Qufu (曲阜)
a county-level city in northern Jining, southwest of Shandong Province, about 150 km from Jinan and 400 km from Qingdao. The city is best known as the Hometown of Confucius, was an important cradle of Chinese civilization for being the birthplace of Yellow Emperor and ancient capital during Emperor Yan period, also ancient city of Yin Dynasty and Lu State of Zhou Dynasty. The city owns the San Kong (three Confucius sites), top cultural highlight that have been listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage since 1994.
a county-level city in northern Jining, southwest of Shandong Province, about 150 km from Jinan and 400 km from Qingdao. The city is best known as the Hometown of Confucius, was an important cradle of Chinese civilization for being the birthplace of Yellow Emperor and ancient capital during Emperor Yan period, also ancient city of Yin Dynasty and Lu State of Zhou Dynasty. The city owns the San Kong (three Confucius sites), top cultural highlight that have been listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage since 1994.
Temple of Confucius (Kong Miao 孔庙)
Unesco World Heritage
the biggest Confucius temple in China, was converted from Confucius’s former residence in 478 BC the following year after his death, then went through years of expansion and renovation, so the temple has now become a huge magnificent ancient architecture. Most buildings were works completed in the Ming & Qing Dynasties, a similar architectural style of Forbidden City of Beijing. Halls, pavilions and archways settled in the nine courtyards with special spots Dacheng Hall (大成殿), Lingxing Gate (棂星门), Kuiwen Tower (奎文阁), Xingtan (杏坛) and Forest of Steles (碑林). A total of 12 different emperors visited Qufu to worship Confucius. It covers an area of 16000 square meters with a total of 460 rooms, built on a central axis in a north-south direction with about 1.3 kilometers in length and around 9 courtyards. The houses, rooms, and courtyards are very impressive with the traditional Chinese decorative elements of yellow glazed tiles, red-painted walls, and green trees. It was built in imitation of the imperial palace. It is one of the three largest ancient buildings in China.
Main buildings in the temple are:
Kuiwen Pavilion 奎文阁
the library of Confucius Temple, a pavilion dedicated to the collection of books and paintings given by emperors of past dynasties
Thirteen Stele Pavilion 十三碑亭
there are 8 steles in the south and 5 in the north, commonly known as the Imperial Stele Pavilion, built by the emperors of different dynasties to offer sacrifices to Confucius
Xintan Pavilion 杏坛
standing in the center of the courtyard in front of Dacheng Hall and built to commemorates Confucius teaching his students under an apricot tree.
Dacheng Hall 大成殿
covering an area of 54 by 34 meters and serving as the principal place for offering sacrifices to the memory of Confucius, a place where Confucius lectured in his late years. There is a statue of Confucius in the middle of the hall with other statues of his students: Yanzi, Zengzi, Zisi, and Mencius
Unesco World Heritage
the biggest Confucius temple in China, was converted from Confucius’s former residence in 478 BC the following year after his death, then went through years of expansion and renovation, so the temple has now become a huge magnificent ancient architecture. Most buildings were works completed in the Ming & Qing Dynasties, a similar architectural style of Forbidden City of Beijing. Halls, pavilions and archways settled in the nine courtyards with special spots Dacheng Hall (大成殿), Lingxing Gate (棂星门), Kuiwen Tower (奎文阁), Xingtan (杏坛) and Forest of Steles (碑林). A total of 12 different emperors visited Qufu to worship Confucius. It covers an area of 16000 square meters with a total of 460 rooms, built on a central axis in a north-south direction with about 1.3 kilometers in length and around 9 courtyards. The houses, rooms, and courtyards are very impressive with the traditional Chinese decorative elements of yellow glazed tiles, red-painted walls, and green trees. It was built in imitation of the imperial palace. It is one of the three largest ancient buildings in China.
Main buildings in the temple are:
Kuiwen Pavilion 奎文阁
the library of Confucius Temple, a pavilion dedicated to the collection of books and paintings given by emperors of past dynasties
Thirteen Stele Pavilion 十三碑亭
there are 8 steles in the south and 5 in the north, commonly known as the Imperial Stele Pavilion, built by the emperors of different dynasties to offer sacrifices to Confucius
Xintan Pavilion 杏坛
standing in the center of the courtyard in front of Dacheng Hall and built to commemorates Confucius teaching his students under an apricot tree.
Dacheng Hall 大成殿
covering an area of 54 by 34 meters and serving as the principal place for offering sacrifices to the memory of Confucius, a place where Confucius lectured in his late years. There is a statue of Confucius in the middle of the hall with other statues of his students: Yanzi, Zengzi, Zisi, and Mencius
Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu 孔府)
Unesco World Heritage
also known as Yansheng mansion, was the historical residence of the direct descendants of Confucius in the City of Qufu, a typical Chinese aristocratic family compound, with the structures that date mainly from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including total of 463 halls, rooms, pavilions, and porches, with nine courtyards, a combination of official office and inner house in Chinese feudal society. After the death of Confucius, the descendants lived beside the temple for generations, guarding the temple and taking care of the remains of Confucius. The Confucius Mansion covers an area of about 7.4 hectares.
There is a front hall, middle house, and back garden. The front hall is the government office, which is divided into the hall, the second Hall, and the third hall. It is the place where the descendant of Confucius, Yan Shenggong deals with official business. In the front hall, there are six offices, serving the Confucius temple and the government.
The middle house, namely the inner house and the back garden, are the places where Yan Shenggong and his family members lived. These houses are for the master, his wife, young masters, and young ladies.
The backyard garden is also known as Tieshan garden, with a rockery, fish pond, flower dock, bamboo forest, and various bonsai.
