聚焦世界运河大会｜IWI主席莎伦·莱顿：灵渠与平陆运河的古今对照是大会的一大亮点|大运河|桂林|水道|湘江|灵渠|莎伦·莱顿

大运河传媒讯（徐蓉董明发自广西桂林）10月13日，2026年世界运河大会在广西桂林开幕。来自全球20余个国家的运河城市、科研机构、高校及行业组织代表，围绕世界运河遗产保护、水运升级和流域协调发展等议题展开交流。大会主办方内河航道国际组织（IWI）主席莎伦·莱顿出席开幕式致辞并作主旨演讲。她在发言中说：“灵渠与平陆运河形成的鲜明对照，正是本次大会的一大亮点。古代水道与现代水道交相辉映，蕴藏着丰富的价值。”Grand Canal Media News (Reported by Xu Rong and Dong Ming from Guilin, Guangxi) On October 13th, the 2026 World Canal Conference opened in Guilin, Guangxi. Representatives from canal cities, research institutions, universities, and industry organizations from over 20 countries around the world gathered to discuss issues such as the protection of world canal heritage, the improvement of water transportation systems, and the coordinated development of river basins. Sharon Leighton, president of the Inland Waterways International (IWI), attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. In her speech, she said, “The striking contrast between the Lingqu Canal and the Pinglu Canal is a major highlight of this conference. The ancient and modern waterways complement each other, and they hold rich value.”

“当我第一次见到中国的运河，我觉得这是一种让人敬畏的体验，即便对于我们这些已经见过世界各地的运河和水道的人来说，感受亦是如此。”莎伦·莱顿表示，世界各地运河兴建于不同时代，建设目的、工程工艺也千差万别。但当我们在此共话运河，很快便会发现，我们拥有诸多共通之处。“When I first saw the canals in China, I found it to be a truly awe-inspiring experience. Even for those of us who have seen canals and waterways around the world, this feeling is the same.” Sharon Leighton said that canals have been built in different times around the world, with various purposes and construction methods. But when we discuss canals together, we quickly realize that there are many commonalities between them.

今年恰逢平陆运河通航，意义格外特别。平陆运河书写下人类依托水系互联互通、创造发展机遇漫长历史中的崭新一页。它融合当代工程理念、知识与技术，精心规划设计，力求为后世带来实实在在的发展红利。同时，桂林拥有世界级活态水利遗产灵渠。当地珍视并守护先辈留给后人的宝贵遗产，让大家清醒认识到，运河绝非仅仅属于过去的历史遗迹，它是活态的基础设施、人文景观，更是极具影响力的文化遗产资源。This year marks a special occasion as the Pinglu Canal comes into use. The Pinglu Canal represents a new chapter in humanity’s long history of using waterways for communication and creating opportunities for development. It combines contemporary engineering concepts, knowledge, and technology, and is carefully designed to bring real benefits to future generations. Meanwhile, Guilin has the Lingqu Canal, a world-class living water conservancy heritage. The local people value and protect this valuable legacy left by their ancestors, reminding us that canals are not just historical relics; they are active infrastructure, cultural landmarks, and influential cultural assets.

她认为，灵渠与平陆运河二者共同为国际交流搭建起强有力的框架。灵渠促使我们思考，我们应当继承和守护什么；而平陆运河则帮助我们思考，我们为子孙后代创造了什么。它们都不只属于过去，同样面向未来，能够为当下带来诸多启示。She believes that both the Lingqu Canal and the Pinglu Canal provide a strong framework for international cooperation. The Lingqu Canal forces us to think about what we should inherit and protect, while the Pinglu Canal helps us consider what we have created for future generations. Both are not only from the past but also oriented towards the future, offering many insights for today.

灵渠始建于公元前214年，连通湘江与漓江，是古代工程的杰出典范。但它今天的重要性远远不止于其年代久远。灵渠得到持续保护维护，充分印证了历史水道如何持续服务于当地社群，维系文化认同，并为教育、旅游以及公众认知提供机会。灵渠博物院进一步讲述了这段历史，馆内展览融合传统展陈方式与沉浸式数字技术，把古代工程历史变得可体验、可感知，为全球运河博物馆提供优秀参考范本。The Lingqu Canal was built in 214 BC, connecting the Xiangjiang River and the Lijiang River. It is an excellent example of ancient engineering. But its importance today goes beyond its age. The Lingqu Canal is continuously protected and maintained, showing how historical waterways can continue to serve local communities, maintain cultural identity, and provide opportunities for education, tourism, and public awareness. The Lingqu Canal Museum further tells this story, with exhibitions that combine traditional methods with immersive digital technologies, making the history of ancient engineering accessible and tangible, serving as a good model for global canal museums.

