Itinerary for the Chinese Delegation visit to Bolton High School

Bolton High School is eager to welcome our visitors from the Shandong Province of China who arrive on Tuesday evening, January 6, 2009.

Mr. Wang Fuhai (Foreign Affairs Office, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, Section Chief), Mr. He Chengjin (Zaozhuang Teaching Research Office, Senior Teacher), Mr. Geng Shuai (Weifang Education and Science Research Institute, Researcher) will be our guests from January 7 – 16 and we have an action-packed itinerary for them!

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change.

Tuesday - 1/6/2009
4:30 PM Pick up delegation - Fairfield Inn Wallingford, 100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT
5:30 PM Arrival at host family - Dinner and rest
6:30 PM (Optional activity: Meeting at BHS with Principal)
7:00 PM (Optional activity: Bolton High School Boys' Basketball Game at BHS)

Wednesday - 1/7/2009
8:15 AM Arrival at BHS
8:20 AM Pictures at front of School (Smith, Wiedie, Winzler, Stille, Harney)
8:23 AM Introduction to student guides (Gudmundson, Walsh, Vezina)
8:25 AM Student Council greeting from front entrance to Gym
8:30 AM Welcoming program in BHS Gym
8:50 AM Reception in Main Office
9:11 AM Period C Classroom Observation: Pre-Calculus Honors (Mr. Kiser)
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: AP European History (Mr. Smith)
10:43 AM Period E Department Meeting: English Department
11:29 AM Lunch - Bolton High School cafeteria
12:00 PM Period F Classroom Observation: English I Honors (Mrs. LaRochelle)
12:47 PM Period G Classroom Observation: World History and Cultures I Honors (Mr. Verner)
1:33 PM Period H Classroom Observation: English II Honors (Ms. Bavier)
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Tour of building with student guides
2:45 PM Observe Girls' Basketball Practice
3:15 PM Meeting with Principal
4:00 PM Depart to host family - Dinner and rest
6:00 PM Excursion to Buckland Hills, Evergreen Walk, Coldstone Creamery

Thursday - 1/8/2009
8:00 AM Arrival at BHS
8:18 AM Period B Classroom Observation: Science 9 Honors (Mrs. Cordero)
9:11 AM Period C Classroom Observation: UCONN Biology (Mr. Dilworth)
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: Spanish IV Honors (Mr. Ruiz)
10:43 AM Period E Classroom Observation: Chemistry Honors (Mr. Jankowski)
11:29 AM Lunch - Excursion to Shady Glenn
12:47 PM Period G Classroom Observation: English III (Mrs. Teed)
1:33 PM Period H Department Meeting: Science
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Crepe-making with the French Club
3:45 PM Meeting with Principal
4:00 PM Depart to host family - Dinner and rest
6:30 PM Bolton Board of Education Reception and Meeting

Friday - 1/9/2009
7:30 AM Arrival at BHS
7:32 AM Period A Department Meeting: Math, Music, Art
8:18 AM Period B Classroom Observation: Algebra II Honors (Ms. Salvas) and Concert Band (Mrs. Desrosiers)
9:11 AM Period C Classroom Observation: French III (Ms. Pinette) and Beginning Foods (Ms. Scott)
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: Intro to Communications (Mr. Carvalho) and PE 11/12 (Mr. Humiston)
10:43 AM Period E Poetry Out Loud! BHS Poetry Reading Performance/Competition
11:29 AM Lunch - Bolton High School Bakeshop Class and Beginning Foods Class
12:00 PM Period F Classroom Observation: AP Calculus (Mr. Kiser) and Biology Honors (Ms. Carvalho)
12:47 PM Period G Department Meeting: Related Arts (Scott, Carvalho, Adler, Humiston)
1:33 PM Period H Classroom Observation: Geometry Honors (Mr. Turgeon) and Art (Ms. Argenta)
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Meeting with Principal
3:00 PM Depart to host family (optional)
4:00 PM Dinner - Excursion to Bellini's
7:00 PM Bolton High School Girls' Basketball Game at BHS

Saturday - 1/10/2009
8:45 AM Depart host family for Excursion to Boston-Legends Limousine
- Prudential Tower, Prudential/Copley Place
- Portions of Freedom Trail as weather permits
- Quincy Market
- North End
- MIT or Harvard (as time allows)
5:00 PM Depart Boston for Bolton
7:00 PM Mr. BHS Competition at Bolton Center School

