Two foreigners dress in traditional Chinese costumes. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

The "New Marco Polo Travelogue" expedition team, traveling from Beijing along the Grand Canal, arrived at its southern terminus in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on June 15.

The team, composed of "New Marco Polo" representatives and international media, began their Hangzhou tour at the Marco Polo Memorial Statue. Following the statue's gaze, they admired the beauty of West Lake and then embarked on a canal boat from Wulinmen Wharf heading north to Gongchen Bridge.

In the Qiaoxi Conservation Area, the team experienced tea ceremonies, traditional opera, and cultural parades. They also visited the Wu Liren Folk Art Museum to learn canal folk painting and listened to stories about the Grand Canal, immersing themselves in the local culture.

A foreigner takes a photo with the Marco Polo statue by West Lake. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

One of the team members, Italian influencer Rachele Longhi, shared that despite living and building a life in Hangzhou, her knowledge of the Grand Canal was limited. This experience gave her a deeper understanding of the culture, customs, and cuisine related to the canal.

The team also took a night boat ride on the historic Shangtang River and watched Dreaming of Shangtang, China's first live-action performance about the Grand Canal.

Team members said that the Grand Canal is not just a cultural landmark but a global connector. In Hangzhou, they witnessed new expressions of canal culture and felt the vitality of this "living canal".

Chinese and foreigners take a group photo by the Grand Canal. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]