A total of 100 students over 18 years old celebrated their adulthood at a traditional coming-of-age ceremony at the Confucius Temple in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Oct 18.

Dressed in Han costumes, students went through a complex ritual that included the donning of hats (called guan) for boys and hair clasps (called ji) for girls, kowtowing to their parents and paying homage to Confucius.

Jointly hosted by Harbin’s publicity department, spiritual civilization office and women’s federation, the first coming-of-age ceremony in Harbin was held to teach young adults the importance of gratitude, filial piety and responsibility. 

Students dressed in Han costumes step into adulthood at the coming-of-age ceremony in the Confucius Temple in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Oct 18, 2014. [Photo/wenming.cn]

Students kowtow to their parents at the coming-of-age ceremony in the Confucius Temple in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Oct 18, 2014. [Photo/wenming.cn]

Students pay homage to Confucius at the coming-of-age ceremony in the Confucius Temple in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Oct 18, 2014. [Photo/my399.com]