On October 12, a colorful celebration of culture took place at the 2024 Baheliang Tourism Culture Festival in Fuling, Chongqing. The festival kicked off with a symbolic ceremony that united waters from the Yangtze River in China and the Nile River in Egypt.

As part of this unique event, a bottle of water from the Yangtze was poured into a vessel alongside a bottle from the Nile, emphasizing the importance of fostering international dialogue and collaboration in cultural heritage between China and Africa.

The Baheliang site, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative listing in 2008, is renowned for being the world’s first underwater museum accessible without diving. It boasts over 1,200 years of continuous hydrological observation records, representing not only a milestone in Chinese hydrology but also a shared global cultural treasure.

The Nile River basin in ancient Egypt was one of the earliest regions to conduct water level observations. Long before our era, Egyptians devised a water level measurement tool known as the “Nilometer” to monitor the fluctuating levels of the Nile.

In a video address, Xia Zehan, Director of the UNESCO East Asia Office, emphasized that “World Heritage is a shared asset of humanity, and it is our collective responsibility to protect and pass down these treasures.” He commended China’s rich cultural heritage and its commendable efforts over recent decades to promote the preservation, transmission, and collaboration regarding world heritage. “I am delighted to see the joint application of China’s Baheliang and Egypt’s Nilometer for World Heritage status. This initiative not only represents international dialogue in heritage protection but also showcases innovative practices in global cooperation.”

Egypt’s Ambassador to China, Asem Hanafi, highlighted the deep historical ties between Egypt and China, two ancient civilizations connected long ago through the Silk Road. He noted that under the current Belt and Road Initiative, the two nations have seen fruitful cooperation in trade, culture, education, and technology, greatly benefiting their peoples and contributing positively to regional and international peace, stability, and prosperity. “The joint application for World Heritage status for China’s Baheliang and Egypt’s Nilometer is progressing steadily. We hope that deeper collaboration in the realm of world heritage will enhance understanding and friendship between our peoples, elevating our civilizations to new heights.”

Li Yong, Secretary of the Fuling District Committee, stated that the festival is an opportunity for Fuling to enhance the protection and utilization of cultural heritage. He pledged to build the China Hydrology Museum to high standards and to actively promote the World Heritage applications for the Baheliang site and the Egyptian Nilometer, working toward a vibrant cultural exchange and protecting the legacies of humanity.