On November 1, the Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Culture Foundation was established as the only national foundation aimed at protecting, developing and promoting Yangtze River culture. It is also the first nonprofit cultural foundation at the county level in Jiangsu. It heralds a new stage in which the China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival will depend on social organizations instead of the local government.

The Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Culture Foundation originally received funds worth 3 million yuan ($491,943) from the government and enterprises. To promote Yangtze River culture exchanges and cultural resource development, the foundation will organize or support various events, such as Yangtze River culture study and seminars and the Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival.

Yang Fang, member of the standing committee of the Zhangjiagang municipal committee of the CPC and director of the publicity department, highly praised the foundation as a new platform for mobilizing enterprises and the public to participate in cultural development.

Since 2004, Zhangjiagang has successively held the Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival 10 times in cooperation with 12 provinces, cities and municipalities along the Yangtze River. Nearly one million people took part in over 80 public cultural events, including main activities such as the Yangtze River Drama Arts Festival, the Yangtze River National and Folk Arts Festival, a themed activity “In Praise of the Yangtze River,” and other national exhibitions and seminars.

The Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Culture Foundation is expected to play an important role in achieving Yangtze River culture exchanges and prosperity.