Two books on Confucianism have gained popularity among scholars and ordinary readers alike after President Xi Jinping said he would read them.

Xi made the comment during his November visit to Qufu, Confucius' hometown in Shandong province.

"I will read these two books carefully," Xi said to his two companions as he looked through classics and periodicals on Confucianism with interest at the Confucius Research Institute in Qufu.