Media Center
The Canal City Quality Scenic Area Cooperation Mechanism Conference was held on Nov 19, 2025 in Xing'an county, Guilin.
Co-organized by the World Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO) and Guilin Municipal People's Government, the event gathered stakeholders to discuss innovation and development paths of the cultural tourism industry.
First launched in 2018 by WCCO and seven 5A-level scenic areas, including Guilin's Lijiang River, Hangzhou's West Lake, and Mount Tai, the CCSC aims to promote high-quality collaboration between scenic areas.
Representatives of scenic areas share their experiences in the preservation of canal culture, the development of innovative tourism products, and the sharing of market resources. [Photo/WeChat account: grandcanalnews]
In recent years, Guilin has strengthened protection of the Lingqu Canal cultural heritage through implementation of the Lingqu Conservation Plan, with over 200 million yuan ($27.5 million) invested in restoration, environmental improvements, and digital preservation.
As part of its strategy to become a world-class tourist destination, the city is advancing its "tourism plus" initiative by building a canal-based cultural tourism brand around the Lingqu Canal and integrating canal culture with ecotourism, study tours, and wellness retreats, fostering synergy between heritage conservation and tourism development.
During the thematic session, Zhang Hui, vice chair of the Expert Committee of the World Tourism Cities Federation, Yang Guoliang, former Party Secretary of Guangxi University, and Li Jianchen, member of the Chinese Writers Association, shared insights on topics.
The meeting concluded with a field visit to the Lingqu Canal Museum and Lingqu Canal Scenic Spot.
Attendees conduct a field visit to the Lingqu Canal Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: grandcanalnews]
