大众网记者 李鑫鹏 济宁报道

From September 19 to 20, the cultural experience event "2026 Revisiting and Renewing: Jining Journey—Sacred Nishan Invites You to Share" was held in Qufu. The event invited international students, foreign social media influencers, and other foreign guests to visit the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, immersing themselves in China's fine traditional culture and intangible heritage crafts, experiencing the profound depth and unique charm of Confucianism through on‑site visits and hands‑on experiences.

Foreign participants experienced the art of making cloth tigers and took group photos.

On the first day, the foreign guests began by learning the craft of making cloth tigers. Under the careful guidance of a representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, they threaded needles, sewed fabric, stuffed cotton, and shaped each tiger. From cutting the fabric to painting decorative patterns, they crafted vivid, auspicious cloth tigers step by step. Through every stitch, they felt the cultural essence and warmth of traditional Chinese folk customs, gaining a direct understanding of the beautiful meaning behind "warding off evil and inviting good fortune."

Foreign participants displayed their handmade cloth tigers.

Xiaohongshu blogger Della said, "Today I learned that the history of cloth tigers is extremely long—dating back over 2,500 years. There’s also a beautiful legend called 'Phoenix gives birth, tiger raises, eagle fans,' related to Confucius’ birth. People sew cloth tigers hoping to pray for peace, health, and good luck."

On the 20th, the "Revisiting and Renewing" Jining journey brought foreign guests to the Three Confucian Sites in Qufu. Alena and Irada, dressed in elegant Hanfu, strolled through ancient halls and alleys shaded by old cypress trees, immersing themselves in the timeless elegance of Confucian tradition, recording videos together. Under the guidance of professional instructors, Bai Lisha and Alina made rubbings by placing paper over inscriptions, dipping brushes in ink, tapping gently, and carefully lifting the paper—unlocking the secrets of ancient "copying techniques" amid the scent of ink and the texture of paper, preserving classical Confucian texts on China Xuan paper.

Foreign participants created rubbings by hand.

Irada, an international student from Qingdao University of Science and Technology and Xiaohongshu blogger, said, "I chose the four characters 'quick‑witted and eager to learn' because I was admitted to a Chinese university this year and am currently pursuing my master's degree. I think selecting these words is meaningful and will inspire me throughout my studies."

Foreign participants watched performances outside the Dacheng Hall.

A solemn and elegant Confucius ceremony unfolded among the ancient cypress trees and historic buildings. With melodious music and orderly rituals, the foreign guests directly experienced the dignity and weight of Confucian ritual and music culture. They followed professional dancers in learning traditional movements, internalizing the spirit of ancient etiquette through every gesture and motion.

Foreign participants learned traditional movements with professional dancers.

On the shadow puppet stage, light and shadow danced dynamically. From quiet appreciation to hands-on creation, the lively charm of folk art left everyone in awe. Douyin blogger Bai Lisha said she truly felt the magic of Chinese traditional culture here.

After watching the shadow puppet show, foreign participants tried operating the puppets themselves.

During breaks, the foreign guests tasted exquisitely crafted and uniquely flavored Kongfu pastries, savoring the refinement and legacy of Confucian culinary traditions on their palates.

Foreign participants enjoyed Kongfu pastries at the Kong family mansion.

In the afternoon, the guests visited Nishan Sacred Land—the birthplace of Confucius—to dive deeper into Confucian culture.Holding writing brushes, they wrote classic passages from the Analects, feeling the wisdom and strength of Confucian thought in every stroke. They also followed artisans in crafting traditional sachets, stitching fragrant herbs and auspicious meanings into small pieces of fabric.

Foreign participants experienced making sachets at Nishan Sacred Land.

Later, the group went to the Confucius Museum to try rubbing paintings, discovering the charm of traditional culture within a small space. In the evening, they toured Luyuan Village, exploring the vibrant integration of Confucian culture and rural tourism in its charming, old-world streets, witnessing how traditional intangible cultural heritage is being revitalized in modern‑day society.

Alena, a student from Qingdao University of Science and Technology, said that by personally participating in intangible cultural heritage projects and visiting cultural sites firsthand, she has gained a more vivid and comprehensive understanding of traditional Chinese culture. She also plans to share the cultural stories of Jining with her own country, helping more people appreciate the charm of this cultural sanctuary.

Centered on the concept of "learning from the past to understand the present," this event adopted innovative formats, inviting live streamers from platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu to engage in immersive and interactive cultural experiences, thereby building a bridge for mutual exchange and learning among civilizations.