Sunday - 1/11/2009
10:00 AM Depart host family for Mohegan Sun
- Lunch and tour
3:00 PM Depart Mohegan Sun for Bolton
4:00 PM Bolton Education Foundation Reception at the Catanese home

Monday - 1/12/2009
8:30 AM Depart host family for Rectory School
- Tour of campus
- Meeting with Headmaster
- Meeting with Chinese boarding students
- Lunch in dining room
- Meeting with administrative staff and admissions office
4:00 PM - Dinner with Bolton Administrators at the Smith home

Tuesday - 1/13/2009
8:00 AM Depart host family for Hartford
- Tour of Capitol - John Vamos (contact person for Representative Pam Sawyer)
- Tour of Legislative Office Building
- Lunch in Hartford
- Tour of Hartford as weather permits
3:00 PM Starbucks (Rest and tea/coffee)
5:00 PM Dinner with Board of Education at the Hambrook home

Wednesday - 1/14/2009
8:00 AM Arrival at BHS
8:18 AM Period B Department Meetings: Social Studies, World Languages
9:11 AM Period C Program Observation: Virtual High School
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: English II (Ms. Mitchell) and Science 9 (Mr. Wolek)
10:43 AM Period E Classroom Observation: Latin IV Honors (Ms. Ryan) and Word Processing (Ms. Adler)
11:29 AM Lunch - Excursion to Pepe's Pizza
12:47 PM Period G To be scheduled based on interest of delegation
1:33 PM Period H To be scheduled based on interest of delegation
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Meeting with Principal
3:00 PM Depart to host family - Dinner and rest
7:00 PM Bolton High School Open House

Thursday - 1/15/2009
8:00 AM Bolton Center School Tour and Classroom Visits
12:00 PM Bolton Congregational Church Tour
1:00 PM Bolton Library Tour
2:00 PM Meeting with Bolton Public Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction
3:00 PM Meeting with Bolton Public Schools Superintendent
4:00 PM Bolton Education Foundation Community Reception for Delegation

7:00 PM Depart to host family for packing.

Friday - 1/16/2009
9:00 AM Informal Breakfast Reception at Bolton High School with BHS Faculty and Students
9:30 AM Tour of Bolton High School Midyear Exams in progres
10:00 AM Department Meetings: Guidance and Special Education

12:00 PM Lunch - Excursion to TBA
3:00 PM Return to Fairfield Inn Wallingford, 100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT

Chinese Delegation to arrive in Bolton on January 6, 2009

The dates for the visit to the town of Bolton and Bolton High School by the delegation from the Shandong Provincial Department of Education have finally been confirmed!

The delegation will have their visa interviews in Beijing in early December. The group will arrive in Connecticut on Sunday, January 4. They will be provided with professional development activities by the Connecituct Department of Education on Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6.

We will pick up our visitors on Tuesday, January 6 at the Best Western Camelot Hotel in Wethersfield at 5:00 PM. We are then responsible for their schedule through Friday, January 16.

The purpose of this visit is to study American schools, classrooms, and teaching techniques. In addition, a home stay with an American family and interaction with the community are important aspects of the experience.

Bolton High School and the Bolton Education Foundation are already in the process of coordinating a full slate of activities for the delegation including classroom visits, meetings with teachers, meetings with students, attendance at school functions, visits to area schools, receptions at various homes, a dinner evening for members of the community, and tours of Hartford and Boston.

A full itinerary will be shared as soon as events are confirmed.

Even though these education officials are not directly associated with our "sister school" in Jinan, they do oversee the education that takes place in the province in which our school is located.

And, all of the activity between Connecticut and Shandong is directly connected to maintaining the very positive relationship established between the state of Connecticut and Shandong Province in China. In fact, as we prepare for our own visit to China in April 2010, re-connecting with these officials who visit our community when we arrive in Jinan will be a priority!

I am confident that Bolton High School and the entire community of Bolton will make a very long-lasting connection with these officials.

More news to come on their visit!

April 2010 Tour

As a result of our initial meeting on Tuesday, October 21, plans are officially underway for Bolton High School to visit China in April 2010!

