Meet Yangzhou, where the Grand Canal begins

Visitors to the Yangzhou China Grand Canal Museum visit an immersive market along the Grand Canal. [Photo by Yang Xiaoyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Grand Canal is widely viewed as the backbone of the ancient Chinese empire's inland communication system, transporting grain and strategic raw materials, and supplying rice to feed the population, playing an important role in ensuring the country's economic prosperity and stability.

The Grand Canal, the world's earliest and longest artificial waterway, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding universal value in 2014.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of its UNESCO listing, a large-scale themed campaign aimed at further promoting the Grand Canal and cementing its standing in the national consciousness, was launched in Yangzhou on Saturday.

The last decade has also witnessed the canal culture thrive in Yangzhou, beckoning tourists from far and wide to the city entwined with the Grand Canal.