Culture
By Fang Jingyi
This year’s June 22 marked the 11th anniversary of China’s Grand Canal being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To celebrate the anniversary, a series of events has been held along the river to showcase the canal’s vitality. The Grand Canal Interactive Fair held last weekend attracted many participants, who collected stamp cards and embarked on journeys through time exploring ancient crafts. An intangible cultural heritage experience event was also held on June 22 at the China Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum for families.
In addition to the these activities, “Fortune Fest” themed events will kick off on June 27 at Wulinmen Wharf near West Lake Cultural Plaza, including sports competitions, cultural events, and pop-up activities.
The 2025 Hangzhou Canoe Marathon & Open Race will be launched on June 28–29, with competitions including Men’s and Women’s 200m Single Ocean Kayak Racing, 10km Single Ocean Kayak Racing, and 5km Single Ocean Kayak Racing. During the thrilling competition, a “Fortune Market” will also offer event merch, interactive sports (AI basketball, cycling, pickleball, etc.), and flash mob fitness sessions. What’s more, the Grand Canal International Poetry Night, themed drone shows, and a fashion runway will also take place from June 27 to 28.
Before the celebrations, the 2025 Beijing-Hangzhou Dialogue took place in Beijing at the end of May. During the event, a culinary team led by Chinese master chef Liu Guoming from Hangzhou Restaurant showcased the rich food culture of local cuisine. Famous brand Hangzhou Zhiweiguan also presented a collection of pastries featuring new Chinese aesthetics. Meanwhile, the city’s first large-scale drama about the Grand Canal, Northward, was performed at the Beijing Arts Center, drawing a large audience.