In checking with our travel agent, we will plan to accommodate up to 50 students and community members on this amazing tour of China, which will include a visit to our sister school in Jinan, the Jigang High School.

As of now, about 30 seats are spoken for. All Bolton students, parents, and community members are urged to contact the high school for further information about securing a spot on the trip!

If you are planning to go here is a Suggested Reading List:

Some reading in advance to our visit to China is recommended in order to begin to understand China’s history, geography, culture and dynamics of the current and future role of China in the world.

Understanding China by John Bryan Starr is a quick read.

Search for Modern China by Jonathan D. Spence is more comprehensive.

Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherford challenges western historical perspective and helps one to reflect on historical evidence when visiting China.

The Great Wall by Julia Lovell reflects on conflicting, converging and confusing western and China perspectives on the role of the "wall" in China's past and present.

Also consider:

The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

China Shakes the World by James Kynge

And...it's time to start picking up some skills in Mandarin!

I suggest Basic Mandarin Chinese by Pimsleur. You can practice with the CD's in the privacy of your car or at home!

Details for our adventure will continue to be posted on the site!

Shandong Province Education Leaders to visit Bolton High School

This November, Connecticut will be visited by a delegation of 22 teachers from the Shandong Province. They will be in the United States for 21 days and will spend about 12 of those days hosted locally by school districts. This delegation will arrive in November but exact dates are not known at this time due to the Chinese visa process and visa interview schedule with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Bolton has been invited to host the leaders of the group. They are here as part of a training program to learn about American schools and classroom teaching methods.

The visitors who will spend time in Bolton are all from the Shandong Provincial Education Department offices:

Wu Jianhua (M), Division Chief, Finance Division
Song Quanzheng (M), Main Office
Wang Fuhai (M), Section Chief, Foreign Affairs

We will need to find host families for them. Their days will be spent at our school. We can put them all together or separately, though Wang Fuhai is the English interpreter for the group.

Any interested Bolton family should contact Mr. Paul K. Smith, Principal paulk.smith@boltonct.org.

This is a very exciting opportunity for our school, our students, and our community as we prepare for our visit to China in April 2010!

(This picture is from Baotu Spring Park in Jinan, Shandong Province.)

Bolton High School CHINA TOUR 2010!

In April 2010 members of the Bolton school community will travel to China! There is an information meeting scheduled for all students, parents, and community members on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 6:30 PM in the BHS Library.

This event is open to students and community members. The Bolton High School-China partnership was started last year when Principal, Paul K. Smith traveled to China with the Connecticut State Department of Education to establish a sister school in Jinan, the capital city of the Shandong Province south of Beijing.

In cooperation with BHS and the Bolton Community Education Foundation, a return to China is being planned. Travel arrangements will be made with the same touring program used by the Connecticut State Department of Education. The itinerary includes the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Mount Taishan, a visit to Bolton’s sister school, the historic Hutong of Beijing, and a visit to China’s largest city in terms of population, Shanghai. Anyone interested in information on this adventure of a lifetime should attend this meeting!

Be a part of the Bolton High School - China Partnership!

All students, parents, and community members are invited to take advantage of the following events:

Tuesday, September 16 – Bolton’s Sister School in the Shandong Province, 6:30 PM, BHS Library

In partnership with the Bolton Community Education Foundation, Bolton High School Principal Paul K. Smith will present a special program on his April trip to China on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at 6:30 PM in the BHS Library. The program will include information on Chinese culture in Beijing and Jinan (the city in which Bolton High School’s sister school is located). The Chinese education system will be showcased along with slides of such sights as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

Tuesday, October 21 – Bolton High School’s CHINA TOUR 2010 (April) 6:30 PM, BHS Library

Principal Paul K. Smith is planning to bring a group of Bolton High School students and community members to China in April 2010. The tour, being planned with help form the Bolton Community Education Foundation, will include Beijing, Jinan (with a visit to Bolton’s sister school), and Shanghai. Travel arrangements will be made with the same touring program used by the Connecticut State Department of Education. This program was established to foster cultural exchanges between Connecticut and the Shandong Province. Details are being arranged well in advance to encourage all participants to learn important aspects of Chinese culture, history, and language. If you are interested in learning about China first hand, this meeting will provide the details on how you can be part of this amazing opportunity!


