The opening ceremony of the 2019 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and the Confucius Museum was held on Sept 6 in Qufu, birthplace of the great philosopher in East China's Shandong province.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Shandong Provincial People's Government also signed a framework agreement to join hands in the cultural heritage protection and utilization project in Shandong province.

The Confucius Museum is designed to inherit and carry forward the rich traditional culture represented by Confucianism. It is located at No 100 Confucius Avenue in Qufu, only four kilometers away from the city's Confucius Temple.

The museum was designed by Wu Liangyong, China's top architect and city planner.

Covering an area of 168,000 square meters, its total construction area is 55,000 sq m and it is a provincial-level specialized modern museum.

The museum is a cultural project showcasing Confucian teachings and relics collected by generations of Confucius, as well as a place to learn about traditional culture, said Yang Jinquan, deputy head of the Qufu bureau of cultural relics.

The museum started construction in 2013 and launched a trail operation on Nov 26, 2016. It has received 232,000 visitors.

The museum houses 700,000 cultural relics from the Confucius Family Mansion.

The relics include ceramics, jadeware, bronzeware, gold and silver objects, books, drawings, clothing, family archives, as well as well-preserved imperial robes from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

They are believed to embody the Confucius family's values of holding tradition and education in esteem – and the relics explore the ups and downs of the family, as well as social changes over the centuries.

Educator and philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC) founded his eponymous school of thought that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life.

The Confucius cultural festival will last for 20 days, during which a series of activities will take place, including a memorial ceremony to mark the 2,570th birthday anniversary of Confucius, as well as forums on traditional culture and tourism promotions.

The opening ceremony for the 2019 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and the Confucius Museum is held on Sept 6 in Qufu, Shandong province. [Photo/dzwww.com]