If you want to experience the charms of cities along the Grand Canal and the ancient Silk Road, the third Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Expo, which is being held in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, is a good place to start.

On Wednesday evening, the third expo kicked off in the 2,500-year-old city of Suzhou, known as "Venice of the Orient" for its abundant waterways.

With the theme of "integration, innovation and sharing", the expo provides a platform for the development of culture and tourism, related products and the sharing of the lifestyles of people living in canal cities.

Sponsored by the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Jiangsu Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, the Jiangsu Provincial Administration of Sports, the Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Suzhou city government, the expo also aims to promote cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yang Zhichun, director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, says that the beauty of the Grand Canal should be publicized and its charm should be able to be appreciated by more people.

"Jiangsu province has been an open and friendly place since ancient times," says Yang. "The province has held an annual session of the Grand Canal Expo since 2019.