Chinese President Xi Jinping called for strengthened efforts to protect cultural relics during an inspection tour of northwest China's Shaanxi Province and neighboring Gansu Province.
In Baoji City of Shaanxi Province, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited Baoji Bronze Ware Museum on Tuesday afternoon.
At the museum, Xi was briefed on the history and culture of the Zhou and Qin dynasties (1046-207 BC) and took a close look at exhibits such as "He Zun," a bronze ritual wine vessel carrying the earliest written record of the Chinese characters for "Zhongguo" (China).
Xi also learned about the strengthened preservation, study and utilization of cultural relics.
Xi urged developing a sense of reverence and affection for Chinese civilization and passing on fine traditional Chinese culture from generation to generation.
The more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization should be further explored and studied, Xi said, noting that more efforts are required to illustrate its essence and promote the great wisdom it embodies.
Through these efforts, the people will be able to develop a strengthened sense of pride in the Chinese civilization, and the spirit of patriotism can be promoted more effectively, he said.
On the same day, Xi also went to the Fuxi Temple in the city of Tianshui in Gansu Province. The Fuxi Temple is dedicated to Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation.
Noting that the Fuxi Temple has significant historical and cultural values, Xi emphasized the importance of preserving and inheriting local cultural heritage. He said that this would allow the wisdom and creativity of our ancestors to inspire the future generations, thereby enhancing national pride and confidence.
The next day, Xi visited the Maijishan Grottoes, where he carefully observed the caves, sculptures, and murals that date back over 1,600 years.
He also engaged in friendly conversations with the preservation and restoration staff.
Maijishan Grottoes are one of China's four largest Buddhist cave complexes, along with Mogao, Yungang and Longmen grottoes in Gansu, Shanxi and Henan provinces, respectively.
Highlighting the grottoes as treasures of the Chinese civilization, Xi encouraged cultural heritage workers to make greater contributions to the protection of national treasures and the inheritance of China's outstanding traditional culture, thereby enhancing the influence of Chinese culture.
Xi calls for strengthened efforts to protect cultural relics
Xi calls for strengthened efforts to protect cultural relics
