A ceremony to celebrate the 2,569th birthday of Confucius is held in Qufu city, East China's Shandong province on Sept 28. Confucius (551-479 BC) a great Chinese educator and philosopher, is the founder of Confucianism, a school of thought that exerts a deep influence on China and the whole world at large. He is believed to be born on Sept 28 in Qufu, and an annual celebration for the birthday of Confucius has been held in the city since 2004[Photo/Xinhua]

Over two thousand people from home and abroad attend the ceremony at the Temple of Confucius in Qufu on Sept 28, including local authorities, scholars from Confucius institutes, descendants of Confucius, UNESCO officials and foreign ambassadors to China. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Guests dressed in special costumes walk into the temple in a solemn manner at the ceremony in Qufu on Sept 28. [Photo/Xinhua]