The Light of Civilization Illuminates the Path to National Rejuvenation—Guided by Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, We Carry Forward the Chinese Cultural Heritage and Write a New Chapter for Our Times.

“Upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation and safeguarding, promoting, and developing the treasured legacies of Chinese civilization—heritage forged through centuries of vicissitudes—is the historic responsibility and sacred mission of contemporary members of the Communist Party of China.”

Chinese civilization has endured for millennia, unbroken and resilient, weathering countless trials yet remaining steadfast—a timeless chapter in the annals of human culture.

Great practice requires the correct guidance of scientific theory.

In October 2023, Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture was formally put forward at the National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology, and Cultural Work. Grounded in both essence and application, and seamlessly integrating theory with practice, this thought guides and propels the continuous inheritance of China’s cultural heritage, as well as the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture, thereby rallying powerful spiritual strength to advance the great cause of national rejuvenation and build a modern socialist country through Chinese‑style modernization.

(1) The Source of Thought

To understand the great way, one must first study history.

“I am very fond of studying history. As a public servant, if one is unfamiliar with history—especially Chinese history—and lacks a sense of historical depth to understand the work we are doing today and to set our goals, it will be difficult to perform our duties effectively,” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Central Urban Work Conference held in July this year.

Fast-forward ten years, and at the same conference, the principle of “carrying forward the city’s historical and cultural heritage” was reaffirmed. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound respect for this heritage has been consistently upheld while evolving with the times.

All things have their origins, yet only he who understands knows how to safeguard their roots. Whether working at the local or central level, General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently demonstrated a profound sense of history and responsibility, advancing cultural innovation while carrying forward the historical and cultural heritage, thereby ensuring that the enduring spiritual roots of the Chinese nation remain ever vibrant.

“If it were not for the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, where would China’s distinctive features even come from? And if it were not for these distinctive features, how could we have embarked on such a successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics today?”

On March 22, 2021, while on an inspection tour in Fujian, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Zhu Xi Garden, where he reflected on the past and present and underscored the principle that “as we advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must promote the sinicization of Marxism.”

In Fujian, an article in “Shaking Off Poverty” points out that a nation’s cultural traditions are the spiritual wealth accumulated over generations and serve as the driving force and source of its development.

In Zhejiang, while inspecting the culture of the Yellow Emperor, he stated: As Communist Party members, we must uphold Marxism. As descendants of Yan and Huang, the five-thousand-year-old Chinese civilization compels us never to forget our roots.

With vision spanning ten thousand miles and thought reaching back through millennia, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: “Both the positive and negative lessons of history demonstrate that the ‘two combinations’ are our greatest treasure for achieving success.”

Only by remaining true to our roots can we forge a path to the future.

During this year’s field visit to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping recalled an episode from the past. Back when he was working in Zhengding, Hebei, Comrade Xi Jinping went to Longxing Temple for a research trip and came across a Sui‑dynasty stele. Because of its great age, much of the inscription had already weathered away, yet he immediately ordered protective measures to be taken—measures that later proved instrumental in preserving this important calligraphic relic.

“These are all national treasures! Once they’re gone, we’ll never see them again. By safeguarding and restoring cultural relics, we are fulfilling our duty to our ancestors and to future generations.”

In Zhengding, Comrade Xi Jinping safeguarded the Sui‑dynasty stele, ancient trees, and the city’s historic walls; spearheaded the restoration of Longxing Temple; and presided over the compilation of “Zhengding: Past and Present,” writing its preface. In accordance with Comrade Xi Jinping’s directives, every historic building, artifact, and cultural site in Zhengding—each location, each item, and each area—was designated within a protected zone and marked with conspicuous signage.

“Protecting historic buildings and cultural relics is to preserve history, to safeguard the cultural heritage of a city, and to uphold the intangible fine traditions of a renowned historical and cultural city,” noted Comrade Xi Jinping, then Governor of Fujian Province, in the preface he wrote for the book “Fuzhou Ancient Houses” in 2002.

Forward-looking thinking and pragmatic action embody a deep reverence for history and culture.

“Protecting cultural relics benefits both the present generation and future generations,” “We must avoid over‑restoration and over‑development,” “We must safeguard, pass on, and promote these treasures of Chinese culture”... Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited cultural and museum institutions across numerous provinces nationwide, his earnest instructions reflecting his profound reflections on the continuity of our cultural heritage.

At the Baoji Bronze Ware Museum in Shaanxi, visitors flock in droves. Standing before the national treasure, the He Zun, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s words still resonate: “Chinese civilization spans five millennia; we must continue to unearth its treasures, conduct in-depth research and interpretation of its essence and spirit, and effectively promote the profound wisdom it embodies. In doing so, we can foster greater reverence and affection for our cultural heritage, strengthen our pride in Chinese civilization, uphold the spirit of patriotism, and pass on China’s outstanding traditional culture from one generation to the next.”

What is the relationship between cultural heritage preservation and economic development, and how can it be balanced?

“Revere history, revere culture, and revere ecology.”

At the Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping cautioned the participants with these three “reverences”: “For leading cadres to enhance their capacity to lead economic work, it is not enough to simply possess some knowledge of economics and science; they must also study history, cultivate a profound cultural heritage, and strengthen their ecological awareness.”

Fast-forward to the 1990s. Amid the fervent urban development of the era, the former residence of Lin Juemin, located in the northern corner of Sanfang Qixiang in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, was on the verge of being demolished without further ado. Upon learning of this, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Party Committee, immediately ordered a halt to the demolition. Half a year later, restoration work on the historic site quietly got underway.

Comrade Xi Jinping stated: “When assessing whether a system or a force is progressive or reactionary, an important criterion is its attitude toward history and culture.”

What attitudes and actions should be adopted? “We must establish institutional frameworks and supporting policies that mandate ‘archaeological investigation first, land transfer second,’ ensuring that land potentially containing historical and cultural relics may not be put to use until archaeological surveys, prospecting, and excavations have been duly completed in accordance with the law,” stated General Secretary Xi Jinping with resounding clarity during the 23rd collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Today, a cultural scroll that allows people to ascend city walls, gaze upon ancient pagodas, and cherish their nostalgia is slowly unfurling across the Chinese land, offering profound insights into the balanced integration of economic development and the enduring continuity of cultural heritage: “Party committees and governments at all levels must cultivate a deep sense of reverence for historical relics and embrace the scientific principle that safeguarding cultural heritage is itself a measure of good governance.”

Archaeological work is an important cultural undertaking and also a task of great socio-political significance.

For a long time, the Western archaeological community has used the three criteria of bronze artifacts, writing, and cities as the standard for defining civilization, maintaining that China’s civilizational history begins only with the Shang dynasty.

“The Liangzhu Site is a sacred place that substantiates the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization and an exceedingly precious treasure; we must safeguard it with utmost care!” In 2003, during a field inspection of the Liangzhu Site, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, keenly emphasized this point.

In 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again issued important instructions on the application to have the Liangzhu Site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Three years later, the Liangzhu Ancient City site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Foreign experts commented: “Liangzhu has pushed back our understanding of early Chinese civilization by more than a millennium.” This also provided robust material evidence and solid academic support for the Project on the Origins of Chinese Civilization.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “We must strive to build an archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese grandeur, and enhance the influence and voice of Chinese archaeology within the international archaeological community.” Drawing on case studies such as Liangzhu, the Chinese archaeological community has put forward a Chinese approach to defining civilization and identifying the transition to civilized society, thereby making original contributions to the study of the origins of world civilizations.

By carrying forward the historical and cultural heritage, we address the philosophical question: “Where do we come from, and where are we going?” By strengthening our cultural self‑identity and achieving spiritual independence, we forge ahead by drawing on the enduring vitality of our national culture, advancing with full confidence in “blazing our own trail.”

(II) The Way of Practice

The times are the mother of thought, and practice is the source of theory.

Upholding Marxism as the soul and the fine traditional Chinese culture as the root, while observing humanistic values and discerning the changes of our times, Xi Jinping’s thought on culture is both rooted in practice and serves to guide and propel that practice forward.

With its black‑canopied boats and ancient teahouses, a stroll through the city of Shaoxing reveals gently flowing waters, the lingering strains of Yue opera, and scenes at every turn—each one a story waiting to be told.

Looking back more than two decades ago, the historic neighborhoods of Shaoxing’s ancient city—represented by Cangqiao Straight Street—faced a critical test: whether to demolish or preserve them.

In January 2003, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, visited Shaoxing. “Should we preserve the old street’s original appearance?” a local official asked, voicing the dilemma they were grappling with.

“We must preserve it in its original, unadulterated form!” Comrade Xi Jinping replied affirmatively. “Leaving home in youth and returning in old age, my accent remains unchanged, though my temples have turned gray…” He casually recited He Zhizhang’s “Occasional Poem on Returning Home,” and instructed that preservation efforts should prioritize historical authenticity, the integrity of the local character, and the continuity of everyday life.

Twenty years later, in June 2023, at the symposium on the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly expounded on the distinctive characteristics of Chinese civilization, with the first being its remarkable continuity.

While inspecting the National Library of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: “What concerns me most is the most precious legacy left by Chinese civilization through the vicissitudes of history. As our culture has never been interrupted and continues to be passed down, we must do everything possible to safeguard and cherish these invaluable treasures.” He described this endeavor as “a foundational project for building a great nation of civilization” and one that will “benefit generations to come,” entrusting it with heartfelt earnestness: “I leave this in your hands!”

A profound cultural sentiment and a strong sense of civilizational responsibility run throughout the journey from history toward the future.

With a history of over 3,000 years as a city and more than 870 years as a capital, every inch of the ancient capital Beijing holds the stories of the ages.

“Carry forward the historical and cultural heritage, strike a proper balance between urban renewal and development on the one hand, and the protection and sustainable utilization of historical and cultural relics on the other, and ensure that preservation goes hand in hand with development, and development, in turn, reinforces preservation.” In 2014, along the Yuhé River in Beijing, General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored the importance of properly managing the relationship between preservation and development.

“Follow the rules of our forebears, yet forge a new path of your own.” General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: “We must both safeguard tangible elements—such as villages, traditional dwellings, and distinctive architectural styles—and pass on intangible cultural heritage; at the same time, we must promote its creative transformation and innovative development, ensuring that ethnic characteristics shine ever more brightly through their practical application and continuously radiate fresh vitality.”

In Suide County, Yulin, Shaanxi Province, cultural and creative products inspired by intangible cultural heritage—such as stone carving, paper-cutting, and clay sculpture—boast distinctive charm and have won the favor of consumers.

“We must uphold creative transformation and innovative development, and identify the points of connection between traditional culture and modern life,” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during his inspection tour of Yulin, Shaanxi Province on September 14, 2021.

Today, in museums, cultural‑creative bestsellers like the “Phoenix Crown Refrigerator Magnet” allow visitors to “take the museum home”; in historic neighborhoods, a dazzling array of intangible cultural heritage–inspired products seamlessly blends ethnic charm with contemporary flair; and on stage, the dance‑poem drama “Only This Verdant Green,” inspired by “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains,” unfolds a poetic, picturesque panorama of Chinese landscapes through the timeless hues of Eastern aesthetics. Tradition and modernity join hands, history and the present converge, giving rise to a vibrant, flourishing scene that embodies the spirit of “a rich and flourishing culture.”

When cultural “soft power” meets technological “hard support,” General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed the need to “explore effective mechanisms for integrating culture and technology.”

Having completed the digital capture of over 30,000 cultural relics, it has created a “24-hour online museum” serving tens of millions of users; by integrating technologies such as virtual hosts, it enables online audiences to virtually “check in” to popular variety shows; and within an XR (extended reality) virtual studio, users can switch between digital settings, allowing filming to take place without ever leaving home… In Malanshan, Changsha, Hunan, there lies a “testing ground” dedicated to cutting-edge technologies, innovative applications, and emerging industries—fostering the seamless integration of culture and technology.

In September 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Malanshan Video and Cultural Creativity Industrial Park and profoundly remarked: “The integration of culture and technology has not only given rise to new cultural business models and extended the cultural industry chain, but has also attracted a large pool of innovative talent. It is a burgeoning industry with great prospects.”

The ancient and the modern converge in profound ways, as the light of civilization illuminates the path of innovation across countless industries.

In March 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again visited Hunan, where he emphasized the need to “explore effective mechanisms for integrating culture and technology, accelerate the development of new cultural business models, and cultivate more new growth drivers in the cultural industries.”

Today, across the land of China, the “culture + technology” synergy is generating a “multiplicative” effect.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The innovative nature of Chinese civilization fundamentally shapes the Chinese nation’s enterprising spirit—upholding fundamental principles while refusing to cling to outdated practices, and honoring tradition without blindly revering the past—and endows it with a fearless character that is unafraid of new challenges and bold in embracing new ideas.”

Looking back at history, the Chinese nation’s splendid civilization, spanning more than five millennia, has consistently been driven by an unceasing tide of innovation.

In contemporary China, the cultural soil that honors innovation, encourages it, champions boldness in innovation, and embraces it continues to deepen, making an innovative culture a guiding value, a way of life, and a defining spirit of our times.

(3) The Only Path

China’s time-honored and enduring historical and cultural heritage endows Chinese modernization with a profound cultural foundation.

As the saying goes, 'Above there is paradise; below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.' On July 6, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Suzhou in Jiangsu and remarked that the locality 'has done very well in combining tradition and modernity,' urging that 'we must preserve, excavate, and utilize it well; not only inherit it in material forms but also pass it on in people’s hearts.'

Regarding China's fine traditional culture, we should not only inherit its external 'form' but also its internal 'spirit,' so that the philosophical ideas, humanistic spirit, moral concepts, and governance wisdom embedded in the historical cultural lineage are transformed into an inexhaustible source that drives development.

'Why is our socialism different? Why can it be so vibrant and full of vitality? The key lies in its Chinese characteristics, and the key to those characteristics lies in the "two combinations".'

At a symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that, on the profound foundation of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics requires combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's concrete realities and with China's fine traditional culture; this is the necessary path.

'The second combination' gives the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and more far-reaching historical depth and expands its cultural roots.

In Fengqiao ancient town, Zhuji, Zhejiang, a Qing-dynasty stele records a story of dispute mediation: when Fengqiao's commerce was prosperous, conflicts arose among porters; the county invited a respected local villager to mediate, and in the end the parties shook hands and made peace.

While working in Zhejiang, Comrade Xi Jinping innovatively developed the 'Fengqiao Experience.' He combined the crystallized wisdom of traditional Chinese culture with the Marxist view of the masses: relying on the people to solve problems at the grassroots and to resolve them at their inception.

Using history to inform the present and to enrich governance, General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently integrated the essence of China's fine traditional culture into political practice, deeply cultivating the humanistic foundation of the path to Chinese-style modernization.

In the Six-Foot Lane the world seems wide. On October 17, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Tongcheng, Anhui to learn about the history and the inheritance of the Six-Foot Lane.

'The Six-Foot Lane embodies the historical wisdom of ancestors in resolving conflicts; it should serve as an educational site for promoting China's fine traditional culture, help cultivate the nation's traditional virtues of courtesy and putting harmony first, and create a harmonious social environment where people live and work in peace and contentment.'

Within the broad dimensions of time and space, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that to govern today's China well requires a deep understanding of our history and traditional culture, and an active summary of the explorations and wisdom of ancient Chinese statecraft.

Upholding a people-centered approach, he has repeatedly quoted 'the people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is solid, the state is at peace'; strengthened discipline, stressing 'without rules nothing can be accomplished'; from 'law is the beginning of governance' and 'virtue is the root' to insisting on combining rule by law with rule by virtue; and in international settings repeatedly called for 'harmony and co-existence' and 'a world of great unity,' promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The power of culture permeates all aspects of the General Secretary's governance.

