On September 19, the accessible section of the ancient wall of Qufu Minggucheng, namely Qufu Ancient City in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), officially opened to the public. This section of the Ming Dynasty wall, approximately 300 meters long, has undergone protective renovation and business upgrading. The upgraded section features day-and-night cultural and tourism consumption scenarios, transforming the over-500-year-old ancient city wall into an urban cultural parlor. This practice shows a new path for the cultural relics conservation and revitalization in Qufu, a renowned county-level city in Jining.

Ancient wall of Qufu Minggucheng opened to the public.

Photo by Gao Yumian

After its opening, standing atop the time-honored Ming Dynasty city wall, citizens and tourists can overlook the well-arranged alleys and streets, or enjoy coffee while sightseeing and taking photos. Visitors can immerse themselves in Confucian culture in the daytime and appreciate the flowing light and shadow at night, where the ancient and modern times blend and collide perfectly.

Foreign visitors are taking photos atop the time-honored Ming Dynasty city wall.

Photo by Gao Yumian

Visitors in traditional attires are taking photos.

Photo by Gao Yumian

Qufu has always adhered to the principle of prioritizing cultural relic protection and pursuing conservation-based revitalization. At the entrance, staggered stacked bricks and stones recreate the original look of the city wall. Timber structures and movable installations are preferred for wayfinding signs, exhibition facilities and commercial premises. All cables are routed inside cable trays, and equipment is concealed to preserve the original historic appearance of the blue brick wall and gate tower to the maximum extent.

The upgraded ancient wall of Qufu Minggucheng.

Photo by Gao Yumian

Today, a wealth of trendy cultural and commercial experiences have been launched on the city wall. Coffee and tea shops, traditional attires experiences, and Confucian cultural and creative activities are distributed in a well-proportioned layout. Many tourists dress in traditional attires and lean against the railings to overlook the scenery. The rich aroma of coffee blends with the ancient charm of the city. The time-honored historic site meets modern leisure lifestyles, forming a unique and charming sightseeing landscape exclusive to the ancient city of Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius.