On November 11, the 13 Beijing-Hangzhou Dialogue on the Cultural Belt of the Grand Canal of China and the Beijing (International) Canal Cultural Festival were held in Tongzhou, Beijing.
Zhou Wenzhang, former vice president and professor of the National Academy of Administration, and president of the Chinese Poetry Society
The Millennium Grand Canal has developed to this day, its water supply and irrigation function cannot be replaced, its transportation function is gradually weakening, and its cultural tourism function is increasingly strengthened. Now the most important thing to carry forward the canal culture is to continue to explore and sort out its spiritual connotation, such as unity, diversity, cohesion, tolerance, openness, etc., all of which are the essence of the canal cultural spirit, and are still important spiritual and cultural elements that we need in today's new era.
Built in the Spring and Autumn Period, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the world's longest and largest ancient canal, and one of the oldest canals.
[same period] Ai Wei, Chairman of Zhejiang Writers Association and Chairman of Hangzhou Federation of Literary and Art Circles
In my understanding, the Grand Canal is a link between the northern and southern cultures. Chinese culture originated in the Central Plains, and this culture reached Jiangnan through canals and other means, and the mountains and rivers of Jiangnan entered the texture of this culture in a subtle and silent way. Jiangnan is already the flesh and blood of Chinese culture, and our experience today is inextricably linked with historical and cultural traditions, and to a certain extent, it is history and culture that shape our lives today.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal not only carries a profound history and culture, but also witnesses the continuous development of contemporary society. With the advancement of the scientific management of the canal, the life of the residents along the canal is getting better and better.
[same period] national first-class screenwriter Ma Jihong
As early as more than 20 years ago, Gongchen Bridge was not actually what everyone sees, it was an industrial area at that time, and there were many factories around it, so the factories discharged sewage into the river. At that time, this Gongchen Bridge, it was actually in tatters. After the new century, the comprehensive management of the canal began. The factories around it have been relocated, and the remaining factories have been turned into various museums, and now they have reached the point of opening the door to the river and the moon through the windows.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is a precious material and spiritual wealth left by history to today. Zhu Bingren, a master of Chinese arts and crafts and a representative inheritor of the national intangible heritage bronze carving, said that the most important thing to inherit and carry forward this heritage is to inject contemporary culture into the heritage.
Zhu Bingren, a master of Chinese arts and crafts and a representative inheritor of the field of bronze carving of national intangible heritage
The many cultural heritage sites left behind in the history of the Grand Canal are remarkable. Engaging in intangible cultural heritage, this is a very important part of the canal, so what I hope is how we can leave our own culture, especially the craftsmen, those inheritors, to the Grand Canal, to history, to future generations, and I am also working hard to practice this piece.
Xie Longfei reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Sun Jingbo]