To mark the 2575th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, the Memorial Ceremony for Confucius was held at the Temple of Confucius in Qufu on September 28.

The grand ceremony incorporated music, song, dance and ritual to express Confucian thought.

Attendees entered the Yangsheng Gate to attend the temple opening rituals before moving to the temple's Dacheng Hall to present flower baskets to the statue of Confucius.

A memorial text was read by a senior government official later, with attendees later bowing down before the statue to pay their respects to the ancient philosopher.

The tradition of the Confucius memorial ceremony dates back to 478 BC.

It has evolved into an opportunity for Chinese people to get together to honor their ancestors, perform time-honored traditions and uphold the virtues of their rich cultural heritage.

People from more than 60 Confucian temples, academies and institutions from both home and abroad paid tribute to Confucius online, promoting traditional Chinese culture and showcasing the influence of Confucian culture worldwide.