Situated in the southwest of Shandong Province, Qufu is one of the first of 24 famous historical and cultural cities announced by the State Council. It is 160 kilometers (about 99 miles) from the capital of Shandong Jinan and 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Jining City, Shandong.

Qufu was the capital of the kingdom, Lu, in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) and is the hometown of the great Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius. Most tourists go there in order to see the places where Confucius lived, studied and was buried. There aren't any high buildings in Qufu, since the local people don't allow their buildings to exceed the height of the Dacheng Hall (81 feet) which the main hall of the Temple of Confucius. In this way, they show their respect for this great person.

Qufu is a city of great character. One fifth of the residents of Qufu have the surname Kong and they are all Confucius' descendants. Meanwhile, it's a rich productive city. The local special product Qufu rice, it's very famous in China. Also there are many different kinds of handicrafts and each of them is highly appreciated.

Qufu is a place that is able to create delicacies. In the Chinese ancient times, the local Kong Family Feast originating from the Kong Family Mansion became quite well-known. It's said that the Qianlong Emperor (1736-1796) paid a visit to Qufu and, while there the cooks of the Kong Family Mansion made a Kong Family Feast for him. After the emperor participated in the feast, he was very pleased and satisfied.

Qufu has convenient land transportation. Several expressways cross it and it's not far from Jinan and Jining. So it's not difficult to get there. And the urban traffic of Qufu is also convenient. You can take a city-bus or taxi to get around. Qufu is not big and most attractions are very close. You will not spend much time and money visiting them.

Through the above introduction, maybe you have learnt something about this city. China is a country influenced by Confucianism. If you want to have a deep understanding of China, you should visit Qufu.