ZHANGJIAGANG – – November 01, 2026 -- The 2026 Yangtze River Culture Festival is open to visitors through November 29, with rail itineraries to smaller Yangtze River Delta cities, RV camping exchanges along the river and a cultural market on the program.
Thirteen village leaders open the festival with river water
The festival opened on October 30 in Yonglian Village, Nanfeng Town, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, in Jiangsu Province. Thirteen village Party secretaries each brought water from the stretch of the Yangtze flowing through their hometowns. Joined by guests, they used the water in the opening ceremony.
Two exhibitions also opened at the Yonglian Art Museum that day, including Art Without Borders: A Joint Exhibition of Works from Community Collaborative Art Museums.
Three programs shape this year's festival
Under the theme "Integration, Promotion and Sharing," the festival has three main programs: "Exploring the Yangtze," "Celebrating Yangtze Culture" and "An Open Yangtze."
- Visitors can discover smaller cities on the Yangtze River Delta's high-speed rail network.
- They can take part in RV camping exchanges along the river.
- They can explore the "Guardians of the Yangtze" market, which brings together living cultural traditions, folk customs, local specialties and shopping.
Organizers unveil Jiangsu's autumn and winter events lineup
At the opening ceremony, organizers presented Jiangsu's autumn and winter lineup of cultural events, tourism activities and visitor incentives in a showcase titled "Charm of Jiangsu, Tides of the Yangtze." They also introduced curated itineraries for exploring the Yangtze River Delta's smaller cities by high-speed rail. The event highlighted activities and achievements from Suzhou's 2026 East Asian Capital of Culture program, and participants signed agreements for cultural and tourism projects.
A festival with a 20-plus-year track record
Held annually since 2004, the festival has featured more than 200 activities and reached a combined online and in-person audience of over 500 million. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Yangtze River Economic Belt initiative.
The festival is jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Suzhou Municipal People's Government. The Zhangjiagang Municipal People's Government is among the co-organizers.