On June 2, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the symposium on the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, offering profound insights into the major theoretical and practical issues surrounding the continuation and advancement of Chinese civilization, and issuing a call of our times to “carry forward the historical cultural heritage and write a new chapter in the contemporary era.”

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, cultural development in the new era has advanced with firm resolve, upholding fundamental principles while fostering innovation. The cultural heritage has been continuously passed down, and cultural vitality has surged, as a splendid panorama—where ancient and modern civilizations illuminate one another—has gradually unfolded across the land of China.

Safeguarding Our Roots, Passing Down Civilization

Chinese civilization is distinguished by its remarkable continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s precise articulation of these defining characteristics of Chinese civilization has unveiled the “genetic code” that ensures the enduring vitality of the Chinese nation.

More than a month ago, the Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries of 2025 were announced. Major findings from sites such as the Zhengjiagou Site in Xuanhua, Hebei; the Zhongcun Site in Xiyang, Shanxi; and the Langyatai Site in Qingdao, Shandong, have continually unraveled historical mysteries, filled gaps in the tapestry of civilization, and provided ongoing empirical evidence for China’s 5,000-year history.

 

Composite photo: Drainage facilities unearthed at the architectural foundation site on the summit of the Langyatai Ruins in Qingdao, Shandong Province (file photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency, provided by the Office of the National Top Ten Archaeological New Discoveries Promotion Campaign.

Archaeological exploration unveils the origins; cultural relics narrate history.

At present, China has essentially completed a comprehensive inventory of its cultural heritage resources. The Fourth National Cultural Relics Census has yielded significant interim results: all 767,000 sites registered in the Third National Census have undergone re‑examination, and more than 130,000 new cultural relics have been discovered. Meanwhile, China has established a legal framework for cultural heritage protection, with the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics serving as its overarching statute, thereby laying a solid institutional foundation for the enduring transmission of our cultural heritage.

From significant progress in the major “Archaeology China” project to the steady advancement of national cultural park initiatives along the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, from China’s total of 60 World Heritage sites to growing public attention on the repatriation of cultural relics and artworks that have been lost overseas, a shared societal consensus on cultural heritage protection and the inheritance of cultural traditions has continued to deepen.

Stepping into the museum, one’s sense of “revitalizing and passing on” becomes even more profound.

This year on International Museum Day, the East Building of the Shanghai Museum launched an AI‑glasses–based smart guided‑tour system, leveraging wearable smart devices and a museum‑specific large AI model to deliver an immersive, interactive exhibition experience. Meanwhile, the Zhejiang Provincial Museum has harnessed 3D printing and interactive projection installations to showcase the art of ancient ceramic restoration, turning it into a cultural hotspot beloved by young audiences.

Today, more than 1.5 billion visits to museums are recorded each year. Through their engagement with cultural relics and history, millions of people come to appreciate the allure of civilization and strengthen their cultural confidence.

To safeguard the cultural roots is to safeguard the soul of the nation.

In March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping, while on an inspection tour in Guizhou, visited Zhaoxing Dong Village. He watched with great interest the wax‑dyeing process and engaged in cordial exchanges with the person in charge. The General Secretary emphasized: “We must both protect tangible elements—such as villages, traditional dwellings, and distinctive architectural styles—and pass down intangible cultural heritage, while also promoting its creative transformation and innovative development.”

Today, the practice of inheriting and innovating intangible cultural heritage is flourishing across multiple fronts, with a wealth of standout initiatives that seamlessly weave ancient cultural traditions into modern life. At the inaugural China New Cultural Creativity Market and Trendy Toy Fair, time-honored crafts such as Beijing embroidery, traditional knot buttons, and boxwood carving have been reimagined in trendy toys and everyday products, enabling intangible cultural heritage to break out of its niche and become an integral part of daily life.

 

On May 15, 2026, local residents and tourists visited and shopped at the filigree‑inlay master workshop during the inaugural China New Cultural and Creative Market and Trendy Toy Fair held at Chaoyang Park in Beijing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Huanzong.

