While Universal Beijing Resort has put Tongzhou on the map for tourists and residents, this eastern Beijing suburb has long remained outside the typical tourist circuit. Yet beyond the theme park crowds lies a quieter side of Tongzhou: The Grand Canal Forest Park, where the Beijing section of the Grand Canal cuts through the district’s evolving urban landscape. This Mid-Autumn Festival, the canal is becoming livelier as it hosts the fourth Beijing International Canal Arts Fest, transforming its banks into a stage for performances, cultural exchange, and experiences from around the world.
The Grand Canal was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014 (VCG)
The festival’s opening day on September 24 began under a curtain of rain throughout the morning. Yet the weather did little to dampen the mood: Peruvian vendors unpacked fluffy alpaca plush toys, Beijing’s iconic roast duck brand Quanjude fired up electric grills, and Italian and Spanish wine brands poured sparkling drinks while showcasing their cultural products. Meanwhile, local seniors strolled leisurely through the park with their small teddy bear dogs, stopping for quick massages at booths set up by hospitals and traditional Chinese medicine centers before heading to the stage area to wait for the opening ceremony.
The three-day music and cultural fair drew locals and visitors alike during the Mid-Autumn Festival
Now in its fourth edition since launching in 2018, the festival is unlike most art festivals in its focus on preserving and revitalizing the Grand Canal, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. It brings the Beijing section of the historic waterway into dialogue with 13 renowned canals around the world, including Germany’s Dortmund-Ems Canal, Romania’s Danube–Black Sea Canal, Thailand’s Bangkok canal network, and New Zealand’s Tekapo Canal, using waterways as a conduit for cultural exchange. “Water is the source of civilization, and canals are its epic,” says Zheng Fang, director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
Norwegian singer Maria Arredondo kicks off the opening ceremony with her well-known hit “Burning,” followed by a performance of the classic Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower”
The opening ceremony offered a true cross-cultural mix, kicking off with Norwegian singer Maria Arredondo’s “Burning” and taking the audience straight back to 2005, when the song played on every street corner and became a sensation on QZone, then the social-media hangout among Chinese youth. New Zealand’s Luke Thompson followed with his original song “On a Slow Boat to China.” Most of the international artists made an effort to weave a touch of Chinese culture into their performances: Arredondo sang the classic “Jasmine Flower,” while Thompson performed Faye Wong’s “Dan Yuan Ren Chang Jiu (May We All Be Blessed with Longevity),” a fitting choice for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Thai pop group THX, meanwhile, got the crowd particularly excited with a cover of “Memories of the Nine Gates,” a viral hit that had taken Chinese streaming platforms such as Bilibili and QQ Music by storm back in 2016.
New Zealand musician Luke Thompson performs his original song “On a Slow Boat to China” at the opening ceremony of the arts festival
Thai pop group THX livens up the opening ceremony with a popular Chinese hit
Kazakhstan’s Saltanat dance ensemble performs at the opening ceremony of the arts festival
Audience at the opening ceremony of the fourth Beijing International Canal Arts Fest
The night wrapped up with live band Project X bringing a dose of Western pop to the canal, from Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” to Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar.” The vibe felt unmistakably like a music festival, just with more elderly locals and families. Whether or not they understood the lyrics, everyone seemed happy to move with the music, jumping and swaying along. Tongzhou, in recent years, has been dubbed “Tonglifornia,” after California, for its laid-back atmosphere and expansive waterside. With live music filling the air, the nickname felt especially fitting this night.
The fair also features food, drinks, handicrafts, and cultural products from around the world
Grand Canal-themed souvenirs are on display at the fair
And the festival is only getting started. More performances and cultural activities will take place over the next three days of the Mid-Autumn holiday, bringing music, food, and fun to the canal. Come by and soak it all in.
While you’re there, be sure to make a little more time for the nearby Grand Canal Museum, which opened just three years ago and offers an immersive look at the area’s history. Or simply come out, wander along the canal, and experience the laid-back waterfront escape from the city’s usual bustle. Who knows? It could become your go-to spot when you need to tune out the city noise.
Images courtesy of the fourth Beijing International Canal Arts Fest
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