Events get under way at the opening ceremony for the 19th Qi Culture Festival. [Photo/WeChat ID: zibowenhualvyou]

The opening ceremony of the 19th Qi Culture Festival and the 2022 Qi Culture and Jixia Studies Summit was held in the Qi Heritage Museum – located in Zibo city in East China's Shandong province – on Dec 18.

The event has attracted experts, academics and business people from all over the country, including people from the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Jinan and Qufu.

The gold ball officially authorized by the 2022 FIFA World Cup is given to Linzi district, hometown of the ancient Chinese game of cuju. In 2004, cuju was acknowledged by FIFA as the earliest form of soccer. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zibo was the capital of the ancient Qi state, which was one of the most powerful states during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

The Qi Culture Festival has been held 18 times since 2004. It has organized many activities related to the Qi culture, including one held about the Jixia Academy, considered to be the first government-run university in China.

Through the years, the success of the festival has seen it become a famous local cultural brand that has secured it over 10 national honorary titles. Over 40 fascinating activities will be held during the festival this year.

The gold ball is made from 32 pure gold commemorative medals. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the proceedings, a wide range of cultural activities will be staged – such as the 15th Shandong International Popular Art Festival and the fifth intangible cultural heritage exhibition week – displaying the unique charms of Qi culture.