David Edwards-May of IWI sent a video message to congratulate the 2024 Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue.
“Marco Polos” of the new era embarked on a journey along the Grand Canal and reached Hangzhou.
By Fang Jingyi Jin Yingying
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Grand Canal Cultural Belt Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue kicked off on June 17 at the Grand Canal Hangzhou Steelworks Park. Distinguished guests from various fields gathered to celebrate this event and contribute ideas for the construction of a better Grand Canal.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Grand Canal of China being listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, which is also the fifth year since the Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue commenced.
The first Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue took place in 2019, marking the beginning of the ”Twin Cities” narrative in the construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt.
The Dialogue serves as a vital platform for showcasing the rich cultural heritage along the Canal and fostering cooperation among canal cities. As the terminal cities of the Canal, Beijing and Hangzhou have played pivotal roles in promoting its story and cultural and tourism integration.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is not only a national cultural emblem of China but also a World Heritage site. On June 22, 2014, at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee, it was officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over the past decade, cities along the Canal have diligently implemented President Xi Jinping’s directives on the protection, inheritance, and utilization of the World Heritage, accelerating the construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt and rejuvenating the ancient canal with contemporary vitality.
Series events take place
in June and July
From June to July, over 20 activities will be held to celebrate the milestone, including the dance drama To Meet the Grand Canal, China’s Grand Canal Cultural Fair, the 3rd China Grand Canal Ancient Town Development and Culture Week, and more.
Among these activities, the “New Travels of Marco Polo” attracted Italian sinologist Michele Ferrero, Beijing Foreign Studies University foreign teacher Monica Bezzegato, China Newsweek journalist James Adam Tiscione, international student Vattiato Gaia, and other internationals to act as the “Marco Polos” of the new era. They joined a field trip from Beijing to Hangzhou along the Grand Canal to relive the path Marco Polo traveled more than 700 years ago. Departing from Beijing, they traveled south along the Canal, passed through Yangzhou, and finally arrived in Hangzhou, the southern terminal of the Grand Canal.
Praised by Marco Polo as the most beautiful and magnificent city on earth, Hangzhou served as the final destination of this journey. The “Marco Polos” visited the West Lake, where they found the statue of the Italian explorer. Then, they took a boat from Wulinmen Pier of the Canal to visit Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block, participated in a traditional Chinese fashion parade, and enjoyed Peking Opera as well as Yue Opera. Their awe-inspiring experience culminated in an enchanting night show of the Dreamy Shangtang River, which transported them back to Hangzhou’s glorious Song Dynasty.
A new take on Hangzhou
and Grand Canal
While traveling south along various sections of the Grand Canal, China Newsweek journalist James Adam Tiscione experienced diverse sceneries. He noted that the Hangzhou section of the Canal is centrally located and fully integrated into the city. He also felt the vibrancy of Hangzhou at the Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block, where he joined many tourists and locals in enjoying the scenery. At the end of his trip, he received a flower hairpin while watching the performance of Dreamy Shangtang River and was particularly impressed by the segment featuring poet Su Shi. He admired Su Shi’s optimistic outlook, especially his ability to enjoy life and food despite facing many hardships.
Gaia, an Italian international student who also visited three cities along the Grand Canal, found the Hangzhou section livelier and surrounded by bustling markets. “Retracing the route of Marco Polo leaves a deeper impression on me. It occurs to me that there are many similarities between the two ends of the Canal: whether you are in Beijing or Hangzhou, you can see the close relationship between humans and nature,” she said.
Italian short-video vlogger Rachele, who has lived in Hangzhou for years, said this event gave her a deeper understanding of the Hangzhou section of the Canal. “The Grand Canal is not just a waterway; it has sustained many people along its banks from Beijing to Hangzhou and generated a lot of culture,” she remarked.
David Edwards-May, Editor-in-Chief of Inland Waterways International (IWI) and an expert in European inland waterway cartography publishing, along with Lang Lang, a renowned pianist and image ambassador for the Grand Canal’s Hangzhou section, also congratulated the 2024 Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue through video messages.
By linking the twin cities of Beijing and Hangzhou, the 2024 Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue underscores their leading role in constructing the Grand Canal Cultural Belt and showcases the rich cultural diversity along the Canal. It will continue to serve as a bridge for China’s global exchanges, providing a platform for people worldwide to gain insight into Chinese culture and history.