The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the earliest and longest man-made canal in the world. With a total distance of more than 1700 kilometers, it starts from Beijing and ends in Hangzhou. The Grand Canal plays a great role in the exchange of economy and culture between southern and northern China, especially in the industrial and agricultural development in the canal line area.

The Grand Canal carries precious cultural memory of Cangzhou, Hebei province. Cangzhou’s martial arts, acrobats, Hebei Bangzi Opera, and paper-cutting, have become well-known along the canal. The intangible cultural heritage projects connect the past, present, and future, expressing vitality along the Grand Canal.

Editor: Cheng Dengyu