Attendants in traditional Chinese clothing stand in front of the Temple of Confucius at the memorial ceremony in Qufu, a county-level city in Jining, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/jnnews.tv]

A memorial ceremony for the Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius took place on April 3 in Qufu, the sage's hometown in Jining, East China's Shandong province.

The ceremony was held at the Temple of Confucius during the three-day Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, a traditional Chinese festival when people commemorate and pay respect to their ancestors.

Guided by heralds in traditional Chinese clothing, dozens of guests, including Peng Zhaohui, Qufu's mayor, laid flowers and bowed towards the statue of Confucius at the temple to show their respect. Recitals of classic Chinese poems, such as those from The Book of Songs, were performed after the rituals.

In addition, a prayer ceremony featuring dancing shows and other activities was held to further promote Confucian culture, as well as to provide a better cultural experience for visitors.