The Confucius Temple in Qufu, Jining, East China's Shandong province, the cradle of Confucianism. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_2fbaaaf1eff1]

Marking the 2,576th anniversary of Confucius' birth, the 2025 China International Confucius Cultural Festival will be held in Qufu, Jining, East China's Shandong province, from Sept 27 to 28. Jining, with its long history and rich culture, has always been an important carrier of Chinese culture.

The city is home to many historical sites, such as the Cemetery and Temple of Confucius, Confucian Forest, and the Kong Family Mansion. These cultural relics embody the wisdom and creativity of our ancestors. Having celebrated for decades since 1980s, the China International Confucius Cultural Festival has enhanced the interpretation and dissemination of Chinese civilization, making its unique spiritual charm clearer and more tangible.

This year, Jining launched several international research camp events in Qufu during the summer holiday season focusing on traditional Chinese culture, which attracted both domestic and overseas students. The camp featured a blend of traditional and modern architecture, diverse courses, and intangible cultural heritage experiences, serving as a platform for spreading Chinese culture abroad.

In addition, Jining has built a graduate school jointed with research institutions such as the Confucius Research Institute and the Mencius Research Institute and 16 universities, admitting 2,553 graduate students. To date, the city has recruited 23 top Confucian scholars and formed 12 high-end academic teams to maintain its leading position in international Confucian studies.

Jining has hosted the China International Confucius Cultural Festival for the past 41 years and the Nishan Forum on World Civilizations for the past 11 years. It has built five Nishan book houses in international sister cities and carried out over 1,300 projects themed on Jining culture. Through these cultural exchanges, the city continues to tell Chinese stories and build bridges between China and the world.

Visitors in a Nishan Book House. [Photo/WeChat account: sdxcweixin]