"It shows life along the Grand Canal through food, fun, and chats with local residents, giving viewers a peek into the culture and history of these cities. It doesn't shout about the Grand Canal, but it's just there, part of everyday life. Those cozy little snapshots of urban life keep the poetic charm of the ancient canal alive," commented one user on the review site Douban.

Zhang Jin, an expert involved in the World Heritage application for the Grand Canal, views the series as a kind of "ceremonial ritual" to drive the conscious protection of its heritage.

"The goal of the program is to increase public awareness of the history of the Grand Canal and promote its preservation, a habit that will inspire future generations to carry on the legacy," she explains.

"Historical memory needs to be awakened. We have already taken action to that end, and we will continue to do so in the future. What we still need to think about is how we can use historical memory to make things better today," Duan adds.