A volunteer collects garbage while patrolling along the Tongji Canal in Sixian County, Suzhou City, east China's Anhui Province, Dec. 19, 2024. In Sixian County of Suzhou City, there are many people participating in the protection of the local section of the Tongji Canal, which is part of the Grand Canal. These people, including river management officers, volunteers and others, not only patrol along the waterway, but also actively introduce the importance of the preservation of the Grand Canal to more people.
With a history of more than 2,500 years, the Grand Canal, connecting Beijing and Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province, served as a significant transportation artery in ancient China. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)