"A journey of one thousand miles can never be made without the accumulation of 
every single step; an ocean can never be vast without the contribution of every 
single stream and brook." Recently, in front of the Jixia Academy Monument in 
Linzi District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, students participating in an 
eco-study tour of Qi culture, themed"Insights into the Famous Ancient Capital 
in its Cultural Context", recited lines from the famous Xunzi (Hsun-Tzu)- 
Exhortation to Learning, under the guidance of an instructor.

Linzi is the birthplace of Qi culture in China, a culture that had a profound 
influence on the formation and development of early Chinese culture. Due to its 
distinctive principles of reform, openness, pragmatism and inclusiveness, Qi 
culture also had a marked impact on Metaphysics during the Wei (220-265) and 
Jin (265-420) dynasties, Neo-Confucianism during the Song (960-1279) and Ming 
(1368-1644) dynasties, and on post-Qin (221 BCE-206 BCE) and Han (206 BCE-220 
CE) politics, economics and on civilization generally.

In recent years, Linzi has sought to capitalize on the strengths of Qi culture 
in the tourism and education sectors, and has been vigorously promoting its 
cultural empowerment initiative, according to the Information Office of the 
Linzi District People's Government. Leveraging its abundant traditional 
cultural resources, Linzi's development has focused strongly on optimization of 
the environment, cultural advancement, curriculum development and other unique 
aspects. As a result, the Qi culture + study tour initiative has emerged. 

Focusing on Cuju - one of the core elements of Qi culture (and the location of 
the earliest known game of soccer), Linzi has delivered top-notch culture and 
tourism projects, such as the Soccer Museum and Cuju Town, and has produced a 
series of Qi culture creative projects, including the Cuju-themed intellectual 
property (IP) animation - Cuju Xiaozi (Cuju Squad). The International Qi 
Culture Tourism Festival and World Football Culture Summit has been held in 
Linzi for several successive years, and Linzi has hosted ceremonies in which 
China League One and China League Two welcomed the football for their games. 
The Linzi archaized Cuju, and famous paintings like "Emperor Taizu of Song 
Playing Cuju" and "Noble Ladies Playing Cuju" have, on many occasions, been 
selected as national gifts for foreign guests. 

Source: Information Office of the Linzi District People's Government

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=432053

   Caption: Students reciting Xunzi (Hsun-Tzu) - Exhortation to Learning under 
the guidance of an instructor.

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=432055

   Caption: Qi Heritage Museum