JINAN - The first Confucius post office has been opened in Qufu, hometown of the educator and philosopher, the post company said Sunday.

Kong Weike, a 78th-generation descendent of Confucius, has been hired as the honorary head of the post office, which was inaugurated Saturday, China's Cultural Heritage Day.

Commemorative envelopes and stamps were released, according to the China Post Shandong branch.

Tourists can buy and send Confucius-themed post cards, and related books and literature are on display at the office and on China Post's online store.

Confucius (551-479 BC) was the first Chinese to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life.