Attention BHS students and parents!

We are looking for a home for the 2008-2009 school year for a Chinese high school exchange student from Shanghai.

This student is part of the Youth For Understanding exchange program, the group BHS uses for all exchanges. The student from China is a 17 year old girl with excellent English skills. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Paul K. Smith, Principal at 643-2768 X411 as soon as possible!

Quiet Boat Ride on Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong Province

Entrance to Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong Province

"Locks" at the temples at the Top of Mt. Tai.

The effort to preserve traditions and the effort to modernize in China

English Class at Jigang Senior High School

The class of students (grade 11) returns to the classroom after a short break that is scheduled after two classes. As students walk in, they are all dressed in the Jigang uniform - purple pants and white/green light zip up jackets. Their hair length is uniform per school rules. All male and female hair must be cut above the shoulders with no styling of the hair permitted.

As the students come in, they gingerly move into their assigned seats as the rows are packed very tight. There are eight rows of nine small desks and students fill every one for a total class of 72. There are two aisles for walking dividing the columns into three groups of three. The front of the classroom is very narrow and consists of a raised area on which the teacher can stand to be seen by all students. On the raised area is included a computer console/podium for the teacher to present PowerPoint slides to the class. The back of the room allows for a narrow passageway.

Students do not change classrooms for their classes. The teacher comes to them for instruction. As there are no lockers, students keep all of their materials on the top of their desk and in a shelf under their desk. All of the books are workbooks, which are stacked 15-20 high on desks, with more stacked underneath. Some students have dividers or organizers to stack their workbooks vertically and some have cups with pencils and pens. Each student does seem to have established their own little personalized area, though there is very little room for students to have anything but school materials.

Before the bell rings for the start of class, students take out the materials for English class and begin to study the lesson. All workbooks are open to the lesson, which focuses on English terms centered on a theme of Global Warming. The teacher walks in and there is still no movement. A tone sounds and the teacher says, “We will begin class.” The students all stand. The teacher says in English, “Good morning class.” The students in a group unison say, “Good morning teacher.” There will not be one word of Chinese for the next 40 minutes.

The class begins with a staged “play” that a group of students has prepared on global warming based on readings and vocabulary from this unit of the English workbook. Ten students come to the front of the classroom and put on “hats” to indicate which part they will play. They maneuver on and around the computer podium, but are loud enough for the students in the class to hear.

The English spoken by the students is very good. The students are even able to capture the dramatic inflection as required by the part! The class laughs and enjoys the presentation by the class.

Upon completion of the play, the teacher places on the PowerPoint screen eight questions. The students are asked to read the sentences quietly at their desk and then indicate whether the statement is true or false. She gives them a few moments to read and complete the work at their desks and then calls the attention of the class to review the answers. The teacher asks if anyone would like to answer the first question. She calls on one of the students, who then stands at their desk, reads the sentence and indicates that the sentence is “true.” The teacher asks the class if she is correct and they respond in “yes” in English.

After the students read together, the teacher asks the students to read the section of the text together based on the questions to practice speaking. In unison, all 72 read the material out loud a together.

After all questions are completed, the teacher puts several longer questions on the board. She explains that the students are to spend 5 minutes reading the questions aloud at their desk and preparing an answer that they should also practice reading aloud. The students then begin to read aloud. Seventy-two students begin speaking quietly at their desk. Even with 72 students speaking, there is still an intense level of concentration on the part of students. The teacher walks up and down the aisles leaning into the rows to hear certain students speak. After five minutes, she takes volunteers who stand and read the question and give an answer to the question.

The next PowerPoint screen lists three characters from the play presented earlier in the class. The students are asked to work with a partner and indicate their position on global warming. The class members turn in all directions (as much as possible with the tight space) and begin to work in groups of two. Once again, with 72 students talking and working in pairs, the noise level rises, but is manageable for all to communicate. After another block of time, the teacher calls for the students’ attention. She asks them to indicate the positions of the characters. Students stand to respond. Other students are asked to comment or contradict statements.

