Qufu, the hometown of Confucius in east China's Shandong Province, held both online and offline ceremonies on Sunday to commemorate the 2,576th anniversary of the ancient philosopher's birth. The solemn ritual, blending ancient etiquette with modern reverence, drew participants from China and abroad to pay tribute to the "teacher of all ages." Wearing yellow ribbons, attendees entered the venue around 9:00 and laid flower baskets before the statue of Confucius. Zhou Naixiang, governor of Shandong Province, delivered the eulogy and led guests in a ceremonial bow. Guests and representatives from both China and abroad bowed three times before the statue of the great sage, expressing a shared respect that transcends borders and time. The grand ceremony concluded around 10:00. To broaden participation and enhance its global impact, this year's commemoration featured a live online broadcast, enabling people worldwide to engage with Confucian culture. Many official representatives and scholars who took part in the ceremony shared their reflections on the event and offered insights into the relevance of Confucius' philosophy in today's world. "Very respectful. The ceremony was quite grandiose. It's wonderful. We enjoyed it very much," said Ricardo Thompson, a delegate from the United States. Reflecting on the universal appeal of Confucian thought, young Sinologist Pablo Cadahia said, "It has a kind of philosophy that can be accepted by many people at the same time, regardless of their religion, their culture, and their tradition, working towards a harmonious society." "To me, Confucius is the great teacher -- our greatest teacher. He brings -- for me, for Latin American people -- a big influence into today's world, because the way for all people in the world or for their relationships has changed. We need leadership based on Confucian values," said Melisa Stefania Lapebie Guzman, an investigator at the Argentina-China Studies Center at the University of Buenos Aires. The tradition of commemorating Confucius dates back to 478 B.C., the year following his death. Today, the ceremony, featuring traditional music, dance, and other ceremonial forms, embodies the essence of propriety in Confucian culture. This year's event is also a key part of the 2025 China International Confucius Cultural Festival. As an educator and philosopher, Confucius (551-479 B.C.) founded a school of thought that profoundly influenced later generations and became known as Confucianism. He was also the first to establish private schools in China, which admitted students from all social classes. SHOTLIST: Qufu City, Shandong Province, east China - Sept 28, 2025 1. Aerial shot of commemorative ceremony in progress; 2. Attendants in traditional dress walking forward; 3. Statue of Confucius; 4. Various of commemorative ceremony in progress; 5. Ceremonial drummer beating drum; 6. Various of commemorative ceremony in progress; 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ricardo Thompson, delegate, USA (starting with shot 6): "Very respectful. The ceremony was quite grandiose. It's wonderful. We enjoyed it very much."; 8. Attendees; 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Pablo Cadahia, Sinologist: "It has a kind of philosophy that can be accepted by many people at the same time, regardless of their religion, their culture, and their tradition, working towards a harmonious society."; 10. Attendees; 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Melisa Stefania Lapebie Guzman, investigator, Argentina-China Studies Center, University of Buenos Aires: "To me, Confucius is the great teacher -- our greatest teacher. He brings -- for me, for Latin American people -- a big influence into today's world, because the way for all the people in the world or for their relationships has changed. We need leadership based on Confucian values."; 12. Various of commemorative ceremony in progress; Confucius Temple. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]