The Confucius Museum in Qufu, Shandong province, uses XR film experiences that allow students to explore the ancient era virtually. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qufu, the hometown of Confucius that is now a county-level city in Jining, Shandong province, is experiencing a boom in educational tourism this summer, as the city leverages its cultural heritage to bring Confucian philosophy to life for a new generation.

From January to July, the Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, and Nishan scenic area attracted 560,000 study tour visits, according to statistics provided by the county government.