Yangzhou takes measures to protect Grand Canal

The Measures of Yangzhou City on Grand Canal Heritage Protection (the revised draft) was released on Feb 27 to solicit public opinions. When the official document is issued, the Measures will be China’s first regulative document formulated and implemented by a local government in China on the Grand Canal heritage protection.

The Grand Canal heritages listed in the protection scope of the Measures include the remains of water conservancy projects in the Grand Canal's Yangzhou section, various kinds of associated remains, historical streets, historical villages and towns, various kinds of related environmental landscapes and Grand Canal's water conservancy projects in modern times which possess cultural representativeness and remarkable value.

The Measures stipulates that the immovable historical relics of the Grand Canal should be certified according to the law and be confirmed to be the cultural-relics protection sites. Governments at various levels along the Grand Canal should incorporate the funds for the Grand Canal heritage protection into their fiscal budget, establish a volunteer work system and encourage social organizations to participate in the Grand Canal heritage protection, the Measures stresses.