The 2024 China International Confucius Cultural Festival, marking the 2,575th anniversary of Confucius' birth, will be held from September 27 to October 7 in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, the birthplace of the great philosopher. Themed "Dialogue with Confucius: Mutual Learning among Civilizations," the festival will feature a diverse range of activities that bring to life Confucius' timeless wisdom, engage with local communities, and advance global cultural exchanges.

The Worship of Confucius performance is seen at the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province on May 21, 2024. /CFP

Key events include the opening ceremony of the festival, the awards ceremony of the 18th UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, the Grand Ceremony of Worship of Confucius, and various international cultural exchange programs. A series of over a hundred cultural and tourism activities will also take place.

The opening ceremony of the city gate, which takes place daily at 8 a.m. at the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong, is pictured on September 1, 2024. /CFP

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this year's festival will welcome guests from 36 countries and regions, representing a wide rangeof sectors. Attendees will include representatives from international organizations, diplomatic missions, Confucian temples, academies, and descendants of Confucius, as well as overseas Chinese and youth delegations.

The opening ceremony of the city gate, which takes place daily at 8 a.m. at the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong, is pictured on September 1, 2024. /CFP

Confucian temples and academies, which are central to Confucian cultural heritage, will play a prominent role inthis year's festival. Wang Lei, director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, saidrepresentatives from 45 Confucian temples and academies across China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, along with scholars from China, France, and Germany, will take partin discussions on the preservation of these historic sites andinternational exchanges.

A bird's-eye view of the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province is seen in this photo taken on July 4, 2024. /CFP

Throughout the festival, visitors will be able toenjoy cultural performances, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences, transforming the region into a carnival ofcultural tourism. A sub-venue for the Grand Ceremony of Worship of Confucius will also be set up in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. By positioning the Confucius Cultural Festival as a platform for global cultural dialogue, organizers aim to expand the influence of Chinese culture and promote mutual learning between civilizations.