Tourists take sightseeing boats on the Nine-Bend River in Wuyishan, Fujian province. [Photo by Sun Kaiyan for China Daily]
On the Nine-Bend River in Wuyishan, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, Chen Jia has worked as a bamboo raft guide for over 20 years. Using a long bamboo pole to steer her craft, she also introduces the history and culture of the scenic area to passengers.
In March 2021, Chen steered the raft for President Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of Nanping, Fujian province. During the trip, she introduced Xi to the river's vibrant ecosystem — from fish in the clear water to animals on the banks — and the region's deep heritage as the cradle of the philosophy of Zhu Xi (1130-1200), the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) Confucian scholar who spent 50 years in the place.
During a visit to a park dedicated to Zhu, who put forward concepts such as "the people are the foundation of a nation" — embodying the people-centered philosophy of ancient China — Xi highlighted cultural confidence and underlined the importance of carrying forward the nation's fine traditional culture.
"Without the 5,000-year Chinese civilization, how could we find something with Chinese characteristics? And without Chinese characteristics, how could we find the path that has led us to today's success?" Xi said.
This vision is further reinforced in the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which emphasizes the development of a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a new era that possesses strong ideological leadership, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence.
Inspired by this vision, more than 100 scholars gathered at the third Wuyi Forum from March 21 to 23. Held right along the banks of the Nine-Bend River, the forum served as a platform to further discuss the "Two Integrations" — proposed by President Xi — combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and its fine traditional culture.
A guest tries traditional rubbing printing technique on the sidelines of the Wuyi Forum in Wuyishan, Fujian, on March 22.
[Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]
Yang Ruilong, dean of the Chongshi College of Renmin University of China, said that Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture share a profound compatibility in their logical origins, values, and views on development and transformation.
This synergy, he said, has given China's development model its distinct and vibrant characteristics.
Yang added that the "Chinese economic miracle" is rooted in the genes of fine traditional culture. It is essential to summarize Chinese experience through Chinese logic, elevating it into Chinese theory to build an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Choi Young-jin, founding president of the Korean Society for Zhu Xi Studies, said Confucianism in Korea has undergone a creative transformation through the absorption of Zhu's teachings, and many regard Wuyishan as a "utopia" for scholars where one can trace Zhu's spiritual world.
He said that as humanity enters an era of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, the powerful moral theory of Confucianism can imbue value-neutral science with the ethical guidance and direction it needs.
David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor of Foreign Languages Press, said the people-centered development strategy and targeted poverty alleviation are specific examples of Marxist ideals applied to current realities.
"It's extraordinary that in a country as huge and populous as China, it is possible to implement a program that is faithful to the message that was devised at the highest level and consistently applied across the board at the point of implementation," Ferguson said.
He added that this demonstrates the true strength of China's whole-process people's democracy.
The forum also featured "Wuyi Discourse", sending 240 young scholars from 22 universities to 10 historical academies in the city. Through debates on classical philosophy and social governance, the event revived the ancient tradition of scholarly inquiry, allowing traditional classics to find new life through modern academic dialogue.
Wuyishan has integrated Zhu's legacy into modern tourism by restoring ancient academies and developing immersive study tours. The city has also launched large-scale performances that bring the philosopher's life and teachings to the stage.
Chen Jia, the raft guide, frequently shares Zhu's stories and quotes with her passengers. As the raft drifts through the scenic bends, she recites the Odes to the Nine-Bend River — a collection of poems written by Zhu Xi centuries ago.
"I want to tell my hometown's stories and Zhu's wisdom to the world," she said.
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