China marks 2,577th anniversary of Confucius' birth

Actors dressed in traditional attire perform during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire perform during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire perform during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire perform during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire walk into the Temple of Confucius during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire walk into the Temple of Confucius during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire perform during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors dressed in traditional attire walk into the Temple of Confucius during a grand ceremony honoring Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2026. A grand ceremony honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius was held on Monday in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of his birth. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Actors perform during a ceremony to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 28, 2026. An annual ceremony was held here on Monday to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. (Xinhua/Dai Mingxuan)

Participants attend a ceremony to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 28, 2026. An annual ceremony was held here on Monday to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. (Xinhua/Dai Mingxuan)

Actors perform during a ceremony to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 28, 2026. An annual ceremony was held here on Monday to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. (Xinhua/Dai Mingxuan)

Participants attend a ceremony to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 28, 2026. An annual ceremony was held here on Monday to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. (Xinhua/Dai Mingxuan)

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2026 shows a view of the Nanzong Confucius Temple where a ceremony to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius is held in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. An annual ceremony was held here on Monday to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. (Xinhua/Dai Mingxuan)

Participants sing a song during a ceremony to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 28, 2026. An annual ceremony was held here on Monday to commemorate the 2,577th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. (Xinhua/Dai Mingxuan)