Gold award-winning design at the 2025-26 Wuxi Grand Canal Cultural and Creative Design Competition. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
More than 100 creative works, including 15 gold prize winners, will be unveiled in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on July 9, marking the finale of a year‑long 2025-26 Wuxi Grand Canal Cultural and Creative Design Competition that drew 1,500 entries from across the Grand Canal region.
The exhibition is held alongside the third Grand Canal Cultural Development Forum, yet it takes center stage as a platform dedicated to turning heritage‑inspired concepts into market‑ready products.
Located at the forum's main venue in Yingyueli Block, Huishan Ancient Town, the exhibition is divided into three thematic zones: urban renewal design, digital intelligence, and cultural creative products.
Grand Canal flows through Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
The competition drew participants from eight provinces and municipalities along the canal and presented 89 awards: 15 gold, 30 silver, and 44 bronze. Organizers describe it as the largest and most geographically diverse creative contest centered on the Grand Canal in recent years.
Beyond recognition, the initiative emphasizes commercialization. An "enterprise partner" program connects winners directly with established cultural product firms for manufacturing. Selected works will be displayed at public venues, including Wuxi's subway stations, airport, and tourist sites, while outstanding entries may be listed on cultural property trading platforms for copyright licensing and the development of derivative products.
During the forum, dedicated matchmaking sessions will bring designers together with industry partners, aiming to complete the cycle from creative idea to commercial reality. Together, the exhibition and competition reflect a broader shift toward viewing heritage not as a static relic, but as a living resource for innovation and enterprise.
Copyright © China Daily. All rights reserved.