Water protection efforts along the Eastern Zhejiang Canal, one of the world's oldest man-made waterways, have revitalized culture and boosted tourism in Shaoxing, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province.
Rich in history and culture, the city is home to many renowned scholars and poets and one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It lies at the heart of the Eastern Zhejiang Canal which has a history of over 2,500 years.
Historically, the canal fostered trade and brought prosperity to the people along its banks. Now, local authorities have prioritized its protection in order to build the area into a thriving tourism hub.
"We have adopted a targeted approach to protect the Eastern Zhejiang Canal. Through a series of coordinated efforts, such as creating access points to river scenes, building waterfront green paths, and restoring river and lake ecology, the canal's banks and the ecological environment have seen remarkable improvement," said Zhang Yin, head of the Shaoxing River and Lake Management Office.
The waterway has attracted visitors from nearby regions, across China, and even internationally. The water town's stone bridges have become favorite spots for visitors to take selfies.
"Visitors often take photos on the bridge. As the water becomes clearer, it makes the photos more beautiful, attracting even more tourists," said Wei Weiyuan, marketing manager of the Shaoxing Huijing Culture.
Last year, Shaoxing received about 70 million visits, generating over 45 billion yuan, or about 6 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. This reflects the ancient Chinese wisdom that clear water brings prosperity.
As tourism grows, more locals are joining the industry. One such resident is He Chengrong, owner of a 200-year-old guesthouse.
"The government made a great effort to improve the water quality. With improved water quality, the water town scenery has also improved. It feels like living in a traditional Chinese painting of a water town with streams and bridges," said He.
While protecting the canal's water has revitalized this historic city, the ancient waterway continues to shape the city's future, like it has done for centuries.
Water protection boosts tourism in Shaoxing
