During the Mayors’ Dialogue Session at the World Canal Cities Forum on September 8th, Mayor of Yangzhou City, Zhang Aijun spoke on the themes of “Green Development of the World Canal Cities and Construction of China’s Grand Canal Cultural Belt”. Mayor Zhang shared the thoughts behind the “green + cultural” development of Yangzhou along the canal, as well as Yangzhou’s practical experiences.
Based on Yangzhou’s practical experience, Mayor Zhang shared two opinions: (1) the green “bottom line” and cultural roots of the canal must be firmly maintained at all times. (2) there is a need to augment the effect of world heritage and promote the symbiosis and prosperity of the canals and cities.
In his introduction, Mayor Zhang highlighted Yangzhou’s efforts in ecological restoration through its plan for the Jianghuai Ecological Grand Corridor which focuses on the Grand Canal. In the past two years, 300 key emission reduction projects and more than 50 river basin water pollution prevention and control projects have been implemented, and 300,000 mu of fishing area has been returned to the lake. Landscapes have been created on both banks of the canal section, which has enhanced the city’s “green lungs” and served cultural and tourism functions. With regards to the conservation of cultural heritage, Yangzhou had complemented the successful application of the Grand Canal as a World Heritage Site and the construction of the Cultural Expo City, with planned restorations of 10 heritage sites, 6 rivers, ancient towns, ancient gates, ancient dams, ancient docks and ancient houses etc. in the territory. The city also plans to construct a new museum, an exhibition hall and a heritage park with the Grand Canal as the theme. Yangzhou adheres strictly to the "Grand Canal Heritage Conservation Management Measures" for its construction designs and was the first city along the Grand Canal to announce the implementation of the conservation plan which stipulates that various types of heritage sites and river sections are not to be subjected to damages from construction projects.
Judging from Yangzhou’s experience, the following issues must be resolved for the conservation of the Grand Canal:
1) The conservation of the canal should be regarded as a comprehensive project and the ecological restoration of the canal should be considered within the context of the entire basin and water system. Restoration should be executed alongside the reconstruction of the area, removal of factories and adjustment of industrial structures to co-ordinate a series of issues such as river diversions, interception, dredging, landscaping, water-cleaning and beautifying etc.
2) While protecting the physical heritage, we must not forget the conservation of intangible heritage. It is necessary to organize the cultural resources along the canal to enrich the cultural connotation and share the stories of the canal.
3) It is necessary to mobilize the entire society to contribute towards the ecological restoration and protection of the canal, the research and heritage of the canal culture, and the development and utilization of the canal resources.
Mayor Zhang also shared some of the questions faced by canal cities: How do the cities balance conservation and utilization after the Grand Canal becomes a World Heritage Site? How can they live up to this prestigious status as a World Heritage Site? It appears that everyone has reached the same understanding and that is, the Grand Canal is a flowing wealth and a “gold mine” for the cities. Our focus should be on transforming the historical and cultural wealth of the canal into material and spiritual wealth for the city as soon as possible. This will then add further value to the cultural wealth of the canal.
Mayor Zhang emphasized that opportunities have been created for the cultural development and prosperity of canal cities with the proposed construction of the Canal Cultural Belt at the national level. In its next step, Yangzhou shall establish its cultural foundation, promote the World Heritage Canal brand, and strive to promote the integration of cultural conservation, industrial development, innovation, entrepreneurship, urban construction and establishment of a “spiritual civilization”. We must focus on the following: improve the quality of canal tourism, vigorously promote the industrialization and upgrading of intangible heritage, establish the canal as a lifestyle brand and integrate the canal spirit into the spirit of the city.
Lastly, as the host of the conference, Mayor Zhang proposed the following initiatives to the member cities of the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization: