Editor's note: Five years after President Xi Jinping's inspection visit to Fujian province, China Daily reporters retraced Xi's footsteps to see the development and changes.

On the Nine-Bend River in Wuyishan, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, Chen Jia has worked as a bamboo raft guide for over 20 years. Using a long bamboo pole to steer her craft, she also introduces the history and culture of the scenic area to passengers.

In March 2021, Chen steered the raft for President Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of Nanping, Fujian province. During the trip, she introduced Xi to the river's vibrant ecosystem — from fish in the clear water to animals on the banks — and the region's deep heritage as the cradle of the philosophy of Zhu Xi (1130-1200), the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) Confucian scholar who spent 50 years in the place.

During a visit to a park dedicated to Zhu, who put forward concepts such as "the people are the foundation of a nation" — embodying the people-centered philosophy of ancient China — Xi highlighted cultural confidence and underlined the importance of carrying forward the nation's fine traditional culture.

"Without the 5,000-year Chinese civilization, how could we find something with Chinese characteristics? And without Chinese characteristics, how could we find the path that has led us to today's success?" Xi said.

This vision is further reinforced in the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which emphasizes the development of a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a new era that possesses strong ideological leadership, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence.

Inspired by this vision, more than 100 scholars gathered at the third Wuyi Forum from Saturday to Monday. Held right along the banks of the Nine-Bend River, the forum served as a platform to further discuss the "Two Integrations" — proposed by President Xi — combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and its fine traditional culture.