Many students at Qingdao-based Ocean University of China are dedicating fruit and candy to a statue of Confucius on campus, in the hope of passing their exams, the Qilu Evening News reported.

The statue has been surrounded by oranges, cookies, drinks, coins and burning cigarettes.

At first, just a few students arrived and dedicated apples to Confucius, but since then the practice has grown in popularity, a politics major was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Cleaners clear all the dedications, yet more students would arrive the next day to repeat the process, the student said.

The practice began ahead of final exams, from Jan 14- 25, the report said.

Besides worshipping Confucius, students also share pictures of their teachers on Renren, a popular Chinese social website for students, making complimentary comments about them in the hope of passing exams.

A teacher at the university said such behavior is highly entertaining but can offer only psychological comfort. If students want to pass the exams, they should prepare thoroughly by revising.