Experts, scholars discuss promotion of heritage site

A dialogue on cross-cultural communication of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was held in Beijing on Tuesday. Experts and scholars shared innovative ways to promote the Grand Canal culture.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has been connecting the north and south of China for thousands of years, nurturing numerous regions.

In 2022, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal achieved a full-line water connection for the first time over the past century. Since 2020, the capital has carried out 669 archaeological projects along the canal's Beijing section. The Beijing Grand Canal Museum, located in the east hall of the Capital Museum, is expected to open by the end of 2023.

The Grand Canal records the development and culture of Beijing across different eras. It is a key topic for international communication for the city, Li Gu, a Beijing official said, adding that it is essential to interpret the canal stories into a language that can be understood by foreigners, in an effort to deliver a credible and respectable image of China.

During a roundtable dialogue, Qu Ru, a researcher from Beijing International Studies University noted that the establishment of canal-related intellectual property is a worthy attempt.

Qu said that there are numerous stories and cultural icons related to the Grand Canal including the author of A Dream of Red Mansions Cao Xueqin who finished the masterpiece in Beijing during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) after a trip on the canal.

Du Jing, a senior journalist, said in addition to IP, it is necessary to innovate as much as possible the emotional cultivation related to the canal culture among young people.

Besides traditional books and illustrations, literature, drama, animation and other forms can be utilized. It was also recommended to invite foreigners to tell the stories of China and the canal.

Yang Jinhuai, deputy director of the Beijing Water Authority, stated that as a city with a rich canal culture, Beijing boasts abundant heritage resources for international communication.

The canal's water system in Beijing has been well preserved. In recent years, Beijing has been promoting the construction of the Grand Canal cultural belt with a humanistic approach, implementing ecological water replenishment, achieving interconnection of navigation channels between Beijing and Hebei, and creating a range of waterfront leisure spaces, Yang said.

This event was one of the themed activities of the Beijing (International) Canal Cultural Festival co-hosted by the information offices of Beijing municipal and Zhejiang provincial governments, the Hangzhou city government, China News Agency, and the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization.

liyou@chinadaily.com.cn