Cleanliness & Blossoming: The Day We Take Off Our Masks - I'll Meet You in Tai'an Zhuang Ancient City | He Keqi Shandong Tour Helps
Each ordinary spring,
experiences a thrilling ordeal from the winter.
2020 Spring has arrived,
the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism,
in collaboration with Interface News Shandong Channel,
awaiting the blossoming after the 'epidemic':
The day we take off our masks,
we invite you to Tai'an Zhuang Ancient City!
Explore the ancient canal, dream of Tai'an Zhuang.
Tai'an Zhuang Ancient City is located at the central point of the Grand Canal of the Beijing-Hangzhou Route, situated in Tai'an Zhuang District, Zhaozhuang City, Shandong Province, at the intersection of Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces.
Tai'an Zhuang has a profound historical and cultural heritage, dating back to the Han Dynasty, developed during the Yuan Dynasty, and flourished during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Qing Dynasty's *Yixian Zhi* recorded: 'Tai'an (Tai'an Zhuang) spanned (cargo canals), serving as the northern and southern main canals, a gathering place for merchants and travelers, with a large population and prosperous villages and towns, ranking as the 'First Zhuang in the Country' bestowed by Emperor Qianlong (the Kangxi Emperor). It presented a vibrant scene of 'merchants lined up, river fires flickering, songs echoing for ten miles, and markets never closing'.
In 1938, the Battle of Tai'an, a major battle, transformed this ancient city into ruins. Tai'an Zhuang was rebuilt in 2008 by the Zhaozhuang Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Tai'an Zhuang Ancient City integrates 'canal culture' and 'war culture', blending 'Qi Lu (Qi Lu - Qi Lu spirited passion)' and 'Jiangnan (Jiangnan - Jiangnan Jiangnan poetic charm)' into one area. It boasts hundreds of temples, halls, businesses, arts and crafts, and four hundred characteristic leisure courtyards. Since its opening in 2010, it has been honored as the 'Top Cultural New Landmark of Qi Lu', the 'China Tourism Innovation Award', the first 'Strait Two-Shore Exchange Base', the first 'National Cultural Heritage Park', the first 'National Non-Material Culture Heritage Expo Park', a 'National-Level Cultural Industry Innovation Zone', and a 'National Copyright Trading Base'. In 2012, it was rated as a National 5A Tourist Attraction. In 2013, it was rated as 'One of China's Most Beautiful Water Towns' by CNN. In 2014, it received the 'First Batch of Creations of Future Cultural Heritage'.
Delicate and nuanced ancient city, with small paths like those in Jiangnan water towns; ancient docks and stone quays still retain their appearance of that year. 'The Living Grand Canal', how many stories are waiting for us to discover?
It is now spring, the willows are sprouting, and flowers are blooming in abundance. Boat girls sing songs here, in this place, meet the dream water town. We invite you to Tai'an Zhuang Ancient City!
The fragrant scent of lotus, the gentle sound of flowing water, sketches a poetic landscape painting. 'A person in the painting plays, how much does one know?' We invite you to the Grand Canal Wetlands!
Star-like pavilions on the vast waterways, swans, geese, and mandarin ducks play and frolic. Here is a beautiful scene of nature and ecology fused together, waiting for you to appreciate. We invite you to Shuanglong Lake Wetlands!
Far away from the city's hustle and bustle, hand in hand with your lover, stroll along a flower-lined avenue. Bathe in the warm afternoon sunshine, want to freeze time, and preserve the beauty of this moment. We invite you to Xiaohang Zhuang Garden!
