Over 600 volunteers gathered by the riverside of the Grand Canal in Yangzhou on May 6th, marking the start of a volunteer campaign to protect the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
As the cradle of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (or world’s longest artificial river), Yangzhou owns the oldest section of the canal which dates back to 486 BC, and it has taken the lead in campaign to make the canal a UNESCO world heritage site.
Volunteers in Yangzhou marched along the canal with huge banners showing their slogan, and distributed pamphlets calling for people to protect the ecological environment of the canal.
“We will recruit voluntary commentators to introduce the history and culture the Grand Canal to tourists.” said Yuan Min from the Yangzhou Volunteer Association.
Volunteers will explore more unknown stories about the canal to present its rich cultural connotation, and help it become a UNESCO world heritage site.
