Here I am on  the sacred mountain, Taishan, in Shandong Province.  The folks from Shandong Modern Language School (SMLS) were giving me a tour of the area around Jinan.  NSU has established an exchange relationship with SMLS.  Taishan is considered one of the most sacred of the Taoist mountains in China.  This gate is the entrance for those climbing Taishan from the foot of the mountain.  I took the cable car!
This platform was built in the area where Confucius taught.  The teaching area is bounded by the residential property of the Kong family - Confucius's family in Shandong Province.  The Kong family residential area is located in Qufu, Shandong Province.  Confucius was born in Qufu and is buried in the family burial area, Confucian Forest, within the city.
This cedar tree was planted during the life time of Confucius (551-479 BC).  The tree would be over 2000 years old as it  grows in the home area of the Kong family, Confucius Mansions.  The Confucius Mansions were built in the 16th century and are very difficult to navigate.  Legend has is that the complex layout was intended to discourage bandits.