China Grand Canal Museum breaks ground in Yangzhou

The foundation-laying ceremony of the China Grand Canal Museum is held in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province on May 5. [Photo/yznews.com.cn]

The foundation-laying ceremony of the China Grand Canal Museum was held in Yangzhou's Sanwan Park, East China's Jiangsu province on May 5.

Wang Yanwen, head of the Publicity Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, Wang Jiang, vice-governor of Jiangsu province and Zhang Jinqiu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and designer of the museum, attended the ceremony.

Sanwan Park is located at the center of the Yangzhou section of the Grand Canal. It is adjacent to the city's historical district.

The museum will consist of a main building in the shape of a ship, and a pagoda, from which visitors will be able to appreciate a view of the whole of Sanwan Park. 

It will be a modern comprehensive museum integrating cultural relic protection, scientific research, exhibitions and recreation.

Dating back 2,500 years and stretching 1,797 km between Beijing and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, the Grand Canal is among the world's oldest and longest canals.

The Sanwan Park is located at the center of the Yangzhou section of the Grand Canal. [Photo/IC]