People wearing traditional costumes attend a ritual to mark the 2,569th anniversary of Confucius' birth at the Confucius Temple in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Photos: IC)

Ceremonies were held in a number of Chinese cities on Friday to celebrate the 2,569th anniversary of the birth of ancient Chinese sage and educator Confucius.

Students dressed in traditional costumes attend a ceremony to mark the 2569th anniversary of Confucius' birth at a primary school in Hengyang city, central China's Hunan province, on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.

Students dressed in traditional costumes attend a ceremony to mark the 2569th anniversary of Confucius' birth at a primary school in Hengyang city, central China's Hunan province, on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.

Participants wearing traditional costumes attend a ritual to mark the 2,569th anniversary of Confucius' birth at the Confucius Temple in Beijing, capital of China, on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.