August 26th, 2010 was a big day for the Chinese people, as important as the day on July 13th, 2001 when China won the right to host the Olympic Games.

At its 2nd General Assembly, the International Congress of Historical Sciences passed the resolution that the 22nd ICHS will be held in Jinan, China by a vote of 36 to 8 with 5 abstentions.

With the efforts of several generations, China has finally obtained the right to host the Congress. Jinan, an ancient city which is thousands of years old, became the site of the 2015 ICHS.

First screened in 2009, the documentary film “The City of Springs” has demonstrated the incredible natural environment, splendid city views and profound historical and cultural heritage of Jinan. Numerous audiences have been impressed, and so were the delegates of the member countries at the 21st ICHS in Amsterdam. It gave Jinan an advantage in winning the hosting bid.

Thousands of historians from over 100 countries and regions will gather in Jinan during the term of the Congress. The 22nd ICHS comes as a magnificent cultural event for China and also for Shandong province, and it is of great importance in enhancing the nation’s cultural soft power, elevating the international influence of Shandong province and Shandong University and promoting the impact of both Qilu Culture and Confucianism.

Jinan will definitely show the world all its merits.

Marjatta Hietala, the ICHS president, and Robert Frank, the ICHS secretary-general, said they were looking forward to the opening of the 2015 Congress in Jinan, which they believed would turn out to be the best one ever.