The Confucian temple at Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, held a performance to demonstrate traditional meeting etiquette in ancient China, on Nov 16. [Photo by Peng Chao/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Confucian temple at Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, held a performance to demonstrate traditional meeting etiquette in ancient China on Saturday.

The performers, wearing Han-style clothes, acted as the host and the guest and showed how ancient gentlemen met and became friends.

The meeting often started with the guest calling on the host and offering a gift - usually a pheasant, which indicated the noble character of a gentleman. Then the host paid a return visit to the guest and gave him back the gift.

The guest and the host would have tea together, and might try some noble recreational activities such as Guqin, Touhu and archery.

The Dujiangyan Confucian temple has been trying to restore the traditional etiquette system and preserve traditional culture since it reopened to the public in May.