It can be difficult at times for the students in the back of the room to hear students who stand, face the teacher, and answer questions. When the teacher is directing an activity, she is, out of necessity in the front of the class. The students speak English well and are not afraid to answer; however, with the size of the room and the number of students, the volume of answers made by students facing the teacher does vary.

The teacher then hands out review sheet for the students to complete. At the top of the sheet is a paragraph that she asks the students to read together. They read in unison as was done earlier in the class. Seventy-two students stay perfectly together. The students then are given a few minutes to complete the questions.

Following this activity, the teacher asks the students to work in groups to prepare a statement about global warming as if being interviewed by the press. The students manage to turn in varying directions (as none of them can physically move) and discuss the issue. Whether all students are included in the group activity is hard to tell as students have turned in all directions, with neighbors possibly working in different groups. A student is called on to be the “reporter” and is handed a microphone to go to each group area. One student stands up and makes a statement. Most are a synopsis of the issues discussed in class with a person. Some students are quite animated.

The bell rings to end class. Not one student shifts attention away from class. The teacher announces that homework is to do Internet research on Global Warming and be prepared to discuss and support an issue. The students are asked to stand. They prepare to go out to the front of the building where the field is located for the morning group exercises.

At that, the teacher announces that class is over. English class has ended for the day.

Greetings from the top of Mt. Tai in China

Mr. Smith with students from Jigang Senior High School

Students speak English very well at this school. Four years of English is required and all schools are required to begin English in the elementary school. Notice the required school uniforms and the required hair cut for girls above the neck line. Most of their questions during the week were focused on the schooling and life of students in America.

The "sister school" partnership signing between Bolton High School and Jigang Senior High School

Pictured with Mr. Smith, Principal of Bolton High School is Headmaster, Pinmu Wang, of the Jigang Senior High School.

Bolton High School's "sister school" in Jinan

Pictured is the Jigang Senior High School, also known as the Jinan Steel Factory High School, as the steel factory in Jinan funded the building of the school ten years ago. Students from all over Jinan take an exam to enter this school. As many come from a distance, students live in dorms and go home on weekends or stay with local families if they live too far for a two-day weekend off.

The symbol of Jinan, the city of "springs" in Shandong Province, China

One of the hotels in which we stayed before heading off to our "sister schools" was directly across from the city square featuring this sculpture.

Starbucks in Beijing

To the coffee addicts: Yes, there is coffee in China. There is no Starbucks in the city of Jinan or Qufu, where we spent one of the two weeks. But, Beijing does have a few!

A common means of transportation in Beijing

From the Forbidden City

One of the doors to the Forbidden City

Chairman Mao at the entrance to the Forbidden City

From the Antique Market in Beijing

The Forbidden City

Tiananmen Square

Eastern Connecticut Principals at the Great Wall

The Great Wall has brought together Principals from Bolton, Andover, Hebron, Marlborough, and RHAM Middle. All of us are here to establish "sister" schools in China.

More Great Wall

The Great Wall

We had a beautiful day at the Great Wall! Here a few pictures that will only do it a little justice. Click on the picture for a larger view.

Peking Duck

The food has been fantastic. One evening was a treat of Peking Duck among many other dishes. Every meal has featured too much food to finish. The pictures feature our chef preparing the duck and a view of one of the restaurants in which we dined.

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is incredibly expansive and was designed to help the emperors escape the heat of the summer in Beijing. It is built around a beautiful lake.

Beijing Airport

The new airport terminal in Beijing is worthy of a few pictures! It is absolutely massive. We were told that 500 peolpe per day currently get lost inside. The place certainly is big enough to handle the international crowds of people and athletes who will visit during the Olympics.

Our sister school in Jinan, Shandong Province, China

Information on Bolton High School’s sister school, the Jinan Steel Factory High School, was forwarded to the school by Mrs. Summer Spaderna (who is a Bolton resident and Assistant Director of the US-China Business Center at Central Connecticut State University).

The website of the school is: http://www.jggz.cn/. Even though it is in Chinese, it is still fun to peruse.

Located in the suburbs of Jinan, the Jinan Steel Factory High School is also known as Jigang Senior High School. The school was founded in 1997 and has 1,500 students. There are 140 teachers and 30 classes. Students are encouraged to live on campus in dormitories.

