On the morning of August 22, the Lecture on traditional Chinese studies, themed “Meng Man’s Journey in Huaihua: Understanding Yuanling”, was held at Longxing Temple in Yuanling County. Professor Meng Man, a professor at the School of History and Culture of Minzu University of China, a guest lecturer on the TV program Lecture Room as well as a regular commentator on Chinese Poetry Conference, delivered a fascinating lecture titled “Scholarly Wisdom Connecting the Southwest”.

（Professor Meng Man gives a lecture at Longxing Temple. Photo / Liu Tian）

Professor Meng Man began her lecture from the unique geographical setting of Yuanling, and then presented the historical and cultural heritage of Yuanling from multiple perspectives—geography, history, and intellectual lineage, using historical classics and past events to shed light on the present. She also offered a detailed account of the past of Yuling, covering topics such as its strategic value as a “bottleneck” gateway, major historical events, traces left by significant figures throughout the ages, and the blending of diverse ethnic cultures. Professor Meng noted that Yuanling has long served as a military passage guarding the southwestern frontier, a cultural bridge connecting the central China with the southwest one, and a place where multiple ethnic groups have coexisted. During the Q&A session, she answered questions from the audience on topics including knowledge acquisition in the age of AI, the value of reading history through onsite exploration, the relationship between humans and their environment, and the Wang Yangming philosophy of “extending innate knowledge” and “the unity of knowledge and action”. The lecture was well structured, with clear themes, sharp viewpoints, and rich content. The interactive segment provoked thoughtful discussion, and the entire event was met with warm and sustained applause from the audience.

The cultural tour “Meng Man’s Journey in Huaihua: Understanding Yuanling” lasted four days, spanning Yuanling, Zhijiang, Hongjiang City and Hongjiang District. As Meng Man has already visited Chenlong Pass, the ancient post road at Jieting Post, the Qianzhong Commandery ruins, Mount Eryou (the “Mountain of Chinese Classics”), and the Youshui River Gallery, She will just explore the Memorial Hall of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Qianyang Ancient Town, and Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City. Through field visits and insightful commentary, she will showcase the profound and multifaceted history and culture of Huaihua. The live broadcasts and related activities have generated great enthusiasm for Huaihua and won over numerous fans.

During this period, Wei Zhaohui, secretary of the CPC Huaihua Municipal Committee, held a meeting with Meng Man. They had indepth exchanges on topics such as the exploration and inheritance of Huaihua’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as the development and promotion of its cultural tourism brands. Wei expressed gratitude for Professor Meng’s significant contributions to the preservation and development of Huaihua’s history and culture, hoping that Professor Meng will visit Huaihua regularly to give lectures on traditional Chinese classics and to help Huaihua tell its stories effectively.

(Wei Zhaohui, secretary of the CPC Huaihua Municipal Committee, poses for a photo with Professor Meng Man from the School of History and Culture of Minzu University of China in front of Longxing Temple in Yuanling. Photo / Wu Tao) 

Also present was Hu Chen, a municipal official. Over 200 guests attended the lecture, including cultural representatives from the city, literary and art federations from each county (city, district), cultural and tourism authorities, and heads of related departments in Yuanling County.

(Translated by Yang Sigui)