Major World Canals and Canal Cities - 扬州中国大运河博物馆

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Major World Canals and Canal Cities

The latest virtual gallery is available at:

http://audio.taoart.com/fullview/zgdyh/8/?m=92uytMkutbn

Canals are a cultural heritage of global significance. In addition to the Grand Canal of China, more than 500 well-known canals have been built around the world over the past 2,500 years, leading to the development of over 3,000 cities that embody canal-based cultural heritage. As the oldest canal city in the world, Yangzhou holds a significant place in the construction of China’s Grand Canal Cultural Belt and in the history of global canal culture. With an emphasis on the heritage value of the Grand Canal of China, the CGCM recognizes the unique significance of canals worldwide in fostering social civilization, nurturing urban and rural development, spreading scientific and technological culture, and promoting trade and commerce. The Major World Canals and Canal Cities exhibition is a proactive effort to promote the high-quality protection, inheritance, and utilization of canal culture, while deepening the international influence of canal cultural brands. Supported by the Grand Canal Museum Alliance and the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO), it provides a platform for exchange and cooperation among cities along the Grand Canal and canal cities worldwide.

This exhibition uses canals as a connecting thread, focusing on cities that share a common canal culture and identity. It explores the origins of the world’s canals and highlights the unique characteristics of canal cities from three perspectives: world heritage, wisdom in hydraulic engineering, and features of cities. The gallery showcases the global heritage value of canals through 15 representative examples, including 6 that have been designated as World Heritage sites. Barrages, tunnels, and navigation locks serve as bridges connecting canals and cities. The exhibition highlights the human wisdom reflected in the selection of routes, construction techniques, and the operation and management of these waterways. The 15 representative cities that emerged around canals are spread across 5 continents, directly reflecting the profound impacts of canals on social development, natural ecology, and the human environment. The central, flexible exhibition area of the gallery will be reserved for additional canal cities to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, and share development experiences.