On the slopes overlooking the lake rose a 78 meter tall statue of Confucius, indeed world’s largest of the renowned sage. Made of brass and reinforced with steel, on the day it was inaugurated it created a scholarly backdrop to Chinese Central Television’s annual Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.

Many steps leading up from to its plinth provided ever expanding views of the surrounding landscape. Groups of children from Shandong schools, adorned in black and red Confucian-style robes, were gathered there as I attempted to photograph the scene. Soon I was surrounded by this large crowd all wanting selfies with me. Lovely moments on that upland in Shandong.