Intl delegation explores loyalty and righteousness

International delegation visits Pingyao Ancient City, North China's Shanxi province, on Sept 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A delegation of content creators from six countries, including France, Russia and Thailand, along with journalists from Chinese and foreign media outlets, toured the Ancient City of Pingyao in North China's Shanxi province on Sunday.

The one-day tour, held under the "Loyalty and Honor Without Borders", a global online outreach campaign on Guan Gong culture, aimed to deepen global understanding of loyalty and righteousness, two core values associated with Guan Gong culture.

Guan Gong is a revered name for Guan Yu, also known as Guandi, or Emperor Guan, a general who lived during the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-200) and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). Guan has long been revered in traditional Chinese culture as a symbol of loyalty and righteousness.

The delegation's first stop was the Guandi Temple, which is dedicated primarily to Guan Gong. Sitting on the right, with the Temple of Confucius on the left, the two temples created a ritual balance between martial virtue and civil governance.

International delegation visits the Guandi Temple in Pingyao Ancient City, North China's Shanxi province, on Sept 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The delegation then visited the wall of Pingyao Ancient City, one of the best-preserved city walls in China. Originally built for military defense during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the ramparts also bear witness to the enduring values of loyalty and righteousness embraced by Shanxi merchants.

International delegation visits the wall of Pingyao Ancient City, North China's Shanxi province, on Sept 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Heading north, the delegation arrived at the China Armed Escort Agency Museum, where they learned how Guan Gong culture took root among armed escorts, who worshiped Guan Gong and sought his protection before setting out on their journeys.

For escort masters, in particular, Guan Gong's virtues became part of their professional ethics. According to the museum, this helped explain why escorts rarely stole the goods they were entrusted to protect.

From the museum, the delegation walked through the city's historic alleys to their final stop, Rishengchang Piaohao.

Founded during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Rishengchang Piaohao was China's first draft bank and one of the largest in the country. At its peak, it operated branches in more than 30 cities across the country, with its business network expanding as far as the United States and Europe.

International delegation visits the Rishengchang Piaohao in Pingyao Ancient City, North China's Shanxi province, on Sept 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Transactions relied heavily on the credibility and trustworthiness of the exchange house, and the success of Rishengchang Piaohao offered a powerful example of how loyalty and righteousness could underpin commercial prosperity.

The tour concluded with an interview session, during which participants shared their thoughts on Guan Gong culture. Many noted the relevance of these traditional values to building mutual respect and understanding among civilizations.

"Loyalty and Honor Without Borders" is running from Sept 20 to 23 across Taiyuan, Pingyao, and Yuncheng in Shanxi province.

Supported by the China Internet Development Foundation, the campaign serves as an international platform to promote Guan Gong culture through immersive tours, insightful dialogues, and interactive workshops.

Luo Hao contributed to this story.