Jining, a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province, boasts a long history, profound culture and picturesque landscape.

Holy land of Chinese culture

Jining, hometown of Confucius and Mencius -- two renowned ancient Chinese philosophers, is one of the important cradles of oriental civilization as well as of Confucianism. 

The city has a number of famous cultural relic sites. The Confucian Mansion, Confucian Temple and the Cemetery of Confucian Family were chosen by UNESCO as sites of world cultural heritage in 1994.

The Confucian Temple in Qufu, a county-level city of Jining, Shandong province. [Photo/VCG]

The city of Qufu, hometown of Confucius, holds a grand ceremony celebrating the 2,568th anniversary of his birth on Sept 28, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

The Mencius Temple in Zoucheng. Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke, was born in the State of Zou, now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng, Shandong province, only thirty kilometers south of Qufu, Confucius' birthplace. [Photo/VCG]