Birthplace of Confucius brings history to life

With 523 Confucius Institutes around the world, Confucius is not only one of China's biggest cultural exports to the world but is also regarded as one of the greatest masters by the Chinese people.

The sage's popularity can be attributed to two things - the influence of Confucian wisdom and persistent efforts by the local government of Shandong, his birthplace, to protect and developing the sage's relics.

As a major cultural relic, the Confucius Temple and his family residence have long been under the protection of the local government, and they are now listed among key relic sites under national protection.