On the afternoon of the 17th, President Xi Jinping visited Anqing and Hefei in Anhui Province for observations. In Anqing, he toured Liu Chi Xiang in Tongcheng, gaining insights into the local efforts to inherit and promote outstanding traditional Chinese culture and strengthen spiritual civilization.
“Resting against the Tianzhu Mountain and sleeping next to the Dragon’s Dream, linking the Yangtze River and guiding the Cong River,” Tongcheng, known as the cultural capital of Anhui, lies at the foothills of the Dabie Mountains and the northern bank of the Yangtze River. This region is a vital transit point between the east and west, often referred to as “the hub of seven provinces.” With over a thousand years of history since its official naming during the Tang Dynasty, it is steeped in culture.
The area is known for its rich historical heritage and literary flourish. Inside the museum, ancient copper cauldrons and jade artifacts tell tales of a distant past, while the elegant calligraphy and painting collections speak volumes about its profound history. The ancient city of Tongcheng is embraced by mountains and waterways, where remnants of its grandeur can be spotted in every corner.
This city carries the illustrious spirit of ancient literature, continuing its local traditions while spreading the reputation of its cultural legacy.
Historically, Tongcheng has fostered a strong belief in education, with its residents guided by the principles of “never parting with books in times of need” and “cultivating both learning and farming.” The robust literary atmosphere lends it significant cultural depth. The renowned “Tongcheng School” in Chinese literary history blossomed here.
As the largest prose school in the Qing Dynasty, Tongcheng School brought together over a thousand writers and thrived for more than 200 years. Its motto, “Essays reign supreme, brilliance fills the capital,” earned Tongcheng the honor of being called the “Cultural Capital.” The scholarly ideals of “carrying the moral through literature” and “applying knowledge for the benefit of society” have had lasting influences even today.
To nurture talent, scholars from Tongcheng School actively engaged in education, establishing schools and teaching students. During this time, the streets of the city were filled with the sound of recitation at midnight, and the morning air in the countryside was punctuated with the melodies of stringed instruments. Since the late Qing Dynasty when Wu Rulun established the Tongcheng Academy (now Tongcheng High School), modern education has flourished, passing down knowledge through generations.
Today, this land of esteemed scholars has produced nearly 5,000 PhDs and around 20 academicians, contributing to societal development through their academic pursuits. Under the motto of Tongcheng High School, “Becoming an instrument of the nation,” young students focus diligently on their studies, striving to achieve their dreams.
The local government is vigorously implementing the “Cultural Capital Talent Program,” focusing on nurturing innovators, creating new platforms for attracting intelligence, and introducing supportive policies for talent development. They aim to establish a hub for talent aggregation, especially in emerging industries like new energy vehicle components, photovoltaic new materials, and medical engineering and health.
Rooted in a rich historical tradition, the area values culture and education, relentlessly seeking advancement. This initiative comes at a crucial time for fostering innovative power for national rejuvenation and cultivating talent for the future.
In the bustling downtown of Tongcheng, a notable feature is Liu Chi Xiang, a 100-meter-long and 2-meter-wide alley shaded by tall camphor trees, which embodies the well-known story of “Six Feet Alley.”
“Let him have three feet, what does it matter?” illustrates traditional wisdom of courtesy, harmony, and neighborliness, serving as a lively example for resolving disputes within the community.
In recent years, the “Six Feet Alley” story has been incorporated into local textbooks for students and has been integrated into the integrity and family education for party members and officials. The working methods named after “Six Feet Alley” are widely used for mediating community conflicts, sowing the seeds of harmony and humility while earning recognition as an advanced model of the “Fengqiao Experience” in the new era.
Through cultural engagement and subtle influences, the past and present of this small alley highlight the vigorous vitality and appeal of traditional Chinese culture in modern societal governance.
Guided by principles of “protection first, rescue first, rational utilization, and enhanced management,” the ancient streets and buildings of Tongcheng maintain their historical charm and vitality, with cultural legacies being continuously nurtured and passed down.
President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of protecting and promoting outstanding traditional Chinese culture, preserving the historical context of cities, and safeguarding the cultural heritage left by previous generations. We should draw valuable insights and moral essence from this cultural treasure, excavating and articulating its contemporary relevance.
Guarding the cultural threads while moving with the times, Tongcheng thrives at the intersection of ancient and contemporary cultures, flourishing in its literary and artistic expressions as time goes on.
Reporters: Hu Mengxue, Chen Nuo
Visuals: Zhang Aifang, Zhang Huihui
Produced jointly by Xinhua News Agency’s domestic division and its Anhui branch.
Editor: Li Yan
