China intensifies efforts to protect ancient canal

 BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- China is moving to better protect its 2,500-year-old Grand Canal by encouraging public donations and banning unnecessary construction in the area.

The Ministry¹ of Culture publicized a set of regulations to protect the Grand Canal on Friday, and it will solicit² public opinion for one month on the website of the Legislative³ Affairs Office of the State Council.

The government encourages individuals and organizations to participate in the preservation⁴ of the Grand Canal, according to the draft regulations.

Individuals and organizations can set up funds for protecting the canal through donations and fundraising, according to the draft regulations.

Cultural heritage authorities at both the national and local levels should honor those with outstanding performances, according to the draft rules.

Besides flood control, channel dredging, water conservation facility maintenance and water diversion projects, the draft bans organizations and individuals from launching construction projects in preservation areas of the Grand Canal, which include the canal, its surrounding historic sites, streets, villages and towns.

The regulations are expected to be put into effect in September after the government makes final revisions based on public suggestions.

The main waterway of the Grand Canal, the longest artificial waterway in the world, starts in Beijing and passes through several provinces in north and east China to reach Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The oldest sections of the 1,776-km canal were built 2,500 years ago, and they were linked together in the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Part of the canal is still in use today.

The government is applying for world heritage status for the Grand Canal.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage previously⁵ said it was a tough task to protect the environment along the Grand Canal, as it has been threatened by sand digging, garbage dumping and construction projects.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 solicit   

vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意)

参考例句：

• Beggars are not allowed to solicit in public places.乞丐不得在公共场所乞讨。
• We should often solicit opinions from the masses.我们应该经常征求群众意见。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。