A county government in Central China's Hubei Province required officials and students to wash their parents' feet during an event that aimed to promote filial piety, China News Service reported on Tuesday.

A total 22 county officials and 300 students took part in the feet-washing ceremony in Changyang Tu Autonomous Prefecture over Spring Festival.

Officials and other participants were also required to provide photographic proof of their attendance to their superiors, media reported.

"Filial piety is our most valuable virtue, and comes before all else in conducting oneself," said Li Debing, the secretary of the county's party committee.

Foot washing ceremonies are a long-standing tradition that aim to reinforce the Confucian concept of filial piety.

Many participants said they found the event very rewarding.

"It was when I felt the callouses on my mother's feet that I realized how difficult my parent's have had it," said participant Zhang Jun.

County officials plan to expand the event in the near future, media said.

China News Service