Recently, the “Unveiling the Secrets of Ancient Chinese Civilization” City Walk event was held at Qianfoshan (Thousand Buddha Mountain) in Jinan. This event was co-organized by the Jinan International Communication Center, the Shandong Shun Culture Public Welfare Alliance, and the Go Up Foreign Language Club. Over 30 Chinese and international participants gathered to explore the legendary stories of the ancient sages Yao, Shun, and Yu through immersive tours, interactive activities, and team competitions, gaining a deeper understanding of the profound heritage of Chinese civilization.

Cultural Walk: Tracing the Footsteps of History

　　Starting from the East Gate of Qianfoshan, the route led participants through the Yao Emperor’s Sage-Visiting Theme Plaza, the Lishan Origin Park, the Shun Farming in Lishan Theme Sculptures, the Great Shun Stone Carving Garden, and finally, the Lishan Academy’s Shun Ancestral Hall. Along the way, volunteer cultural guides shared the wisdom of Emperor Yao’s governance, the touching tale of Emperor Shun’s filial piety, and the folklore of “Shun Farming in Lishan” through engaging English storytelling, using stone carvings, sculptures, and historical relics as reference points. As participants wandered through the ancient landscape, they felt as though they had traveled back in time, engaging in a cross-era dialogue with the sages of antiquity.

Exciting Challenges: Fostering Teamwork

The event featured three innovative cultural challenges that blended history with team collaboration:

Story Puzzle Contest: At the Lishan Origin Park, teams had to reconstruct the narrative of “Yao Emperor Visiting the Sage” using English story cards, some of which contained distractors, testing their logic and historical understanding.

Deciphering Ancient Scripts: In front of the Shun Farming sculpture, participants competed in a quiz to decode oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions, creating a lively atmosphere.

Emperor Shun Knowledge Battle: Inside the Lishan Academy, a rapid Q&A session on the inscriptions and historical texts related to Emperor Shun brought the event to its climax. After a point-based competition, the “Great Shun Tribe” team emerged victorious, receiving traditional culture-themed books as a reward.

Edutainment: Passing Down the Torch of Civilization

　　Toda Ariake, a Japanese student, shared his thoughts: “I used to learn about Chinese traditional culture only through books or the internet. This hands-on experience is truly invaluable.” Arthur, a Brazilian student who had just arrived in Jinan the day before, said, “This was an amazing event—I had so much fun! I never knew Jinan was also called ‘Shun City.’ I’m already looking forward to the next one!”

　　Natasha, a Russian student, lingered at the Shun Ancestral Hall, deeply engaged in learning. She remarked, “Emperor Shun was a profound and remarkable leader!” Meanwhile, Mohammad from Iran expressed his admiration for Shun’s filial piety: “He respected and cared for his elders so deeply that even the heavens were moved. Respecting the elderly is something the whole world should uphold.”

　　As an essential part of Jinan’s cultural and scenic heritage, Qianfoshan is not only a site of natural beauty but also a repository of Chinese civilization’s historical and cultural DNA. This event, through innovative formats, brought history to life beyond the pages of books, offering new perspectives on cultural heritage preservation. In the future, the Go Up Foreign Language Club plans to launch a series of themed City Walks, continuing to uncover the cultural imprints hidden within the city.