The clean and picturesque Hangzhou section on the Grand Canal [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A boatful of journalists from internet media all over the country set forth on the Hangzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Zhejiang province on Sept 20.

Starting from the Wulin dock, the team traveled all the way to the Gongchen Bridge under the illumination of lights of every hue along the river, the exact route global journalists took during the G20 Summit in 2016.

However, they had no idea that the bustle and charming scenery in the background of their selfies under the bridge used to be a headache, little more than a stinking ditch spoiled by the industrial waste and sewage of the 1980s.

Thankfully, the past thirty years have brought a gradual improvement to the ecosystem, preserving the historic culture along the 2,500 year-old waterway.

Measures ranging from sewage interception and dredging of waterways to redirection of flowing water have been taken.

"About 40 to 60 boats carrying 40 tons of sludge each traveled the canal each day," recalled Chen Jianming, a worker who took part in the water protection program in 1994.

A "Water Movement" was also initiated by the Zhejiang government in 2014 with an investment of 5.35 billion yuan ($806 million) to preserve the Hangzhou stretch of the Grand Canal by 2016.

Hangzhou city took the lead among the 27 cities along the Grand Canal by enacting protection regulations in May to clarify the responsibilities of the government departments.

Gongshu district, one of the urban districts along the section, is working on a blueprint of Grand Canal cultural belt protection by renovating the historic streets lining the canal and holding photography exhibitions to publicize the significance of heritage preservation among residents, students and companies.

The Grand Canal, which runs more than 2,000 kilometers from Beijing to Hangzhou, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

A total of 12 pleasure boats now follow three routes along the canal to showcase the natural landscape and cultural attractions of one of its best-preserved stretches.

    The tranquil historic streets lining the Grand Canal are now well-preserved. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Grand Canal shines under lights of every hue in Hangzhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]