Study Notes | Reflecting on Chinese Culture and Strengthening Cultural Confidence Through Travel

October 7, 2026, 14:02 Source: Xinhua News Agency

　　The Five-Star Red Flags have been raised at scenic spots such as Mount Tai, Mount Emei, and the Arctic Village in Mohe; in red‑heritage sites like Yudu in Jiangxi, Zunyi in Guizhou, and Yan’an in Shaanxi, crowds are thronging; and “cultural‑relic tours,” “intangible‑heritage tours,” and “museum tours” have become all the rage. During the National Day holiday, the tourism market has boomed, with the country’s magnificent landscapes inspiring a deep sense of patriotism.

　　Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has cherished the principle of “reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles.” How can we better harness the value of tourism? General Secretary Xi Jinping has given this profound thought: “We must adhere to the approach of shaping tourism with culture and highlighting culture through tourism, promote the integrated development of culture and tourism, and enable people to appreciate the beauty of nature while experiencing the beauty of culture and cultivating the beauty of the soul.”

　　Promoting the integration of culture and tourism hinges on preservation.

　　In May 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and earnestly urged: “The development of tourism must be predicated on preservation; it must not be overly commercialized, so that tourism can become a process through which people appreciate Chinese culture and strengthen their cultural confidence.”

　　Ecological and cultural resources form the foundation of tourism development; once they are damaged, the tourism economy becomes like water without a source or a tree without roots. As Comrade Xi Jinping noted in the preface to “Ancient Houses of Fuzhou”: as leaders of a city renowned for its history and culture, we must give equal weight to economic development and to the protection of both the ecological and the cultural environments.

　　To develop tourism while ensuring its preservation, we must adhere to the principles of “strict protection, rational development, and sustainable utilization,” integrating the integrated development of culture and tourism with the enhancement of cultural heritage protection and ecological conservation. In particular, we must avoid the practice of “demolishing the authentic to build the artificial” in the name of tourism; instead, we should uphold the principle of minimal intervention, preserving the genuine character and authentic essence of the sites.

　　The key to appreciating the beauty of culture lies in integration.

　　As early as in “New Words from Zhijiang,” Comrade Xi Jinping proposed integrating historical culture and modern civilization into the development of the tourism economy, so that tourism would serve as a window for showcasing our splendid civilization and the achievements of modernization, and as an important platform for disseminating scientific knowledge and advanced culture.

　　In March 2025, while inspecting the ancient town of Lijiang in Yunnan, General Secretary Xi Jinping further emphasized, “Lijiang is renowned for tourism; its culture, landscapes, and folk customs are all highly appealing.” He added, “The integration of culture and tourism has boosted economic development, and the cultural‑tourism industry must pursue a path of sustained, healthy growth.”

　　The potential of tourism hinges largely on cultural appeal. To enrich the cultural dimension of tourism, it is essential to integrate socialist advanced culture, revolutionary culture, and China’s fine traditional culture more deeply into every stage of tourism activities, while thoroughly tapping into distinctive cultural resources to elevate the quality and sophistication of the sector.

　　Cultivating the beauty of the soul ultimately comes down to people.

　　Tourism is, at its core, a spiritual and cultural activity. Grasping the profound role of tourism in shaping values and cultivating individuals, General Secretary Xi Jinping has demonstrated far-sighted vision and meticulous planning—

　　During an inspection tour in Anhui, he urged that “the educational and tourism potential of red cultural resources be thoroughly explored and effectively harnessed.” While visiting Guizhou, he emphasized that “Guizhou boasts a profound historical heritage, a rich red culture, and a vibrant tapestry of ethnic cultures; we must leverage these strengths to bolster cultural confidence, cultivate values through cultural influence, and drive economic and social development.” At the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, he encouraged children to venture on-site to trace the roots of Chinese culture and to develop cultural confidence from an early age…

　　“The lone smoke rising over the vast desert and the gentle drizzle of Jiangnan alike invite us to trace millennia of history and let our hearts wander in reverie; the Yellow River’s nine bends and the Yangtze’s mighty flow stir our souls and fill us with boundless pride.” The act of traveling is, in essence, a journey to personally experience the grandeur of sky and earth and the enduring legacy of culture.

　　“Mountains and rivers preserve their glorious traces; we, the younger generation, once again ascend to these hallowed heights.” Our beautiful land awaits our exploration, inviting us to grow through travel and to gain greater confidence along the way.

　　Planning: Zhang Xiaosong

　　Editor-in-Chief: Lin Hui

　　Lead Author: Xu Zhuang

　　Visuals: Zhang Aifang, Bao Yuhán

　　Produced by the Domestic Department of Xinhua News Agency

[Editor: Wang Qin]