'Loving the motherland and one's hometown is not only shown by an attachment to its rivers and mountains, people, history, and culture, but also by a heartfelt concern for the fate and future of the motherland and hometown, and a willingness to shed blood in devotion to their liberation and reconstruction.' As early as during his work in Zhengding, Hebei, Comrade Xi Jinping expressed his patriotism with deep feeling.

'Recently, I reread some wartime family letters from the War of Resistance; they are indeed deeply moving.'

In September 2015, at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during the 26th collective study session of the 18th Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping read aloud, word by word, the family letter of martyr Zhao Yiman—

'Mother, because she resolutely participated in the anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese struggle, is now on the eve of sacrifice... After you grow up, I hope you will not forget that your mother sacrificed herself for the country...'

Generation after generation of patriotic martyrs sacrificed themselves to save the nation and its people; their deeds and spirit move heaven and earth, serving as precious resources to inspire unity and the will to strive forward.

On September 3, in Tiananmen Square, formations stood like mountains and the momentum was overwhelming. A grand military parade set the blood of all Chinese sons and daughters boiling and filled them with passion.

From the ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, from the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's participation in the Korean War to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, one commemorative event after another has rallied people's hearts and stirred their fighting spirit.

'Proud of our great motherland!' 'To rejuvenate China, we must strive to strengthen ourselves!' ... These fervent messages reflect the burning patriotic hearts of Chinese sons and daughters.

History is the best textbook, and the history of the Chinese revolution is the best nourishment.

On the morning of September 30 a solemn ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square. In 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress decided to establish September 30 as Martyrs' Memorial Day. Since then, on this day each year, General Secretary Xi Jinping comes here to present a wreath to the people's heroes.

Linyi in Shandong, Gutian in Fujian, Yan'an in Shaanxi... Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited revolutionary memorial sites many times during his local inspections, revisiting the Party's original aspiration and mission.

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'We must study and summarize the Party's history well, inherit and carry forward the Party's valuable experience, remember the course of struggle, shoulder historical missions, and draw strength for progress from the Party's history of struggle,' General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized.

On Shinao Mountain the monument to the Hundred Regiments Offensive rises into the sky. On July 7, marking the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the national War of Resistance, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Hundred Regiments Offensive Memorial Hall to view the exhibits.

'Remembering past events is a lesson for future affairs; coming here is to receive a spiritual baptism,' the General Secretary remarked with feeling. 'Young people born in this era should carry on the red bloodline, set the lofty aspiration that a strong country depends on me, and be upright, honorable, and proud Chinese.'

In inheriting the red gene, our Party has always emphasized using the Party's course of struggle and great achievements to inspire fighting spirit, its glorious traditions and fine conduct to strengthen conviction, and its historical experience and practice to enlighten wisdom.

A week after the successful conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping led the Standing Committee of the 19th Politburo on a special trip from Beijing to Shanghai and Jiaxing, Zhejiang, to pay respects at the site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai and the Red Boat on Nanhu in Jiaxing. The General Secretary pointed out that no matter how far we travel, we must not forget the road we took to get here.

Any nation that achieves something is renowned throughout the world for its distinctive spirit.

For more than a century, the Communist Party of China has carried forward the great spirit of Party building, forging throughout its long struggle a spiritual lineage unique to Chinese communists and cultivating a distinct political character. These invaluable spiritual treasures transcend time and space, remaining ever vibrant, and have become deeply embedded in the very lifeblood of the Party, the nation, the ethnic community, and the people, guiding our course, rallying our strength, and strengthening our moral resolve.

This is the conclusion of history: Why has the Chinese nation endured and continued to thrive over the course of thousands of years? “A crucial reason is that our people have maintained an unbroken spiritual pursuit, distinctive spiritual qualities, and a continuous spiritual lineage.”

This is a harbinger of the future: only by steadfastly moving from history toward the future and by forging ahead while preserving the cultural heritage of our nation can we succeed in today’s endeavors.

A great era gives birth to great ideas, and great ideas guide great practice. Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, the Chinese nation—whose splendid civilization spans more than five millennia—will surely achieve even greater splendor on the new journey of the new era. (Reporters: Zheng Hai’ou, He Siqi, Li Zhuoer)