Qufu: Confucius' birthplace and historic home

The sky turning blue, I headed off for a pre-breakfast walk by the river. I reached a pavilion overlooking willow trees with their branches, still holding green leaves, drooping down toward the waters. Local people were arriving by bicycle, some to exercise, others just to chat. Indeed I noticed a higher ratio of bicycles, both pedal and electric than in major centers. The city is flat, its traffic levels low, and the tree-lined roads are quiet and wide, making it just perfect for cycling or in my case, walking. Indeed I could spend so much time walking slowly, reaching arched bridges while capturing with my camera the combination of water and vegetation in its different seasonal shades rising between white-walled buildings characteristic of water towns.