Grand Canal Cultural Development Forum kicks off

The Grand Canal Cultural Development Forum was kicked off Wednesday in concurrence with the opening of the China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou city, east China’s Jiangsu province. 

Renowned scholars Shan Qixiang, Li Xiaozong and Zhang Jingqiu were invited to give keynote speeches on the protection, inheritance and utilization of the Grand Canal. 

35 representatives from the cities along the Grand Canal attended the forum alongside with 200 leading officials from the member units of the Grand Canal Museum Alliance and experts in related fields. 

"Jiangsu has been taking the lead in the protection,inheritance and utilization of the Grand Canal,so the opening of the China Grand Canal Museum and the Grand Canal Culture Forum in Yangzhou today is an event taking place at the right time."said Li Xiaocong, Professor, director of center for historical geography and ancient maps, Peking University.

"It should be a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese nation,a symbol of the Grand Canal's long history and splendid culture.In terms of function and technology,it should be a world-class museum.The Grand Canal Museum of China should also bring people a happy life."said Zhang Jinqiu, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, designer of China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou.

As a new landmark the Grand Canal cultural belt, the museum is like a ship anchoring at the bank of the grand canal and waiting to set sail.

The China Grand Canal Museum, located in Yangzhou Sanwan Ecological and Cultural Park, is the first modern comprehensive canal theme museum in China that integrates cultural relics protection, scientific research exhibitions, and social education.

With a total construction area of 80,000 square meters, the museum was approved and named by the General Office of the State Council on November 19, 2020 with a view to showcasing the history and culture of the Grand Canal in all directions and multi-dimensions.

The China Grand Canal Museum has so far collected more than 10,000 exhibits of various cultural relics, including ancient books, calligraphy and painting, inscriptions, ceramics, metalware, and miscellaneous items reflecting the theme of the Grand Canal from the Spring and Autumn Period to the contemporary era. There will be 2 basic displays and 9 exhibits that will vividly showcase the Chinese wisdom of the Grand Canal in terms of national governance, cultural integration, foreign exchanges, river engineering technology, and transportation.The exhibition can be called the "encyclopedia" of China's Grand Canal.

Long scrolls of calligraphy and painting on the history of the Grand Canal were donated to the museum at the opening ceremony. 

"The Grand Canal has nourished the culture of human beings, China and Jiangsu,so we donate such calligraphy scrolls to the China Grand Canal Museum to signify,the inheritance of Jiangsu culture,the inheritance of Chinese calligraphy,which is of a long history like the water of the Grand Canal."said Sun Xiaoyun chairwoman of China Calligrapher Association / Chairwoman of Jiangsu Calligrapher Association