Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Yunnan Province underscored the value of preserving cultural heritage as a bridge to understanding Asia's rich diversity. During his March 19 inspection in Lijiang, Xi toured the Mu Residence – a historic site blending architectural styles from multiple ethnic groups – and engaged with scholars working to safeguard the ancient Dongba culture of the Naxi people.
Local researcher He Wenzhong shared insights with CGTN about demonstrating Dongba script, a 1,000-year-old pictographic writing system, to the president. 'President Xi emphasized that ethnic cultures are treasures of the Chinese nation and must be protected systematically,' He noted, highlighting the leader's call to integrate traditional wisdom into modern governance frameworks.
The Naxi ethnic group, numbering over 300,000 in Yunnan, maintains unique cultural practices through Dongba religious texts documenting philosophy, astronomy, and traditional medicine. Xi's visit occurs as China intensifies efforts to promote ethnic unity and showcase regional diversity through cultural tourism initiatives.
Analysts suggest such engagements signal Beijing's evolving approach to heritage conservation – positioning cultural diplomacy as both a soft power tool and an economic catalyst for western provinces. Yunnan's cultural tourism sector recorded $48 billion in revenue last year, with ethnic villages attracting international visitors seeking authentic experiences.
