Qufu - Shandong Province

As the birth place of Confucius, Qufu has a special place in the hearts of the Chinese and is considered one of the holiest cities in China. The importance of the city can be seen in its wonderful imperial architecture which is truly stunning and which some put on a par with the Forbidden City. Qufu hosts two fairs a year, one takes place in Spring time, the other in the Autumn but the city's most important date is 28th September which is Confucius' birthday and therefore marked with appropriate pomp and ceremony - see our section on festivals. Qufu is a fascinating city to visit for anyone interested in Chinese culture and history, and to see how Confucianism has influenced so many aspects of Chinese culture, in ways which are still evident today. The residents of Qufu are enormously proud of their city’s background, and you are quite likely to run into one or two descendants of the great man himself!