Chinese general Guan Gong's values resonate with intl creators

For 1,800 years, the story of Guan Gong has been spread throughout China via books, operas, merchant ships and the memories of travelers. Today, international creators have discovered that his global appeal stems from the universal values of loyalty and honor he embodies, and that modern storytelling makes these values more accessible to audiences.

From Sept 20 to 23, 2026, the "Loyalty and Honor Without Borders: A Global Online Outreach" campaign brought content creators and journalists from China and abroad to Yuncheng and other cities in North China's Shanxi province. Participants painted opera masks, visited historical sites, learned traditional crafts, tried digital cultural experiences and joined an international youth dialogue to explore the origins and contemporary relevance of Guan Gong culture.

Guan Gong, also known as Guandi, or Emperor Guan, is the honorific title of Guan Yu, a general of the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), who is revered as a symbol of loyalty and righteousness.

Russian content creator Raul Akhmedov focused on the qualities Guan Gong embodies.

"What caught my attention most was what he represents," Akhmedov said. "I found it fascinating that he is not only a historical figure but also a symbol of loyalty, courage, and honor. It's amazing how one person's story can remain meaningful to people for centuries."

Valeria, a Belarusian content creator who has lived in China for 13 years, also saw Guan Gong as a moral example in modern times.

"I think Guan Gong is respected in China because he represents loyalty, integrity and justice," she said. "These qualities are valued around the world."

Muhammad Asghar, a reporter with the Associated Press of Pakistan, knew very little about Guan Gong before the trip. At the Temple of Guan Yu in Haizhou (town), he summarized his impression in one word.

"The keyword for Guan is definitely loyalty. He was loyal to his king, loyal to his people, loyal to his territory and land," he said. "The loyalty word is the most suitable word for him."

He believes that message belongs to no single culture.

"Definitely, this is a universal message, and other nations can learn from the Chinese experience," he said. "They should learn about Chinese culture and history so they can know more about China, the Chinese people and everything."

Heloise, a digital creator from France visiting Yuncheng for the first time, was struck by the preserved atmosphere of the Temple of Guan Yu in Haizhou (town).

"I feel that here, the history is more preserved than in some other parts of China, where it is sometimes really turned into a very touristy attraction," she said. "Here, you feel like it is stuck in time, and I really like this feeling."

Beside preserving historical buildings, more efforts have also been made to revitalize Guan Gong culture.

During the journey, the delegation watched operas performing stories associated with Guan Gong, tried cloisonne enamel crafts and viewed bronze sculptures.

Local communities have worked for years to keep this heritage alive: Jin Opera performances stage Guan Gong stories for new audiences; bronze statues and enamel works turn his image into cultural products; and an annual festival in memory of Guan Gong brings together worshippers, scholars, creators and visitors from home and abroad.

The visits raised a question facing heritage sites everywhere: how to preserve the distinctive character of a tradition while presenting it in formats contemporary audiences understand.

Kang Zhen, vice-president of Beijing Normal University, argued that cultural vitality depends both on transmission and on renewal.

For creators and journalists on the tour, the journey was also an opportunity to observe how historical knowledge can be turned into accessible stories for overseas audiences through video, social media and multilingual reporting.

Akhmedov said emotional connection matters more than merely delivering facts.

"I think the key is to make people feel something, not just give them information," he said. "A story becomes engaging when you connect it to emotions, relatable situations, and values that people understand regardless of their nationality. Short videos, strong visuals, humor, and unexpected facts can also help bring history to life and make people curious to learn more."

For Muhammad, the path to sharing was journalism.

"I think this is a very good way to teach," he said. "People like me can tell this story to others. Because I am a journalist, I write, and I can share all this through my news reports."

Valeria noted a common gap in overseas perceptions.

"Some foreigners understand China through stereotypes, without really learning how rich and diverse the country is," she said. "We need to talk with local people, learn their stories and see how they actually live. Over time, I have come to understand why Chinese people place such importance on family, respect for elders, history and tradition. It is these small details of daily life that help us truly understand China."

Yang Dongsheng, a director at China Media Group with three decades of experience in large-scale stage events and international cultural exchanges, said Chinese culture travels best through concrete figures and shared values.

"When Chinese culture reaches the world, what carries the greatest force has never been an abstract concept," Yang said. "It is vivid individual characters and shared human values."

When it comes to bringing traditional culture into contemporary international communication, Yang summed up the approach with two guiding ideas: preserve the root and find resonance.

"Preserving the root means keeping the spiritual core of loyalty and honor," Yang said. "Finding resonance means letting this ancient spirit enter contemporary life and reach the world stage through language young people understand and international expressions they can enjoy."