Ion Ștefanovici, CAPDR: TONGLI, “Venice of the East” – a living heritage, education, and historical memory in the heart of Eastern China
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As part of the official visit to the People’s Republic of China, the CAPDR Delegation, with the support of the Romanian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, carried out a cultural and historical visit to Tongli, a locality now recognized as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Eastern China
Although tourism is the city’s main function, its true appeal lies in the richness of its historical and intellectual heritage, which has been excellently preserved.
Tongli, nicknamed “the Venice of the East,” impresses with its navigable canals, stone bridges, white houses with traditional roofs, and an atmosphere that preserves the authentic spirit of old Chinese settlements. It is a locality that demonstrates how tourism development can go hand in hand with the preservation of collective memory and the promotion of educational and cultural values.
A key highlight of the program was the visit to the Wang Shaozu Memorial Museum (1888–1970) – a political leader, reformer, and emblematic figure of the 1911 Revolution. Born in Tongli, Wang Shaozu was actively involved in China’s modernization movements, in the formation of the Republic, as well as in developing visionary public policies on education and state governance.
The museum showcases documents, photographs, manuscripts, and accounts of his involvement in reforms, his opposition to Yuan Shikai’s authoritarianism, and his promotion of a civic ideal based on knowledge, responsibility, and moral balance. In Wang Shaozu’s vision, education was the foundation for the nation’s salvation and progress – a lesson that remains highly relevant today.
Another important landmark was the Tongli Personalities Museum, which presents the biographies of scholars, doctors, academics, and thinkers who originated from this region and contributed decisively to the scientific development of modern China. The message conveyed: universal values can emerge from local communities, provided there is an environment that fosters education and excellence.
The entire landscape – with red lanterns reflected in the water, traditional restaurants along the canals, and locals who maintain the simple rituals of everyday life – conveys a powerful lesson about continuity between past and present, between heritage and sustainable local economy.
This stage of the CAPDR delegation reaffirms the importance of cultural diplomacy and Asian models of tourism development based on identity. With the support of Chinese partners and the Romanian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, we can envision similar initiatives in the Extended Region of Moldova, where rural, urban, and educational heritage awaits to be rediscovered, highlighted, and connected to international networks.
