Jinan’s Laiwu district: cultural academies enrich rural cultural life

As night falls, the “Warm Light Cinema” in Gaobaiyang village, Chayekou town, Laiwu district, fills with villagers gathered to enjoy an evening movie. Smiling and relaxed, they watch My People, My Country together, turning an ordinary night into a shared cultural moment.

“We built the ‘Warm Light Cinema’ cultural academy to give villagers a place to relax and enjoy cultural activities after work. By screening patriotic films and performances that promote positive values, we hope to foster civility and strengthen community spirit,” said Li Shide, director of Gaobaiyang village.

In recent years, Laiwu district has pursued the goal of creating “all-age shared cultural–education complexes,” exploring development models that include upgraded cultural facilities, heritage-led revitalization, and industry-driven growth. By integrating traditional culture education, revolutionary history, industrial development, and grassroots governance into the cultural academy system, Laiwu has turned these academies into vital platforms for cultural inheritance and public services.

At the Mengjiayu village site of the Changshao Academy in Miaoshan town, the academy is not only a place for villagers to study traditional culture but also a “lubricant” for local governance. The village pioneered a “traditional culture + public consultation” model, where each meeting begins with volunteers introducing concepts such as “harmonious neighborhoods” and the unity of family and nation. This approach has yielded remarkable results—over the past year, the village efficiently addressed eight key community issues, including road paving and the construction of a cultural square. Villagers have become active participants rather than passive observers.

The cultural academies also play a key role in stimulating local industries. At the Changshao Academy site in Tongshan village, the local pancake industry has found new momentum. The academy offers interactive “pancake-making classes” to attract visitors and invites e-commerce experts to train villagers in livestream selling. “We used to sell pancakes only in nearby areas, but now we can ship them nationwide!” said villager Liu Meixia. The academy also helps develop packaging and branding, enabling traditional handmade pancakes to move from small workshops to wider markets, becoming a “golden calling card” for rural revitalization.

Revolutionary culture is another major theme of the academies. “Liu Zhongying lived a life of revolution, devotion, and loyalty to the Party,” explained lecturer Zheng Fangting at the Pigeonnest Village Cultural Academy in Niuquan town. The village has integrated revolutionary heritage sites, including Liu Zhongying’s former residence, with the cultural academy and partnered with Fudan University’s School of Marxism to establish a practice base for civic and ideological education. Through youth mentorship programs, summer camps, and patriotic education activities, the academy’s influence continues to grow.

To better meet public cultural needs, Laiwu district has integrated resources from 15 towns and subdistricts and 861 village-level civilization practice stations, creating a series of distinctive cultural academy brands such as the “Yingxin Academy” and “Wu Boxiao Academy,” serving people of all ages. With a team of 3,500 full- and part-time instructors, the academies offer 130 life-cycle courses—from public early education for young children to enrichment programs for seniors—making cultural academies a cherished “home of happiness” where residents feel welcomed, engaged, and connected.

To date, Laiwu district has established two district-level central cultural academies and 11 municipal demonstration sites.