Founded by the Jinan Steel Factory, the focus of the school is English, Computers, Music and Physical Education. The school is supported well enough to be considered one that has money to invest in education and the needs of students. The school cooperates with the Australia International Education Resource Company to offer a special program to students by teaching some subjects bilingually, such as math and science.

The school is considered a high tech computerized campus and its teachers are considered highly educated; 30% have or are doing their masters. A high number of students do well on the national exams and enter college after graduation.

I hope to keep this site up to date while in China, April 8-21, if I can access the blog. The Internet is censored very heavily in China. If I cannot get to the site, I will post all the details and pictures of the trip when I return!

Bolton High School hosts visitors from the Shandong Province

Bolton High School was honored to host the following visitors on March 24: Ms. Cai Hongxia, professor at the Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications in the TESOL program: Ms. Zhang Hong (Iris) - English major, Ms. Chen Chen - English major, Mr. Wang Meng (Sam) - biology major, from Shandong Normal University participating in the graduate program at Central Connecticut State University. Also, Ms. Summer L. Spaderna – Bolton resident and Assistant Director for the United States – China Business Center at Central Connecticut State University joined us. Bolton High School was thrilled to be able to host the guests from the Shandong Province as our "sister school" relationship has connected us with one of the schools from that province. Our friends from China spoke to all of the Sophomore World History classes and met for casual conversation with students and faculty members during lunch.

Bolton's "Sister School"

Bolton High School will be establishing a “sister school” with the Jinan Steel Factory High School. Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province (south of Beijing) on China’s east coast, is the province’s political, economic and cultural center.

Jinan has jurisdiction over five districts (Lixia, Licheng, Huaiyin, Tianqiao and Shizhong), four counties (Changqing, Pingyin, Shanghe and Jiyang) and Zhangqiu City, with a total area of 8,227 sq. km and a population of 5.49 million, including 2.54 million urban people. Located in the western part of the center of Shandong Province, Jinan is at the juncture of the Beijing-Shanghai and Qingdao-Jinan railways. Nearby to the south is Mount Tai, officially recognized by the United Nation as part of the world’s natural and cultural heritage. To the north is the Yellow River, which is called the “cradle of the Chinese nation.”

With a warm-temperate continental monsoon climate and clear-cut seasonal changes, Jinan has an average annual temperature of 14 C (58 F) and an annual mean precipitation of 650-700 mm (25-27 inches).Thanks to its long history, Jinan has been designated by the State Council as a famous historical and cultural city. As Jinan boasts a number of natural springs amid picturesque scenery, it is known as the “City of Springs.” The city tree of Jinan is the willow, and the city flower is the lotus.

The area was first inhabited during the Neolithic Period. Some 3,600 years ago, walls were built to enclose the town, which was then called Lu. The name was changed to Jinan 3,100 years ago because it was located to the south of the ancient Jishui River. In 1116, Jinan was established as a prefecture, and in 1368 it became the provincial capital.

For centuries, the city has been renowned for its lakes and springs, including Daming Lake, and “The First Spring under Heaven,” the Baotu Springs.

The most exciting sights on a trip to Jinan, however, are probably excursions to Qufu, the birthplace of the ancient philosopher, Confucius, and Mount Tai or Taishan, the best of the country’s “Five Sacred Mountains.”

Taishan, more than 345 miles in circumference, rises steeply and majestically in the middle of Shandong Province about 45 miles from Jinan. Massive and awesome, it has featured in many historic events throughout the ages, and has been a rich source of inspiration for countless maxims, poetic allusions, and literary works. To many people the mountain is a symbol of grandeur and stability as shown, for example, in the popular Chinese saying, “As solid as Mount Tai.”

Arriving in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, the first thing coming into sight is the spacious temple of Confucius, which dominates the town.

Confucius is the world-renowned Chinese philosopher born in Qufu more than 3,500 years ago. His influence on Chinese society culture lasts until the present day. Qufu has recently been restored to its former glory. It has become a tourist attraction rivaling the Great Wall.

In size and scale, the Confucius Temple ranks second only to the Forbidden City in Beijing. Construction of the Temple began in 478 B.C., the year after Confucius’s death. It was rebuilt many times throughout the ensuing 3,000 years.

This information has been taken from:

www.chinatour.com and www.chinats.com.