An art performance is held along the Beijing section of the Grand Canal on Sept 24, during the second Beijing-Hangzhou Dialogue, an annual event focusing on the Grand Canal cultural belt. [Photo/VCG]

A regulation on protecting the Grand Canal as a world cultural heritage item in Zhejiang province was reviewed and approved by the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress on Sept 24.

The regulation, to go into effect on Jan 1, 2021, specifies that the provincial government will take into account the local governments’ performance in protecting the Grand Canal when evaluating their overall governing performance.

The regulation also requires that provincial, municipal, and county-level governments in Zhejiang allocate funding for Grand Canal protection in their fiscal budgets and establish dedicated organizations if necessary.

To promote Grand Canal culture, the provincial, municipal, and county-level governments in Zhejiang are required to organize research activities, exhibitions, and performances related to traditional operas, music, festivals, customs, history, and handicrafts in the riparian region.

From now on, the week of June 22 every year will be designated as the Zhejiang Grand Canal World Cultural Heritage Promotion Week. The Grand Canal was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site on June 22, 2014.