Qufu: Confucius' birthplace and historic home

I was reaching the city moat and approaching a passage through the Ming walls. It was a moment to stand there, to watch the everyday passing scene. Pedicabs and horse-drawn tourist carts meandered slowly past. Willows lined the walkway between the walls and moat as I headed westwards to a square in front of the South Gate. It once provided secure passage into what had been a compact, walled city. While photographing I was also looking at people. Older generations sat on stone benches watching, as they probably do every day, while the tourists were posing for selfies or looking in awe at the remaining Ming structures. Some visitors would possibly be thinking back to how this area had appeared or resembled over past centuries. I could picture the traders of days gone by, arriving by horse or on foot, the markets and street stalls, the steam from countless food stalls, the bustling noisy scenes during festivals. This area must have amazing stories to tell if only stones could talk. History indeed is written in stone. It was however crowded during my visit with schoolchildren, many dressed Confucian-style for a visit to the vast temple compound within its walls is currently an important element in educating about China's cultural legacy.