The daily gate opening performance is held at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, East China's Shandong province, on June 3, 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Confucius Temple in Qufu, East China's Shandong province, played host to a group of international journalists and influencers on June 3 as part of the "A Date with China 2024 – Meet Shandong" international media tour. The group had the opportunity to delve into the rich history and cultural significance of this ancient seat of learning.

Their visit began with the captivating gate opening performance, followed by witnessing the solemn Confucius memorial ceremony and learning to perform the yiwu, a dance form used in sacrificial rites in ancient China.