 famous towns and 12 renowned villages. It includes 28 World Heritage elements and features a heritage river section of 325 km. Additionally, the National Cultural Heritage Administration's "overall plan for the protection and management of Grand Canal heritage" has included 103 canal heritage sites and 103 intangible cultural heritage items in the section — the highest numbers along the entire canal.

"The Grand Canal has been a significant force in shaping cities and driving economic development. Goods like grain, silk, salt, porcelain, timber, bricks, and books flowed along the canal, nurturing the commerce and livelihoods of cities along its route," said He Yun'ao, professor at the School of History of Nanjing University. "The Grand Canal is not merely a single north-south line; it should be understood as an extensive waterway network and cultural system covering Jiangsu."