The Third Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Expo Opened in Suzhou

The third session of the Culture and Tourism Exposition of the Grand Canal is held between September 22 and 25 in Suzhou. With the theme of “Integration, Innovation, and Sharing”, the Expo used forms like presentations, theme forums, and featured activities to forge an integrated development platform for the culture and tourism for cities along the Grand Canal. It is a platform to promote and share good things in life and communicate the Grand Canal culture to a wider crowd. The Expo was carried out both online and offline and activities were held both inside and outside the venue, with 19 key activities arranged in a total of 6 parts.

The mascots for this Expo, are Tuantuan as the girl and Hehe as the boy. The original idea was the representative Taohuawu Woodblock New Year Prints of Suzhou named “Yi Tuan He Qi”. Tuantuan means unity and Hehe means harmony.

                                                 Source: Official WeChat Account of Suzhou Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting and Tourism

The opening ceremony was held on the evening of September 22. The night tour of Suzhou held in the opening ceremony started from Midu Bridge and the ship arrived the site of World Cultural Heritage – Panmen. Along the cruise, people admired the live-action performance “Charm of Jiangnan”, which was a great light show connecting the bank and the water. It highlighted the Grand Culture in Suzhou that has lasted for thousands of years. When they reached Panmen Ancient City, they witnessed the “Gate Opening Show” with typical Jiangnan style. The intangible cultural heritages are presented in front of people’s eyes in a vivid way so people can feel the beauty of life bestowed by the Canal. Then, a very short opening ceremony was held in Suzhou Culture and Arts Center, where the theme symphonic song The Grand Canal was played.

Source: Official WeChat Account of Suzhou Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting and Tourism

Between September 23 and 25, six theme exhibitions such as Selected Culture and Tourism Exhibition of Cities along the Grand Canal, the Heritage Show of the Grand Canal, the Special Tourism Products Show of the Grand Canal, the International Show named When the Silk Road Meets the Grand Canal, Canal Cuisine Show, the Exhibition of Cultural Creation Products on the Grand Canal and the 10th China Suzhou Creative & Design Cultural Industry Expo were held in Suzhou International Expo Center.

                                                 Source: Official WeChat Account of Suzhou Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting and Tourism

During this period, two forums were held: “Gathered in the Grand Canal · Investment in Cultural and Tourism” – Culture and Tourism Integration Cooperation Forum of the Grand Canal, and Culture and Tourism Consumption Forum of Cities along the Grand Canal.

There are activities of seven aspects for the interconnected sector: “Charm of Jiangsu – Canal Tour” as joined by friends from all over the world, Canal Theme Sports 2021, Competition and Creation and Sharing of Short Videos under the theme of “My Beautiful Hometown on the Grand Canal”, the Third Jiangnan Culture and Arts & International Tourism Festival, Gourmet Month for Canal Cuisine, Series Art Shows with the Grand Canal as the theme, and many other supporting activities.