平陆运河则带来完全不一样的发展机遇，它代表当代在互联互通、现代工程建设、生态环境考量、物流运输、区域发展以及长期基础设施建设领域的重大投入。“一条新建的大型运河能够创建一个难得的机会。我们可以借此分享关于智能交通技术、可持续发展理念以及为子孙后代规划基础设施的经验。”莎伦·莱顿说。水道不只是基础设施，还成为凝聚社群、推动共同繁荣的联结载体。中国的运河持续为航运运行、水资源管理、生态环境治理以及经济往来提供支撑。国际社会可以围绕这份非凡的成果，在工程保护、展陈展示、技术应用以及社区参与等方面开展更加深入的合作。The Pinglu Canal brings completely different opportunities for development. It represents modern investments in connectivity, modern engineering, environmental considerations, logistics, regional development, and long-term infrastructure construction. “A newly built large canal creates a unique opportunity. We can share experiences in smart transportation technology, sustainable development concepts, and infrastructure planning for future generations,” said Sharon Leighton. Waterways are not just infrastructure; they also serve as a means of connecting communities and promoting shared prosperity. Chinese canals continue to support shipping operations, water resource management, environmental protection, and economic interactions. The international community can work together more closely on engineering protection, exhibition, technology application, and community participation.

“我们的水道历史各有不同，但它们对社区以及文明的影响，让我们拥有共同的沟通语言，也为跨境遗产保护、旅游开发、博物馆合作、教育交流以及社区结对交往创造机会。”她举例，交流的实现路径可以多种多样，既可以通过正式渠道，面向运河沿线社区、航运遗产点位举办研讨会，也可以借助非正式渠道进行运河专题研究，进一步延伸至水文学、水力学等学术研究领域。“Our waterways have different histories, but their impact on communities and civilizations gives us a common language for communication. This also creates opportunities for cross-border heritage protection, tourism development, museum cooperation, educational exchange, and community partnerships.” She gave examples of how exchanges can take place through formal channels, such as seminars for communities along the canal, or through informal channels, such as research on canals, which can extend to academic fields like hydrology and hydrodynamics.

在会上，她还重点抛出三项后续可以推进的国际合作行动构想。第一，开展平陆运河国际知识交流，组织专题技术考察与实质性研讨，围绕工程建设、航运运行、环境治理、运维管护、区域发展开展双向经验分享。第二，推进国际运河社区交流，建立中国与海外运河社区之间的合作关系，推动水道管理机构、遗产组织、博物馆、教育机构、民间社群团体开展协作，打造更加活跃的文化教育与民间合作网络。第三，共享运河活态遗产，通过联合办展、数字叙事、出版物、演示展示、专业研讨等形式，在遗产阐释保护、传统工程技艺、公众社区参与等方面开展多元合作，同时可以配套举办专题论坛开展研讨。At the conference, she also outlined three possible areas for international cooperation. First, promote international knowledge exchange on the Pinglu Canal, organize technical visits and discussions on construction, shipping, environmental management, maintenance, and regional development. Second, encourage international canal community exchanges, establish partnerships between Chinese and overseas canal communities, and promote collaboration among canal management organizations, heritage organizations, museums, educational institutions, and community groups, thereby creating a more active network for cultural education and community cooperation. Third, share living heritage through joint exhibitions, digital storytelling, publications, demonstrations, and professional discussions, as well as specialized forums.

她谈到，以上仅仅是三类可行方向，实际蕴藏的机遇远不止于此。世界运河大会的价值，在于我们共同致敬遗产、分享经验、互学互鉴。但大会许多最宝贵的成果，往往诞生于正式议程之外：参会者会发现，自己面临的难题，在世界其他地区早已找到解决路径。知识不断向外传播，一个运河社区开启的对话，能够在另一个社区催生出全新思路。这样的交流，缔结深厚友谊，搭建合作纽带，其影响力将持续深化。She said that these are just three possible directions, but the opportunities they represent are much greater. The value of the World Canal Conference lies in our shared respect for heritage, sharing of experiences, and mutual learning. Many of the most valuable outcomes of the conference come from non-formal channels: participants may find solutions to their problems elsewhere in the world. Knowledge spreads outward, and conversations initiated by one canal community can lead to new ideas in another community. Such exchanges build deep friendships and cooperation, and their impact will continue to grow.