The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs from north to south.
Flowing for thousands of years,
Stretching for more than 600 kilometers in Shandong,
It has accumulated rich cultural heritage and eco-tourism resources.
This autumn,
"Hospitable Shandong·Canal No. 1" sets sail,
One ship carries diverse experiences,
Multiple lines connect the "Pearl" along the coast,
Let the Shandong section of the ancient canal "wake up" with a new attitude.
"Canal No. 1" route map. Photo courtesy of Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism
What is "Canal No. 1"?
This starts with Shandong’s “Jiaolu No. 1” project.
This project is a key “transportation + tourism” integration project in Shandong.
It has cultivated multiple themed products such as the "Qilu No. 1" railway tour, the "Peninsula No. 1" sea tour, and the "Dahe No. 1" self-driving tour.
"Canal 1" is a new family member in the Matrix,
A link of inland waterway navigation was added.
On this route,
Ships are no longer just a means of transportation connecting docks and scenic spots.
Rather, it becomes the “experience” itself that tourists are willing to go to.
Tourists board the "Confucius" cruise ship on the "Canal No. 1" route. Photo by Zhao Xiao
What does "Canal 1" have?
Main ships such as "Confucius" and "Qilu" were used for the maiden voyage.
Two new smart ships, "Linglong" and "Lotus Xuan", were simultaneously displayed.
Step into the boat,
Ship decorations bearing the imprint of canal culture and Confucius culture can be seen everywhere.
All kinds of cultural and creative products are on display.
Q-version Confucius figures, regular-carved Ruyi and other goodies
It has both Confucian elegance and trendy novelty.
The Qufu regular script sculpture Ruyi appeared on the "Confucius" cruise ship. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Interior view of the "Linglong" smart cruise ship, which can realize functions such as autonomous driving and unmanned return. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Wait for the tourists to sit down,
Hanfu performances, intangible cultural heritage performances, magic tricks, etc. will be staged one after another.
Traditional "traffic lines" turn into cultural "experience venues" in seconds.
Professional explanations accompany the boat,
Guide tourists all the way.
The boat sails on the water,
Passenger flow is gradually brought to surrounding ancient towns, scenic spots, neighborhoods, B&Bs...
Artists perform fairy picking bean tricks on the "Qilu" cruise ship. Photo by Zhao Xiao
The Sichuan Opera face-changing performance on the "Qilu" cruise ship attracted applause from passengers. Photo by Zhao Xiao
What to do on "Canal No. 1"?
"Canal No. 1" opened the first batch of 8 tourist routes.
It offers diverse leisure experiences such as wetland sightseeing, ancient town sightseeing, lake island hopping, and ecological study.
Tourists play chess on the "Qilu" cruise ship. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Tourists take the "Qilu" cruise ship. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Looking for cultural monuments
Sail along the ancient canal,
A must-visit is Nanyang Ancient Town, which has a history of more than 2,000 years.
The blue bricks here are as old as ever, and the black tiles are uneven.
It retains the historical features of the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
Monuments such as Kangqian Villa and Huji Bank are dotted here and there.
Osprey fishing, fishermen's wedding and other performances are amazing.
Tourists watch an opera performance at Kanggan Villa in Nanyang Ancient Town. Photo by Chen Wanting
Arriving in downtown Jining,
The Taibai Building with brackets and cornices is hidden in the busy city.
This ancient building was built during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Bai became famous because he drank wine and composed poems here.
Climb the stairs and look far away,
A passionate scene of Shixian pouring wine suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Surrounding the ancient building are bamboo pole lanes and the River Governor's Office Heritage Park.
It’s worth a “tandem” tour.
Jining Taibai Tower. Photo courtesy of Jining Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Admire the beautiful canal
Take a boat to Weishan Lake,
Reed flowers are flying in the snow, water birds are flying,
Listen to the sculler sing "Play My Beloved Tu Pipa",
Relive the red legend of the railway guerrillas,
Traveling all the way,
Yutai Huihe Wetland, Wanglu Town Rice Field Painting
It’s also the best viewing season.
Yutai Huihe Wetland. Photo courtesy of Jining Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Travel to Dongping Lake in Tai'an,
The fishing sails are fluttering and the lotus breeze is rolling,
The old ruins of the eight hundred miles of water are visible.
"Search for the Water Margin during the day, and enter the Song Dynasty at night."
Dongping Song Dynasty never sleeps city is waiting for you to come and have fun.
Dongping Lake has beautiful scenery. (File photo) Photo by Chen Yang
Enjoy colorful performances
There are not only profound historical sites and gentle water towns along "Canal No. 1"
There are also brilliant performances.
Nanyang Ancient Town “Goes to the New” Metaverse “Flies Over the Grand Canal”,
Visitors are invited to have an overview of the grand scene of water transport between the virtual and the real;
The real-life water performance of "Millennium Lake Light" was staged on the shore of Bolang Bay.
Tell the thousand-year story of Weishan Lake;
Taibai Tower "Meet Taibai Again" sitcom,
Replicate the eternal heroic sentiments of the poets lining the river and chanting heartily;
"Shuiyun Xiaojiangnan" live performance in Zindoli District,
Let this trip freely switch between classic and modern.
"Millennium Lake Light" real-life performance on the water. Photo courtesy of Jining Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
The "static" canal culture that used to be collected in museums and ancient ruins,
It is "flowing" vividly through the "Canal No. 1" route.
The Canal Memory Cultural Tourism and Leisure Street in Rencheng District, Jining, is full of lights at night. Photo courtesy of Jining Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
What can you enjoy on Canal No. 1?
There are abundant products along the Grand Canal.
The delicacies are as fresh as they are delicious.
When the fisherman's boat dishes are served one after another,
The journey begins with the scenery of lakes and mountains,
Fall into the world of fireworks.
The four-nostril carp is known as the “freshest lake in the world”
The cooking methods are rich and the flavors are diverse.
Sweet and sour, crispy, rich soup,
The braised sauce has a mellow aroma and the bibimbap is excellent.
Spicy, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, delicious and delicious.
It is a must-order "hard dish" at the banquet in Weishan Lake District.
Spicy carp. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Yutai crayfish, which is popular in the north and south,
The shell is thin and the meat is tender and elastic.
Spicy, minced garlic, and thirteen spices are all classic ways to eat it.
As soon as the delicacies are served,
The fresh fragrance comes to my face,
suck gently,
Mouthful of soup.
Fish crayfish. Photo courtesy of Jining Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Signature dish: fish balls in floating soup,
One is fresh, two is tender, three is soft, and four is blanched.
The freshly made fish balls are white and soft.
Floating on the clear soup,
Eat the freshness of Weishan Lake in one bite.
There are also authentic fisherman flavors such as fried lotus leaves, fried weed balls, fried water chestnut meat, etc.
Tantalise your taste buds.
Fried lotus leaves. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Weishan Lake duck eggs. Photo by Zhao Xiao
In order to drive cultural tourism consumption along the route,
"Canal No. 1" links more than 50 A-level scenic spots, hotels, and B&Bs along the line.
Different offers such as ticket exemptions and accommodation discounts are launched.
One ferry ticket brings together multiple experiences of "food, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment".
The whistle sounds,
The ship is ready,
National Day holiday,
Come to Shandong for a feast of canal culture that has lasted for thousands of years!
Tourists enjoy the canal scenery on the "Confucius" cruise ship. Photo by Zhao Xiao
Author: Zhao Xiao
