JINAN - A total of 1,800 Confucius schools have been built in China, according to the China Confucius Foundation, including 123 in the rural areas.

The foundation began building Confucius schools in 2014. The schools promote traditional Chinese culture, while also providing training in law, education and jobs. The first Confucius school was built in Jinan city, capital of East China's Shandong province.

The foundation plans to build 10,000 such schools in China, according to Wang Daqian, director-general of the foundation.

The China Confucius Foundation was established in 1984. It is a national academic organization dedicated to supporting Confucius research and the spread of Chinese culture.

Confucius (551-479 B.C.), an educator and thinker, has influenced countless generations of Chinese society.