From the Summit of Mt.Taishan to Qufu
After a simple lunch on July 12, 2008, I start to descend. Of course, this time I choose the cable car down the mountain. It only takes a few minutes before I get to the cable car station at the Middle Gate to the Heaven, where I change for the mini bus to the city of Tai'an.
One cable car can hold 6 poeple. At the bus station at the Middle Gate to the Heaven, I have to line up to buy the bus ticket. The bus teams are well managed by a local tourism group. It doesn't take long before I have a seat and land on the groud at the south foot of Mt. Taishan.
Bye, Mt. Taishan! Taking the small luggage from my alread checked-out hotel and hire a taxi to Qufu about 80 km away from Tai'an. The highway is blocked, so we have to take the national road No.104 from Tai'an to Qufu. It is a safe and interesting drive.
The driver, Mr. Hou told me a lot about the local life in Tai'an and more about Shandong. Qufu is the birthplace of Confucius ( September 28, 551 BC - 479 BC), a Chinese thinker and social philosopher. Confucius'thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism.
Qufu served as the capital of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period (722 BC and 481 BC ). The Confucius Temple, Confucius Family Mansion Confucius Family Graveyard in Qufu have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1994. They are the major cultural attractions of Qufu.
People come to Qufu to pay tribute to Confucius who has had great impact on the cultural, educational foundation for the Chinese and global civilization as a whole. I get to Queli Hotel, my lodging hotel in Qufu. Queli hotel is the only three star hotel in Queli. Later I know, many famous persons and government leaders once stayed here for their short visit to Qufu.
Queli Hotel is built in a Chinese traditional style, well matching the surrounding, a over 2000-year ancient city. In the evening, I take a walk on the streets. Just near the hotel, there is a night snack street full of big eaters and shabby restaurants. A little worried about the hygiene, I just have a look. Then I go to a local grocery to buy something to eat. Dog-tired, I go to sleep early this night.
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