This week marks the 2,256th anniversary of the birth of Confucius. His birthday celebration falls on the 27th or
28th of September each year, at the Confucius Temple in
Qufu, in the eastern province of Shandong. The
Temple, as well as the Confucius Family Mansion and Cemetery, became
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994.
In past years, this festival was the only time the city performed an ancient Ming Dynasty opening ceremony of the
temple, but to increase tourism in the area, it was announced in March 2005 that the temple gate will now be opened
weekly from April to October each year.