Wuxi protects Grand Canal's beauty

Located in the south part of the central urban area of Wuxi, the six-kilometer-long Qingming Bridge Section of the Grand Canal shows the most distinctive features of the riverside towns in the regions south of the Yangtze River. [Photo/xdkb.net]

Discussions and interactions under a theme of the protection and cultural heritage of the Grand Canal were held in east China's Jiangsu province, including Huai'an, Yangzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou, on Dec 4-8.

As the world's longest man-made canal, the Grand Canal is one of the greatest hydraulic projects in history. It stretches for 1,794 kilometers, starting in Beijing, passing through Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang’s Hangzhou and connecting the Haihe, Yellow, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantang rivers. As an artery joining northern and southern China, it has long contributed to the nation's prosperity.

President Xi has emphasized the importance of protection, inheritance, development and utilization of the Grand Canal twice this year, saying that the Grand Canal is the "Flowing Culture" of China.

There are six river channels and 22 historical sites in Jiangsu province, accounting for 40 percent of all the historical remains of the Grand Canal, which include classic gardens, old city walls, city gates, towers and temples.

In 2006, the historical sites of the Grand Canal in Jiangsu became a national key cultural relic under state protection.

The Beijing-Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal, with a more than 2,500 year history, is a Chinese wonder that enjoys the same reputation as the Great Wall. The Grand Canal runs through Wuxi city. The reach of six kilometers' from Wuqiao Bridge, the south gate, to Qingming Bridge is one of the city's most beautiful scenic areas.

The Qingming Bridge scenic area is at the intersection of two Y-shaped ancient rivers and two ancient streets along the rivers, with abundant historical relics and cultural landscapes. [Photo/xdkb.net]

Located in the south part of the central urban area of Wuxi, the six-kilometer-long Qingming Bridge Section of the Grand Canal shows the most distinctive features of the riverside towns in the regions south of the Yangtze River.

The Qingming Bridge scenic area is at the intersection of two Y-shaped ancient rivers and two ancient streets along the rivers, with abundant historical relics and cultural landscapes.

On both sides of the canal, along the ancient canal, there are kilns, houses, streets, bridges, temples, towers, lanes and wharfs built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which have witnessed the history of Wuxi for about 3,000 years.

The Wuxi government has implemented a protection rehabilitation project for the Grand Canal to repair historical buildings under the direction of famous Chinese architects Wu Liangyong for the last 10 years. The Qingming Bridge scenic area has now become the city's most extraordinary central scenery whether old or new.