"Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue", an annual cultural activity linking Beijing and Hangzhou, the northern and southern points of ancient China's most well-known hydraulic achievements - the Grand Canal, kicked off its third session on October 17, 2021. 

Right on a boat with a strong Chinese vibe at the No. 2 Pier of Canal Olympic Sports Park, the opening ceremony of the third Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue with the theme of "A Thousand Mile Journey Along the Grand Canal" was launched with warm opening speeches from the organizers and applause from the attendees. On the same day, the media tour of Chinese and foreign media - "Love the Grand Canal" was also launched at the Canal Olympic Sports Park. 

Group photo of media representatives from the globe (Photo/China News Service)

The activity is co-sponsored by the Information Office of Beijing Municipal People's government, the Information Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's government, Hangzhou Municipal People's government, China News Service, and the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO). 

Xu Hejian, director of the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal People's government, Wang Min, vice president of the China News Service, Wang Yingzhong, deputy editor-in-chief of the Editorial Committee of Hangzhou Culture Radio and Television Group, attended the launching ceremony and delivered their own speeches. 

The Zhejiang Part of the Grand Canal 

In the coming days, the activity organizers will launch a millennium Canal Culture exhibition at the main venue of the Grand Canal Music Park in Hangzhou. Poets and artists from Beijing and Hangzhou will also attend the closing ceremony of the Grand Canal International Poetry Festival and other activities.

"A Thousand Mile Journey Along the Grand Canal" is one of the series of activities of the third Beijing Hangzhou Dialogue" in 2021. The media tour group, which is composed of more than 30 Chinese and overseas media, will visit Tongzhou in Beijing, Zaozhuang in Shandong, Yangzhou in Jiangsu, Hangzhou in Zhejiang, and other cities along the Grand Canal. During their exploration along the Grand Canal, the media veterans will use their cameras and pens to discover the stories of the Grand Canal and introduce them to the global audience. 

Reporter: Jin Weiduo

Editor: Ye Ke