On the afternoon of the 17th, General Secretary Xi Jinping conducted a site visit in Tongcheng City, Anqing, Anhui Province, to explore the local efforts in preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture as well as enhancing spiritual civilization.
The visit included a tour of Liu Chi Alley, a narrow lane approximately 100 meters long and 2 meters wide. On the southern end is the residence of a former prime minister, while the northern side features the Wu family’s home. The origins of Liu Chi Alley date back to the Qing Dynasty during the Kangxi era, when a dispute arose over land between the Zhang family, who had connections to a high-ranking official, and their neighbor, the Wu family. After Zhang Ying, a scholar, sent a letter from the capital stating, “What’s the harm in giving up three feet of land?” the Wu family voluntarily relinquished three feet in response, leading to a mutual agreement that ultimately created Liu Chi Alley—a remarkable story of compromise and harmony.
Tongcheng City is dedicated to upholding and developing the “Fengqiao Experience” in the new era, which emphasizes the valuable traditional principle of “harmony is precious” derived from Liu Chi Alley. This philosophy has been integrated with contemporary grassroots governance concepts, giving rise to a modern interpretation of the Liu Chi Alley approach.
In essence, the initiative seeks to draw lessons from ancient wisdom and cultural traditions as a source of inspiration for social governance, paving a new path for contemporary society through the legacy of Liu Chi Alley.
