The Olympic flame concluded its journey through Qufu, China's Shandong Province on Tuesday, witnessing the encounter of two great cultures, the Western civilization and the Oriental Civilization.

A total of 100 torchbearers participated in the 5.1-kilometer leg of the Olympic torch relay in Qufu. Torchbearers were from all walks of life,including athletes, bankers, salesmen, teachers, firefighter, etc.

Along the route, the flame visited some historic relics like the wall of the state of Lu, the tomb of Shao Hao, one of the five legendary emperors in ancient China.

Located some 500 kilometers south of Beijing, Qufu, just like Athens, is rich in culture and history. It is the hometown of Confucius, a great philosopher, politician and educator of the 6th-5th centuries B.C. He founded the Confucianism, engaged in private education. For over 2500 years, Confucius's teachings have significantly influenced China and some Asian countries.

Confucianism has an enduring and profound influence all over the world.Benevolence among people and honesty are the prized values of the world today. In 1988, 75 Nobel Prize winners made a statement in Paris that if human kind were to survive in the 21st century, they must draw wisdom from Confucius.

"For me, one thing in common between Confucianism and Christianity is that, they all stress that one not for himself, but for the whole society," said Robert Kuhn, a tourist from Switzerland who expressed his understandings of Confucius.

Tourists and local people showed their enthusiasm and support to the torch relay. Around 800 local pupils were chanting the Analects during the launching ceremony.

Tang Xiaoxiao, a 11-year-old pupil from Qufu experimental primary school, was one of them.

"Though we had rehearsed 3 times here (in the Confucius Temple), I never felt tired," she said. "I am so happy that I witnessed the Olympic flame in my hometown,in this temple!"

Helve, a 22-year-old student from Madagascar, was studying in Wuhan,central China.

"Qufu is a beautiful city and my friend told me it is a good place to learn Chinese culture. I am so lucky to be able to watch the relay and share the happiness of people in Qufu."

Kong Peng, a local tour guide and the 74th-generation descendant of Confucius, was the first bearer of Qufu leg.

"Just like the saying, we share one world, one dream, which in my opinion, is to respect each other, to live and let live, and to share the happiness brought by Olympics," said Kong.

"It's also what Confucius taught his disciples 2500 years ago," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2008)