For more than six years, the man in his 60s has made Yuelu Academy his intellectual home. He has translated historical documents, championed digital humanities initiatives, and brought new light to old traditions.

"Cultural heritage is a shared treasure of humanity," he said to the crowd.

Sitting at the foot of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, Yuelu Academy was founded in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Over time, it was expanded to include key functions such as lectures, book collections, and ceremonial offerings.

Despite the rise and fall of dynasties and having been destroyed and rebuilt several times, the academy has preserved its traditions and scholarly legacy for over 1,000 years. Today, it remains the only university-affiliated institution (under Hunan University) in China that continues to bear the name of a traditional academy, offering a full spectrum of programs from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.