Festival brings Confucius' ancient wisdom into modern life

As the 2026 China International Confucius Cultural Festival opened on Sept 28 in Qufu, Shandong province, Liu Xubing, deputy director of the Confucius Research Institute, reflected on how the festival has evolved over more than four decades from a local event into a major cultural gathering.

For Liu, the festival's deeper significance lies in bringing traditional culture closer to contemporary life.

Liu said the festival has reflected a changing relationship between the public and traditional culture. While Confucius was once seen as a distant historical figure, more people today are exploring how his ideas remain relevant to contemporary life.

Liu sees this as a move from observing traditional culture to actively engaging with it. Over the years, the festival has helped bring the wisdom of ancient thinkers out of the classics and into everyday life, while providing a platform for dialogue between Chinese and other civilizations.

Looking ahead, Liu said the festival should continue to balance tradition with innovation, connect Confucian culture with education, tourism and cultural creativity, and use digital communication to engage younger generations.

Rather than being limited to an annual celebration, the festival can become a year-round cultural platform, allowing Confucian culture to continue reaching wider audiences in China and around the world.