(Nanjing) Crossing the vast land of Shandong Province, the Grand Canal composes a tune with typical Southern China cultural characteristics. The 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey" fleet traveled along the Canal before arriving at Hangou Relics in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province – the starting point of the Grand Canal. The fleet also visited what is known as one of "China’s Four Famous Brocades" at the Nanjing Brocade Research Institute and witnessed the ancient handicraft of Brocade. Today, the 2008 BMW China Culture Journey" held its third of five en route donation ceremonies at the Nanjing Museum. BMW donated RMB 200,000 for Yangzhou woodblock printing and Suzhou Pingtan. Dr. Zheng Changling, Researcher of Chinese National Academy of Arts and Deputy Director of the Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, Mr. Meng Qingru, Head of Public Relations of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., Mr. Wang Shihua, Deputy Director of Jiangsu Culture Department, intangible cultural heritage experts and media representitives attended the ceremony.

Jiangsu Province, situated on the downstream of the Yangtze River, borders the sea to the east, Anhui Provinces to the west, Shandong Province to the north and Shanghai and Zhejiang province to the south. Jiangsu is remarkably rich in culture and history, for it is the intersection of the Yellow River, Yangtze River and the Huai River culture. It is home to precious classical cultural heritage gardens in Suzhou and The Emperor Xiao’s Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty in Nanjing, as well as marvelous intangible culture heritage. It is also the birthplace of Kunqu Opera and its Guqin skills, which are listed as masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. National-level intangible cultural heritage items such as Suzhou Pingtan, Yangzhou Pinghua, Yixing pottery, Nanjing Yunjin, Suzhou embroidery, Wuxi Huishan clay man, Yangzhou lacquer handicrafts and Yangzhou carved jade, are widely renowned and appreciated.

The Hangou Relics in Yangzhou is a key component of the culture journey. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, Hangou became an important waterway for King Fuchai of Wu to transport troops and food. More than 1,000 years later, it became the first section of the Grand Canal. Another 1,000 years later, it became a place for "BMW China Culture Journey" fleet to explore the history trace of Grand Canal.

The ancient Hangou has witnessed the Chinese wisdom for thousands of years and supported the Chinese contribution to the world civilization: woodblock printing, which is considered to be a groundbreaking invention in the human history. Its appearance dates back around 1,300 years to the Sui and Tang dynasties. Over 300 years later, Bi Sheng of the Song dynasty invented movable typography based on woodblock printing. Woodblock printing was consequently passed on to later generations together with moveable typography to the benefit of humanity. As one of the recipients of 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey" Nanjing Donation, the Guangling Ancient Printing House in Yangzhou still employs woodblock printing methods whose process is fascinating and typical of the elegance of the ancient Chinese culture. BMW’s donation will be dedicated towards generating further awareness of Guangling Ancient Printing House, thereby further protecting this traditional and valuable craft form.

Suzhou Pingtan is another donation item from 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey". Suzhou Pingtan has a long history and became popular during the Qianlong reign in the Qing dynasty. Since entering the 20th century, Suzhou Pingtan has been affected by a shrinking audience and a decrease of capable successors. The current donation will assist in supporting the promotion of PingTan, and finding and/or training appropriate successors.

Mr. Meng Qingru, Head of Public Relations of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. said, "Typography is one of the great four Chinese inventions and an essence of the Chinese as well as a treasure of humanity. Woodblock printing in Yangzhou is typical of this historical skill. And, as the first musical non-material cultural heritage donation item of the 2008 ‘BMW China Culture Journey’, Suzhou Pingtan possesses significant value and cultural importance. BMW hopes to contribute to the continuation of woodblock printing, and Suzhou Pingtan, to spread and protect the intangible cultural legacy of the Grand Canal."

Donation recipient representative Mr. Wang Shihua, Deputy Director of Jiangsu Culture Department said, "Jiangsu province has compiled a list of intangible cultural heritage items, of which 91 have been included in the national list. Work on protection and maintenance is underway. Jiangsu will build a culturally rich and socially harmonious province, adhere to the cultural sustainability goal, and mobilize all residents to protect and spread intangible cultural heritage. We appreciate BMW’s culture journey for the work it has done in maintaining our cultural heritage."

Dr. Zheng Changling, Researcher of Chinese National Academy of Arts and Deputy Director of the Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, said that protecting intangible cultural heritage is a systemic and vast project that history has left for us. Jiangsu Province is culturally rich, and is doing a good job in the protection of cultural heritage, particularly its intangible cultural heritage which is well ahead of the nation. It serves the nation as a guide to legislation, naming successors and other policies. The province’s effort will reap rewards with the help of people from all walks of life.

As an important component of the BMW Corporate Social Contribution Activiteis, "BMW China Culture Journey" was successfully launched in June last year. In 2008, BMW China, BMW Brilliance and the Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, the highest ranking authorititive institution in this respect, established a partership. As an important item of the cooperation, the 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey" was listed as one of main events of China’s "Cultural Heritage Day" and has received great support and professional instruction from the Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of China.

The culture journey fleet, comprising experts, scholars, media representatives, BMW customers, staff and dealers will travel further south to Taohuawu for its remarkable New Year picture painting skills, which parallel Tianjin’s Yang Liu Qing pictures and other folk crafts like Suzhou embroidery skills. The fleet will also visit Suzhou Pingtan School before arriving in the Hangzhou, Zhejiang province – the starting point of the Grand Canal – two days later.

About 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey"

The BMW China Culture Journey Car Fleet, made up of 22 BMW vehicles, set off from the square in front of the Capital Museum in Beijing for the 10-day journey on Oct. 14th, which will cover approximately 2,600 kilometers. The fleet will travel through Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, and reach the starting point of the Canal in Zhejiang. Then the fleet members will continue to examine "Ancient Huizhou" (currently knowns as Huangshan city), China’s second Cultually Ecological Reserve Area – piont of origin for the "Four Scholarly Treasures" that contain the essence of Chinese civilization, and explore the Canal’s prosperity and trace the inheritance of Chinese civilization. The main objectives of this journey include:

• Provide donations and monetary support towards intangible cultural heritage projects with significant historical value along the Grand Canal.
• Visit, observe and collect information on all material and non-material cultural heritage items along the journey.
• Disseminate information and messages regarding the protection of China’s material and non-material cultural heritage. Generate public awareness towards cultural protection and the promotion of the country’s cultural "soft power".