A group of foreign reporters continued their tour to the birthplace of Confucius -- the Nishan Holy Land and the Confucius academic pavilion on Oct 18 in Qufu, Shandong province.

Located 25 kilometers southeast of Qufu, the Nishan Holy Land in the Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort covers an area of 35.76 square kilometers. 

A 72-meter statue of Confucius, the tallest in the world, is located on the site and took three years to complete. 

A 70,000 square-meter Confucius academic pavilion has been built, featuring various halls, auditoriums and cultural spaces themed around Confucian ethical concepts and practices. 

The reporters, jointly invited by the Jining municipal government and China Daily, were taking part in a four-day fact-finding tour of Jining, exploring the city's achievements in protecting traditional culture, replacing old growth drivers with new ones and rural revitalization over 40 years of reform and opening up. 

Foreign reporters worship Confucius on Oct 18 at the Nishan Holy Land in Qufu, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Foreign reporters pose for a group photo in front of the statue of Confucius at the Nishan Holy Land in Qufu, East China's Shandong province on Oct 18. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Foreign reporters take photos at the Confucius academic pavilion in Qufu, East China's Shandong province on Oct 18. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]