Qufu

Qufu is the birthplace of the country's most famous philosopher, Confucius, and so it's of massive significance to the Chinese people. Confucius's impact was immense in China, and his code of conduct was to dominate daily life until it fell out of favor during the Cultural Revolution. His teachings—that son must respect father, wife must respect husband, ordinary citizens must respect officials—were swept away by Mao Zedong because of their associations with the past. Qufu suffered greatly during the Cultural Revolution, with the Red Guards smashing statues and burning buildings. But the pendulum has swung back, and Confucius's teachings are back in favor. It's a lovely place, with timbered houses surrounded by the town walls.