The Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area in Tongzhou, Beijing

The northern section of the scenic area is located at the southern bank of the Tonghui River estuary, at the northernmost end of the Grand Canal, adjacent to the Canal Business District, stretching from Yuandao Island in the north to Dongguan Bridge in the south. The northern section of the scenic area is composed of cultural relics and historic sites such as the Tongzhou Beacon Tower, Tongzhou Confucian Temple, Yousheng Temple, Ziqing Palace, Daguang Tower, and the ruins of Shibatan Wharf, as well as architectural landscapes like the Grand Canal Culture Square and the giant sculpture 'Orient' on the Millennium Trail of the Canal. This area was the core region where ancient Tongzhou's politics, economy, religion, military, culture, education, and commerce converged. It was an essential route for scholars heading to the capital for imperial examinations and for merchants traveling by water from north to south. It is also the starting point of cultural prosperity at the northern end of the Grand Canal.