China invests in Grand Canal 中国投入京杭大运河

JINAN, Nov. 14 -- Nearly one billion yuan (around 160 million U.S. dollars) has been spent on one section of the ancient Grand Canal in east China's Shandong Province, said a local official on Thursday.

济南11月14日 - 山东省（位于中国东部）一位地方官员周四表示，古老的京杭大运河山东段已经投入使用了近10亿人民币（约1.6亿美元）。

In the last five years, renovation of the waterway and its environs have meant villagers were relocated in preparation for a world heritage status application, said Xie Zhixiu, deputy head of Shandong provincial cultural department.

山东省文化厅副厅长治秀表示，在过去的五年中，水路及其周围的改造意味着村民们搬迁来为世界遗产地位的申请做准备。

The Chinese government is applying for world heritage status for the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, 1,794 km long and with a history of more than 2,400 years. It passes through eight provinces and municipalities and some 35 cities.

中国政府正在为京杭大运河申请世界遗产地位。京杭大运河全长1794公里，拥有超过2400年的历史，流经8个省市，约35个城市。

Shandong government has promulgated a special protection regulation for its section of the canal, said Xie. The Shandong section is 643 km long with 15 potential heritage sites. An UNESCO team surveyed the Shandong section in September.

谢表示，山东省政府颁布了对省内运河部分的特殊保护规定。山东省内的运河段长为643公里，有15个潜在的遗址。联合国教科文组织于9月调查了山东段京杭大运河。

The World Heritage Committee will announce their decision next year.

世界遗产委员会将于明年宣布他们的决定。