The ninth batch of 942 national-level representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage has been announced; 45 projects have been inscribed on UNESCO’s lists and registers of intangible cultural heritage, placing China first in the world in total number; and by the end of 2025, more than 14,900 intangible cultural heritage workshops will have been established nationwide, creating employment for over 1.3 million people… In recent years, China has delivered an impressive record in the protection and transmission of its intangible cultural heritage.

Only by remaining true to our roots can we forge a brighter future; only by mastering the art of inheritance can we innovate more effectively. China’s fine traditional culture permeates the heart and nourishes the times, becoming embedded in the spiritual ethos and cultural character of the entire nation, thereby rallying an immense force to move forward.

Renewing the Ancient, Singing for the People

General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that cultural development must always be people‑centered and grounded in the needs of the people. This calls for us to uphold a people‑oriented approach to creation, enhance our capacity to deliver cultural services and cultural products, and meet the diverse, high‑quality spiritual and cultural aspirations of the public.

“Though the seas stretch for ten thousand miles, when I think of you in my heart, they seem no longer distant.” The film “Love Letter to My Grandmother” uses a series of overseas remittance letters as its thread, employing simple, unadorned cinematography and tender storytelling to gently unfold the Chinese people’s nostalgia, sense of loyalty, and deep affection for family and country—touching countless viewers since its release.

At present, the vast majority of literary and artistic workers, grounded in the times and rooted among the people, have produced a host of outstanding works that are profound in thought, exquisite in artistry, and superbly crafted.

The gala “Justice Will Prevail,” commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, looks back on those momentous years with an epic scope. Traditional‑style works such as “Nezha: The Demon Child Conquers the Sea” have captivated audiences at home and abroad, while series like “A Peaceful Era” and “Silent Glory” have enjoyed widespread popularity. Meanwhile, dance dramas like “Only This Verdant Green” and “Dream of the Red Chamber” continue to draw enthusiastic crowds on their touring circuits. Rooted in tradition yet attuned to the spirit of our times, the arts scene is brimming with outstanding works, each more compelling than the last.

 

On February 25, 2025, moviegoers at the Yuejie Cinema in Guiyang, Guizhou, watched the film “Nezha: The Demon Child’s Sea Rampage.” Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ou Dongqu.

“There are a hundred or even a thousand methods of artistic and literary creation, but the most fundamental, the most crucial, and the most reliable approach is to take root among the people and in life.” This important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly reveals the fundamental principles governing artistic and literary creation.

“Prosperous Internet‑Era New Mass Literature and Art” has been incorporated into the Outline of the 15th Five‑Year Plan, underscoring the nation’s profound commitment to the development of literature and art. From Dongguan’s “migrant worker writers” and Ningxia’s Xihai’gu “peasant‑turned‑writers,” to Zhengzhou’s efforts to become the “Capital of Micro‑Short Dramas” and Hengdian’s cross‑industry foray into “vertical‑screen production,” an increasing number of ordinary people are stepping into the spotlight as the protagonists of artistic creation.

Across the country, more than 40,000 new‑type public cultural spaces—sprinkled throughout urban and rural areas—have become “cultural living rooms” right at people’s doorsteps. “Village songs,” “village galas,” and other signature village‑level events continue to enjoy widespread popularity, while initiatives such as bringing traditional opera to the countryside, promoting nationwide reading, and popularizing the arts are being carried out on a large scale. The arts scene has transformed from an elite‑only “viewing platform” into an inclusive “stage” for all, with a new landscape taking shape in which everyone can participate and精彩 is everywhere.

With 6,312 domestic and international exhibitors, more than 120,000 cultural treasures on display, and over 400 distinctive events unfolding in succession, the recently concluded 22nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair continues to showcase the vigorous vitality of China’s cultural sector. Over twenty-two years of dedicated cultivation and continuous evolution, this “premier exhibition of China’s cultural industries” harnesses technological innovation to safeguard tradition, embraces openness to broaden its horizons, and steadily delivers a practical roadmap for high-quality development in the new era.

 

This is the “Cultural Creativity China” exhibition area at the 22nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, photographed on May 22, 2026. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liang Xu.

