Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, a great ideologist, statesman, educator and father of Confucianism. It ranks among the first group of 24 most famous historical and cultural cities designated by the State Council. It is endowed with a pleasant climate, abundant natural resources, a large quantity of cultural relics and a long history. Leaning against Mount Taishan to the north, overlooking Fufeng Peak to the south, it borders on Sishui in the east and Yanzhou in the west, 135 kilometers south of Ji'nan, the capital of Shandong Province, and 45 kilometers northeast of Jining.

At present, Qufu exercises jurisdiction over two sub-districts (Lucheng and Shuyuan), six towns (Wucun, Yaocun, Shizhuang, Lingcheng, Xiaoxue and Nanxin) and four townships (Wangzhuang, Dongzhuang, Xizou and Fangshan).

Granted with a continental monsoon climate, Qufu has an extraordinarily amiable climate. Here you will find plenty of sunshine, clear-cut seasons with the average maximum temperature of 27.4 degrees Centigrade in July and the minimum of 1.4 degrees Centigrade in January. The dominant wind is southerly all year round but in winter northeasterly prevails. In June thru September, particularly July and August, it rains most frequently. July witnesses the most precipitation of the whole year with a rainfall of 217.2mm, and January the least of 63mm.

Qufu was originally the capital of the state of Yan in the Shang Dynasty and capital of Lu in the Zhou Dynasty. In 249 B.C., the state of Chu exterminated Lu and set up Lu County, which was named Wenyang in 584 and later changed to Qufu in early 596. In ancient times, to the east of the city there stood a mound, which wound its way three to four kilometers long, hence the name. For “Qu” in Chinese means winding and “Fu” means mound. In 627, Qufu was incorporated into Sishui County and reinstated to its old status in 634. In 1012, it was named Xianyuan and in 1129 recovered as Qufu. By the end of 1945, it again merged into Sishui and was named Qusi County. But soon afterwards, they were divided and managed separately in 1946. In 1958, Ziyang was incorporated into Qufu but once again they were governed separately according to their former administrative division. In June, 1986, under the approval of the State Council, Qufu County was dismantled and the city of Qufu was established finally.

As a famous historical and cultural city in China, Qufu has been recognized as the cradle of the Chinese nation. It has nurtured a large number of celebrities in Chinese history, for instance, Confucius, the great thinker, statesman, educationist and the founder of Confucianism during the Spring and Autumn Period; Kong Ji, the prominent philosopher and thinker during the Warring States Period; Kong Rong, the renowned writer of the Han Dynasty; Yan Guangmin, the noted poet in the late Ming Dynasty and Kong Shangren, the opera writer in the early Qing Dynasty who is known for Peach Blossom Fan.