Unesco World Heritage
also known as Yansheng mansion, was the historical residence of the direct descendants of Confucius in the City of Qufu, a typical Chinese aristocratic family compound, with the structures that date mainly from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including total of 463 halls, rooms, pavilions, and porches, with nine courtyards, a combination of official office and inner house in Chinese feudal society. After the death of Confucius, the descendants lived beside the temple for generations, guarding the temple and taking care of the remains of Confucius. The Confucius Mansion covers an area of about 7.4 hectares.
There is a front hall, middle house, and back garden. The front hall is the government office, which is divided into the hall, the second Hall, and the third hall. It is the place where the descendant of Confucius, Yan Shenggong deals with official business. In the front hall, there are six offices, serving the Confucius temple and the government.
The middle house, namely the inner house and the back garden, are the places where Yan Shenggong and his family members lived. These houses are for the master, his wife, young masters, and young ladies.
The backyard garden is also known as Tieshan garden, with a rockery, fish pond, flower dock, bamboo forest, and various bonsai.
Confucius Cemetery (Kong Lin 孔林)
Unesco World Heritage
is a cemetery of the Kong clan (the descendants of Confucius) about 1km north of Qufu City, Confucius himself and some of his disciples are buried there, as well as many thousands of his descendants. The are tombs of more than 100,000 descendants of Confucius who have been buried there over a period of about 2000 years. It is surrounded by 7000 meters wall and it is the largest clan cemetery with the longest time span in the world. Over 1000 green cypresses and pine trees lining up on both sides of the road, many of them were planted in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, which gives the cemetery a forest-like appearance. A road runs from the north gate of Qufu to the exterior gate of the cemetery in a straight line.
A wooden archway of Zhishenglin Gate - Holy Forest 至圣林 is the first gate, from here to the north is Guanlou 观楼 or Erlin Gate, a castle-like building. Not far from Guanlou is the Xiangdian hall, which is the place where the incense altar is placed when offering sacrifices to Confucius. Behind the hall, the great tombstone of Confucius is placed there, which were engraved with "Dacheng Zhisheng Wenxuan 大成至圣文宣王墓 (Lord's Tomb). In the East is the tomb of Kong Li, his son; before that, it is the tomb of Kong Ji (Zisi), his grandson.
The construction work of the cemetery started from the Song Dynasty and by the late 18th century the perimeter wall reached a length of 7.5 kilometers with an enclosing area of 3.6 square kilometers.
Unesco World Heritage
is a cemetery of the Kong clan (the descendants of Confucius) about 1km north of Qufu City, Confucius himself and some of his disciples are buried there, as well as many thousands of his descendants. The are tombs of more than 100,000 descendants of Confucius who have been buried there over a period of about 2000 years. It is surrounded by 7000 meters wall and it is the largest clan cemetery with the longest time span in the world. Over 1000 green cypresses and pine trees lining up on both sides of the road, many of them were planted in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, which gives the cemetery a forest-like appearance. A road runs from the north gate of Qufu to the exterior gate of the cemetery in a straight line.
A wooden archway of Zhishenglin Gate - Holy Forest 至圣林 is the first gate, from here to the north is Guanlou 观楼 or Erlin Gate, a castle-like building. Not far from Guanlou is the Xiangdian hall, which is the place where the incense altar is placed when offering sacrifices to Confucius. Behind the hall, the great tombstone of Confucius is placed there, which were engraved with "Dacheng Zhisheng Wenxuan 大成至圣文宣王墓 (Lord's Tomb). In the East is the tomb of Kong Li, his son; before that, it is the tomb of Kong Ji (Zisi), his grandson.
The construction work of the cemetery started from the Song Dynasty and by the late 18th century the perimeter wall reached a length of 7.5 kilometers with an enclosing area of 3.6 square kilometers.
Zhougong Temple
is a temple for worshiping Duke Zhou, the fourth son of King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty. Duke of Zhou, surnamed Ji and Dan, because his manor was in Zhou, he was called Duke of Zhou. The structure of this complex was built during many times through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Covering an area of 31310 square meters, is close to Confucius Temple and Yan temple.
is a temple for worshiping Duke Zhou, the fourth son of King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty. Duke of Zhou, surnamed Ji and Dan, because his manor was in Zhou, he was called Duke of Zhou. The structure of this complex was built during many times through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Covering an area of 31310 square meters, is close to Confucius Temple and Yan temple.
Yan Hui Temple
also known as Fusheng temple, is a temple for worshiping Yan Hui, the favorite disciple of Confucius. Yan Hui is also famous for his virtue among all the disciples of Confucius. Located in the north gate of Qufu City opposite the back garden of Kong Family Mansion.
also known as Fusheng temple, is a temple for worshiping Yan Hui, the favorite disciple of Confucius. Yan Hui is also famous for his virtue among all the disciples of Confucius. Located in the north gate of Qufu City opposite the back garden of Kong Family Mansion.
Wumaci Night Market
the largest commercial street in Qufu City. The night market on the street is very famous in the local area, all kinds of local dishes and snacks can be found there.
the largest commercial street in Qufu City. The night market on the street is very famous in the local area, all kinds of local dishes and snacks can be found there.
Confucius Museum
“modern museum constructed by Shandong provincial party committee and government, which aims at carrying out the serious speech spirits addressed by General Secretary of Xi Jinping during his inspection of Qufu, inheriting and carrying forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture represented by Confucianism”.
“modern museum constructed by Shandong provincial party committee and government, which aims at carrying out the serious speech spirits addressed by General Secretary of Xi Jinping during his inspection of Qufu, inheriting and carrying forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture represented by Confucianism”.