Right line
A night cruise along Yangzhou's section of the ancient Grand Canal has outshone competitors, ranking first in Jiangsu province and now joining the top 27 nationwide, entering the second batch of national excellent tourism performances.
A night cruise glides past illuminated scenery in Yangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
The tour uses the canal as a live stage and passengers can watch performances from the moving ship. With holographic projections, augmented reality interactions, and naked-eye 3D, it takes visitors on a journey through 2,500 years of Yangzhou's canal history.
From King Fuchai of Wu State initiating the Hangou Channel, a vital waterway linking the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers, to Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) completing the canal network, and on to the water transport boom of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), each era comes alive with various colorful shows on the water.
Since its launch on Oct 1, 2024, the cruise has gained burgeoning popularity. It has staged over 4,000 performances in total, with a 65 percent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals and a 99 percent rise in revenue. Its immersive settings, superb artistry, and rich cultural heritage set it apart in Yangzhou's cultural tourism landscape.
