Free entry for senior citizens to Confucius tourist venues

The entry to tourist attractions in the eastern Chinese city of Qufu, including many associated with Chinese philosopher Confucius, will be free for citizens aged 60 or above, authotiries said today.

The Temple, Family Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Zi), which welcome four million visitors each year, are all now free to visit for senior citizens, together with a dozen others associated with Confucius and Mencius.

The city also waived the entry fee for China's 15 million teachers wanting to visit the Confucius venues since the beginning of the year, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Born near the present-day town of Qufu, Confucius (551-479 BC) is believed to be the first person to set up private schools in China and enroll students from all walks of life.
 

Mencius (372-289 BC), or Meng Zi, was a pupil of Zi Si, grandson of Confucius.

He spent his whole life expounding Confucianism.