The cultural industry is a sunrise sector. The convergence of culture and technology gives rise to new cultural business models, extends the cultural industry chain, and attracts innovative talent.

In today’s era, digital technologies and artificial intelligence have been seamlessly integrated into every stage of cultural creation and dissemination. Immersive performances, online broadcasts, and digital cultural‑creative products are emerging rapidly, while the integration of culture and tourism is advancing in depth, enabling cultural soft power to continuously translate into a robust foundation for high‑quality development.

With a global vision, we strive for shared beauty.

At Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests stands majestic, its double-eaved roof gleaming in the sunlight.

In May this year, the leaders of China and the United States gathered here, within this ancient edifice that has borne the cultural heritage of a millennium, to contemplate the cosmological vision of “a round heaven and a square earth” and the philosophy of living in harmony with the world, using culture as a bond to draw hearts closer. The time‑honored wisdom of these civilizations infuses the art of great‑power relations with a gentle yet profound cultural depth.

Against the backdrop of a profound and accelerating transformation unseen in a century, addressing shared challenges and forging a brighter future requires not only economic and technological strength, but also the power of culture and civilization.

From the successful hosting of events such as the “Understanding China” International Conference, the Liangzhu Forum, and the World Congress of Classical Studies, to the successive establishment of the China–Hungary Center for Research on Civilizational Exchanges and Mutual Learning and the Athens Institute for Chinese Classical Civilization, and further to the organization of vibrant Sino‑foreign tourism years, cultural festivals, and youth art festivals—China has built multilateral bridges for dialogue among civilizations, fostering equal exchanges and mutual learning, ensuring that the Global Civilization Initiative continues to take root and consolidate international consensus.

Civilizations thrive through exchange and grow richer through mutual learning.

At the Museum of Immigration in São Paulo, Brazil, the 160-day exhibition “Threads of Mountains and Seas—From China to Brazil” concluded this March, drawing more than 110,000 visitors to its halls. Meanwhile, at the Capital Museum in Beijing, the exhibition “Corn, Gold, and the Jaguar: Ancient Civilizations of the Maya and the Andes” drew long lines of eager viewers as soon as it opened in May. These cross‑hemispheric exchanges of culture have unleashed a powerful allure that transcends time and space.

 

On May 17, 2026, visitors toured the “Corn, Gold, and Jaguar: Ancient Civilizations of the Maya and the Andes” exhibition at the Capital Museum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Han.

General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “Whether it is strengthening the cohesion and appeal of advanced culture at home or enhancing the reach and influence of Chinese civilization abroad, both depend on fostering exchanges between China and other countries and bridging the past with the present.”

Today, the international community is increasingly focused on China and eager to learn about its rich cultural heritage. With the ongoing streamlining of inbound tourism and the continuous refinement of visa‑free policies, more and more foreign visitors are coming to China to experience it firsthand—gaining a deeper understanding of a China that is authentic, multifaceted, credible, endearing, and worthy of respect through its vibrant everyday life and its breathtaking landscapes.

Meanwhile, the “new cultural trio”—comprising online literature, online gaming, and web‑based film and television—has been accelerating its global expansion; the trendy toy brand Labubu has become a hit in European and American markets; and vibrant Chinese cultural elements such as the Spring Festival and traditional Chinese medicine are drawing worldwide attention. As a result, a vivid and multifaceted image of China is gaining ever broader recognition and understanding.

 

On February 1, 2026, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, spectators watched a lion-dance performance during the “Happy Spring Festival Across Paris: Dragon and Lion Celebrate the New Year on the Champs-Élysées” Spring Festival parade. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Baihui.

Looking back, Chinese culture has constantly innovated and remained vibrant; looking ahead, we bear a weighty responsibility and a glorious mission.

“The best way to inherit history is to create new history, and the greatest tribute we can pay to human civilization is to forge a new form of it.”

Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Chinese culture—steeped in profound historical heritage and imbued with a distinct spirit of our times—will surely radiate new vitality and achieve renewed splendor. It will lay a solid cultural foundation for advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation and building a strong country through Chinese modernization, while contributing greater Chinese wisdom and Eastern strength to the progress of human civilization and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Source: Xinhua News Agency