Qufu

Qufu is a county-level city administered by Jining in southwestern Shandong, hallowed throughout the Chinese world as the birthplace and home of Confucius, the philosopher whose teachings shaped East Asian civilisation for over two millennia. Its Temple of Confucius, the Kong Family Mansion and the vast Cemetery of Confucius together form a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of China's greatest cultural pilgrimages, and grand ceremonies still honour the sage each autumn. For an international student, Qufu offers unparalleled access to the roots of Confucian thought, magnificent classical architecture and living traditions of Chinese scholarship.