The 2025 China International Confucius Cultural Festival is set for September 27 and 28 in Qufu, east China’s Shandong Province, marking 2,576 years since the birth of Confucius. This annual gathering brings together scholars, students, and culture enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate the enduring legacy of one of history’s most influential thinkers.
For many young global citizens, the festival is more than a ceremony—it’s an invitation to explore universal values. Armenia’s proverb “Every person is the blacksmith of their own house” echoes through the halls of Qufu, intersecting seamlessly with Confucius’s teaching that “Self-cultivation, family harmony, good governance and the guarantee of peace” form the pillars of a stable society.
In a special installment of “We Talk”, Arina, an Armenian student studying in Ningbo, shares how this cross-cultural resonance has shaped her perspective. "Both traditions highlight personal responsibility and the importance of strong family bonds," she explains. "Recognizing these common threads makes Confucian thought feel surprisingly familiar, even though it comes from a very different time and place."
Arina says this discovery has deepened her interest in philosophy and cultural exchange. As she prepares to attend lectures and participate in interactive workshops at the festival, she hopes to bring new insights back to her peers in Armenia, sparking conversations about how ancient wisdom can inform modern life.
From digital classrooms to the ceremonial rites at the Temple of Confucius, the 2025 festival promises immersive experiences that bridge continents and generations. For young travelers and digital nomads curious about sustainable cultural exchange, Qufu offers a living laboratory of intangible heritage, where every proverb, ritual, and smile becomes a chance to build global understanding.
As the world grows more connected, these moments of shared insight remind us that diverse cultures often arrive at the same fundamental truths. For Arina and countless other participants, Confucius’s legacy is no longer confined to textbooks—it’s a living dialogue that continues to shape the global community, one thoughtful exchange at a time.
Reference(s):
We Talk: How Confucian thought resonates with Armenian youth
cgtn.com
