HBU initiated the thematic research on the cultural relics of Hebei section of the Grand Canal

On March 4th and 5th, the thematic research of the cultural relics of Hebei section of the Grand Canal was started in Cangzhou city. Under the leadership of Guo Changbao, the vice chancellor of HBU, more than 10 experts and scholars specializing in researching folk customs and intangible cultural heritages, cultural industry and other areas of Beijing Normal University and Hebei University, conducted in-depth research on the protection, inheritance and utilization of the cultural relics along the Grand Canal in Cangzhou. Dai Shusheng, the deputy mayor of Cangzhou city and Zhang Qiang, the deputy secretary-general of the municipality and the director of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt Construction Office took part in the research.

On March 4th, the research group investigated the Cangzhou Grand Canal Ecological Restoration Reserve, China Grand Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center, the item of the Sixth Hebei Garden Expo on-site. The group also had a formal discussion with comrades in charge of Cangzhou Grand Canal Cultural Belt Construction Office, Grand Canal Development Group Company, Sports Bureau of Cangzhou Municipality and other departments, and the representative inheritors of Cangzhou Martial Arts, which is the national intangible cultural heritage. The deputy mayor of Cangzhou city Dai Shusheng said that the Canal Culture has been the rich cultural heritage for Cangzhou, the prefecture-level city, for the longest section of the Grand Canal in Hebei province runs through it. In addition, national and provincial intangible cultural heritages, such as Cangzhou Martial Arts and Wuqiao Acrobatics, enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad. We hope that the research group can fully exert its intellectual advantage to give consultation for the protection, inheritance and utilization of the intangible cultural heritages of Cangzhou city and give support and assistance to make Cangzhou into a city of Grand Canal intangible cultural heritages. Guo Changbao said that Hebei University can trace its roots in Yanzhao area and has a long tradition and advantage of humanities research. This time, Hebei University cooperates with Beijing Normal University to conduct research on Grand Canal intangible cultural heritages, which is an important initiative to deeply put the guiding principles of the Communist Party of China into practice, fully implement the decisions and arrangements of the provincial Party committee and the provincial government, and serve the construction of Grand Canal Culture Belt in Hebei province. Hebei University will organize top experts at home and abroad skilled in folklore, intangible heritages research, traditional culture and other fields to put forward valuable suggestions under consideration of local reality and make contributions to the protection, inheritance and utilization of the Grand Canal Culture in a high-quality way. The two universities also had an in-depth exchange on the joint construction of Hebei Grand Canal Cultural Industry Research Institute and other related matters.

On March 5th, The research group visited the World Cultural Heritage Sites of Jiedijian River in Cangxian County, Youfangkou Village in Dongguang County, and Xiejiaba in Lianzhen, the Cultural Relics Sites of Wuqiao Acrobatic World, Hebei Thread-bound Book Museum and interviewed the representative inheritors of provincial intangible cultural heritages, such as Jiedi Boatman's Song, Shajiamen Martial Arts, Guanzhou Gongs and Drums, Wuqiao Acrobatics and Stall Magic, as well as comrades in charge of local governments and relevant departments.

The activity is an important part of the Belt and Road project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization. Then, the group will go deep into Langfang, Handan, Xiongan New Area and other areas along the Grand Canal to carry out investigation on site on the protection, inheritance and utilization of cultural relics, have in-depth exchanges with relevant departments, cultural organizations and inheritors, continue to carry out high-level academic research to produce research reports and give measures and suggestions, and provide intellectual support for the high-quality development of the protection, inheritance and utilization of the Grand Canal Culture in Hebei Province.