I. About Nanyang Ancient Town Nanyang Ancient Town is located within Nanyang Lake, which is at the northern tip of Weishan Lake, in the northwestern part of Weishan County. The township is 40 kilometers away from downtown Jining and Nanyang Lake is part of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Long and narrow, the town stretches over 35 km with a lake area of 150,000 mu and a total land area of 105.23 square kilometers. Nanyang Ancient Town has 7,200 acres of arable land, 3 rural CPC party branches and 34 villages. The township is home to a population of 32,000 residents, with half of the population settled in the town, while the rest is scattered over more than 80 natural islands across the lake. The islands make up the unique landscape of Nanyang. The main commercial activities are fishing, water transport, aquaculture, manufacturing of fishing gear etc. With more than 20,000 fishermen and less than 10,000 farmers, it is a typical fishing town. To the north of Nanyang Ancient Town is Jining City, one of the three largest metropolitan areas in southwestern Shandong province. The southern end of the town shares a border with Jiangsu province. The eastern side of the township faces Zoucheng and Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, while Heze, home of the peonies, is on its west. Located 30 km away from the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway and 60 km from Jining Airport, Nanyang Ancient Town enjoys obvious geographical advantages. Nanyang Ancient Town has been recognized as an advanced state-level unit of large-scale sports, national heritage town, national tourism town, national cultural street and national minority village. In addition, it was part of the third batch of National Landscape Tourism Towns and has been awarded several honorary titles from Shandong province including beautiful provincial township, key provincial tourism township, model of rural Shandong hospitality, top provincial tourism photography location etc. Furthermore, Nanyang is also well-known as a top tourism and shopping district in Shandong, a municipal-level township, as well as one of the top ten sights to visit in Jining etc. The lake canal and dam are now recognized as World Heritage Sites. II. Customs and Traditions 1. A Long History of Canal Culture Nanyang Ancient Town is the most distinctive heritage town on the Weishan Lake, along the Grand Canal. The Nanyang dam was constructed during the Yuan Dynasty (1331) and it led to the building of the township. In the first year of the Ming Dynasty (1567), the New Canal was completed and Nanyang became the port for cargo transportation. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Nanyang became a “bustling commercial center with fishing boats, warships, merchant ships and cargo ships cutting through it". At its peak, Nanyang Ancient Town had a palace (still existing), imperial temple, Er-ye Temple, Ancient Canal Gates, Kuixing Lou, Wengong Temple, Da-yu Temple, Yang Family Arch, the floating flagpole and many other places of interest. The Qing government once set up a garrison and a river management base in this town. During his inspection tour of south China, Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty stopped at the renowned Nanyang town and inscribed a plaque for the Ma family shop. The door sill crossed by the emperor had been treasured for over 230 years. These descriptions and the existing monuments are reflections of the cultural features of Nanyang. 2. Unique Landscape The ancient town of Nanyang dates back 2,200 years. It was once known as one of the four famous canal cities during the Ming Dynasty. After the North-South Canal was opened during the Yuan Dynasty, Nanyang became an important commercial port along the canal. Nanyang Ancient Town is a typical island town surrounded by water. Also known as Nanyang Island, it has an area of 4.5km2, core conservation area of 0.42km2, and its key protected historic buildings and cultural relics occupy an area of 0.38km2. More than 15,000 locals reside on the island. Although there are many islands in China, a heritage town with a river running through it is a truly rare sight. Until today, the ancient Grand Canal continues to flow through Nanyang Island. Together, the islands, ancient town, canal and lakes make up a one-of-a-kind landscape. 3. Sustainable Ecological Water Features With its reputation as the "Smaller Suzhou", Nanyang Ancient Town enjoys a pleasant climate, with blue skies, clear water, lotus flowers and ducks forming a spectacular backdrop. Part of the largest freshwater lake on the North China Plain, Nanyang Lake covers an area of 150,000mu and offers magnificent lake views. The picturesque combination of "spectacular lake scenery, historic township and warm fishermen hospitality" provides the welcoming setting for ecotourism. Nanyang Lake is home to 74 kinds of economic water plants, with the main species being the lotus flower. It is also home to 78 species of fish and is famous for its turtles, crabs, carps and snakehead fish. The lake area is one of the relatively complete wetland ecosystems in northern China. It also serves as a vital "transfer station" for migratory birds in the inland and Northeast Asia Pacific Rim. 191 species of birds have been spotted here, 27 of which are resident birds, 47 are summer birds, 17 are winter birds and 98 are migratory birds. There are 11 species of state-protected birds, including the swan, mandarin duck, catfish, long-eared owl, common mandarin duck and white harrier bird. The sight of hundreds of thousands of birds flying in spring and autumn has become a major sight in Nanyang. Nanyang Island is located in Nanyang Lake. Most of the residents make a living by fishing and travel mostly by boat. At present, the original handicraft workshops remain the main industries. There are no modern factories nor a single car, which is an impossible feat for a city. The natural ecological environment of the water village allows the residents to lead a lifestyle which is close to nature. This is an obvious advantage over other ancient towns which have been affected by industrial pollution and urbanization. 4. Folk Traditions Over 2200 years of development, Nanyang Ancient Town has gradually formed its unique folk traditions through cultural exchanges and the lifestyles of the local fisherfolk. These folk traditions reflect the cultural characteristics of the ancient township. Some of the canal-related folk traditions include activities related to the residence of the Qing Emperor during his visit, the worship of the Water Dragon King etc. Traditions related to the fishing industry include boatmaking, handicrafts, breeding of aquatic plants, temple fairs, marketplace and opera performances. 5. Food Nanyang-style specialties have been shaped throughout the years by the influence from its lake history, natural resources, climate, folk customs, lifestyle and other aspects. Food is a subject close to the local residents’ hearts and their love of food has been passed down from generation to generation. The Nanyang diet is rich in variety, possesses its own distinct characteristics and is an important contribution to the traditional food culture of lake areas. Nanyang-style specialties include the Argus Snakehead Fish, spicy duck, preserved egg, Qianlong cakes, Qingheng cakes, freshwater shrimp, water caltrop, Gorgon and lotus root etc.