The Jining section of the Grand Canal flows across Rencheng district in the city. [Photo/jnnews.tv]

A group of media professionals from provinces along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal visited the section of the canal in Rencheng district in Jining, East China's Shandong province on Oct 18.

The event, which focused on the culture of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), was to allow these members of the media to explore and promote historical stories along the canal through multiple channels such as offline activities, livestreaming and short videos.

Boasting a history of 2,500 years, the Grand Canal is hailed as a corridor that connects the cultures of the southern and northern regions in China. 

"We brought the Jiangnan sizhu (a Chinese traditional string and woodwind instrument) music from Hangzhou to Jining, hoping to promote cultural exchanges along the canal and to achieve shared cultural prosperity with cities along the canal," said Tao Ran, a host from Hangzhou culture, radio and television group.

A craftsman creates gourd pyrography artworks at a cultural bazaar on the bank of the Grand Canal in Rencheng district, Jining. [Photo/jnnews.tv]

In recent years, the Jining government has attached great importance to reinvigorating Grand Canal culture by integrating cultural protection with the urban development.

The "Grand Canal Memories" historical block was built on the river bank in Rencheng district and has become a popular destination for local residents and tourists. It received about 10,000 visitors every day during the National Day holiday from Oct 1 to 7.