More than 100 university students attend a training camp on promoting canal culture in Yangzhou, Jiangsu. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

More than 100 university students and international students studying in Yangzhou gathered in the city on Oct 24 for a two-day training camp on promoting canal culture to international audiences.

The initiative comes as 2026 marks the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Through lectures, field visits, cultural activities and group workshops, the camp seeks to build an international volunteer team skilled in intercultural communication and cultural promotion.

Zhu Yuan, deputy secretary-general of the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO), said young people can play a vital role in telling canal stories and connecting different civilizations. She encouraged participants to engage in two-way dialogue and help make ancient waterways a bridge for cultural exchange.

On the first day, participants attended sessions on WCCO's international volunteer system and the role of young people in international communication, as well as the cultural significance and heritage value of the Grand Canal. They were divided into groups and assigned three practical projects: bilingual PowerPoint presentations, bilingual nine-image social media posts for overseas audiences, and short promotional videos in various foreign languages.

Participants also visited the China Grand Canal World Heritage Exhibition Hall to learn about the waterway's UNESCO World Heritage nomination, its historic hydraulic engineering remains, and the development of cities along its route.

On Oct 25, the training program continued with sessions exploring Huaiyang cuisine, traditional intangible cultural heritage crafts and Yangzhou Qingqu, a local form of traditional music. Participants also took part in an on-site learning session aboard a boat on the ancient canal before presenting their work at a closing session.

Following the training, the first group of volunteers will take part in regular programs, including the international promotion of canal-city culture, sustainable development initiatives for canal cities, and the Canal Youth Talk international exchange program.