(Hangzhou) After their seven-day journey, tracing thousands of years of historical footprints of China's Grand Canal, the "BMW China Culture Journey 2008" fleet has successfully arrived at the starting point of the Canal in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. A donation ceremony for the fourth leg of the journey along the canal was held today at the China Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum. BMW contributed a donation of 200,000 RMB to support material collection and research work of the Canal Museum and the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritages, Jiangnan Sizhu and Hangzhou Pingci. Dr. Zheng Changling, Researcher of Chinese Academy of Arts and Deputy-Director of the Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, Mr. Hans Kroeppelt, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., Ms. Gu Jing, Senior Manager of Public Relations, BMW Brilliance Automotive., Mr. Jin Gengchu, Director-level Inspector of Zhejiang Cultural Affairs Department, Mr. Wang Miao, Chief of Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Office of Zhejiang, intangible cultural heritage experts and media representatives attended the ceremony.

Well-known for its long history and rich culture, Zhejiang province was one of the cradles of Chinese ancient civilization. The cultural highlights here live along with the natural beauty of mountains and rivers, creating a spectacular landscape. Zhejiang has five national historical and cultural cities including Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Quzhou and Linhai. Hangzhou was first built in Sui Dynasty. With the opening of the Jiangnan Canal, it gradually grew from a small costal town into an important commercial city over the South-eastern part of China. The final link of the Grand Canal propelled the city into a water-transportation hub and a large sea port as well, extending its city area northward.

As one of the recipients of the donation, the China Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum in Hangzhou at the southernmost end of the canal is a showcase of the natural outlook and humanistic essence of the canal, from broad and multi-angular perspectives. The museum is also built as a repository for literature of the cultural heritage of the canal and a center for studying and exhibiting the canal culture. "Along the journey all the way to the source of the great canal, we have fully experienced its historic and cultural charm China Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum is the only large-scale museum of its kind in China with comprehensive records of the history and culture of the canal. From the museum, we can indulge ourselves in perceiving the sophistication of the great canal from different perspectives. We hope to help with the efforts of further preserving and recording intact and genuine intangible cultural heritage existing along the canal with our contribution," said Mr. Hans Kroeppelt, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, BMW Brilliance Automotive.

In their daily life in the past thousands of years, the dedicated Zhejiang people created numerous cultural wonders featuring strong southern characteristics booming as a result of economic prosperity. Jiangnan silk and bamboo (a type of music from Southern China) and Hangzhou Pingci, the intangible cultural heritage benefactor of the donation during the Hangzhou leg, are lustrous representations of the culture of the waterside city. Silk and bamboo from the south got its name from the local music band using stringed instruments like the Erhu and the lute. It is an important form of folk culture because of its small, smooth, light and elegant sounding tone. Hangzhou Pingci is a popular form of telling traditional stories in diverse fashions including speach performance, playing and singing. Due to social changes and differences in lifestyle, successors for both art forms have passed away and they are in danger of becoming lost forever. The contribution efforts from BMW this time, however, will provide much needed support for both items.

Mr. Jin Gengchu, director-level inspector of Zhejiang Cultural Affairs Department said, "During its process of building a moderately prosperous society, Zhejiang province has attached much emphasis on the protection of cultural heritage. With the hard work and cooperation of the whole province, cultural heritage protection in Zhejiang has taken on a very positive outlook. In terms of development, protection and generating awareness, efforts have been well-rounded and had positive effect. As a prominent international automotive company, BMW's involvement in the protection of Chinese cultural heritage with such initiative has given us renewed energy and purpose."

Dr. Zheng Changling, Researcher of Chinese Academy of Arts and Deputy-Director of the Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China，also shared his point of view, "Evidently, intangible cultural heritage is passed down from generation to generation, is associated with communities, groups and individuals, and requires our resources and technology to realize our goal of protecting every cultural item. This has allowed for the development of modern society and sustainability of human civilization in full effect. In recent years, with the full support and close monitoring of government officials on all levels, Zhejiang province has come to utilize many effective intangible cultural heritage protection strategies and shown remarkable improvement. Zhejiang is a province with a long history and rich cultural heritage as well as a strong social economic foundation. I believe that BMW's involvement and contribution to China's intangible cultural heritage protection will pave the way for many other socially responsible corporations, and inspire other companies to do their part in protecting Chinese culture."

After the ceremony, the guests, media and members of the fleet were invited to watch a show displaying local intangible culture heritage, and then paid a visit to China Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum. Following the visit, the fleet members embarked on a cultural journey on water, taking the ferry down from the Gong Chen Bridge, a landmark indicating the southernmost end of the Grand Canal. Gong Chen Bridge is seen as a living fossil and, together with other ancient bridges spanning the canal from south to north, constitutes the best footnote for delving into the canal's history. It is, therefore, of great significance for members of the 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey" fleet as they start their canal cruise from Gong Chen Bridge.

"Despite changes in history, we are happy to see the canal's Hangzhou section has retained its bearing as a result of excellent treatment. The water is clear and the canal is flanked with carved balustrades and blossoming flowers. Every one of us was blown away by the scene mixing ancient beauty and modern landscape. After spending the past week traveling along the canal, we have also come to understand that to preserve the cultural heritage of the canal is to preserve its eternal charm," said a member of the fleet.

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 Automotive 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 event 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 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey" will then continue its journey and will reach its destination, the last leg, at Huangshan, Anhui province tomorrow. Historically, Huangshan was known as ancient Huizhou, which is also China's second Cultually Ecological Reserve Area – the point of origin for the "Four Scholarly Treasures" that contain the essence of Chinese civilization. There, the fleet will conclude their 10-day journey covering approximately 2,600km along the China Grand Canal.

About 2008 "BMW China Culture Journey"

The BMW's Cultural 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, 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".