A forum themed on the construction of Wuxi section of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt and the integrated development of culture and tourism was held in Wuxi on Oct 13.

As part of the 8th China (Wuxi) International Cultural and Art Industries Fair, the event attracted over 150 experts and scholars from inside Wuxi, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin to share their ideas.

Zhang Tinghao, expert on Grand Canal culture and researcher of Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, provided a thoughtful analysis on Grand Canal's properties, characteristics and missions. He noted that the Grand Canal Cultural Belt is a cultural heritage belt, suggesting it should be better protected than exploited, and there should be equal emphasis put on conservation and development.

According to Zhang, cities along the Grand Canal shall designate the heritage protection areas, avoid large-scale demolition and reconstruction, call for responsibilities of residents living along the canal and promote the river chief system — in which government officials are assigned to take charge of protecting waterways in their area.

Wuxi city has developed some water culture heritage areas including Wu culture museum to advance the integration of Wu culture and water ecology of Taihu Lake and Grand Canal. Various museums, art galleries and industrial parks featuring Grand Canal culture were opened to integrate the culture with industrial heritages.

The government is also working on plans of preserving, inheriting and utilizing the Grand Canal Cultural Belt and building the Wuxi section of Grand Canal national-level cultural relic park. The key exhibition parks of Qingming Bridge scenic area and Huishan ancient town have been designated as the Jiangsu section of national cultural relic parks.