Jining

Things to do in Jining

Search attractions or local attractions & tours
Search

Explore top experiences

Top 10 attractions in Jining

View all Attractions
Nishan Sacred Land
Selected for Fall Viewing Attractions in Shandong

Nishan Sacred Land

7.1
4.5/5
7.2k reviews
Nishan Holy Land: Located in Nishan, Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, adjacent to the Nishan Confucian Temple, the overall planning covers an area of 44.78 square kilometers, with the overall idea of "Confucius' world, the world's Confucius" as the overall idea, with "cultural virtuous resort" and " World-class cultural tourism destination" is the overall positioning, integrating cultural exchange, cultural experience, learning and enlightenment, eco-tourism, leisure vacation, education and training, and is known as "another frontier window for the world to know Shandong and China." . There are statues of Confucius, the Great Hall, the Hall of Seventy-two Sages, five halls of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith, and the performance of "Sound of Gold and Jade Vibration". Scenic tours are divided into night tours and day tours. The outdoor activities mainly include: Nishan Shengxiu + UAV performances (night activities)-shocking light and shadow composed of light, shadow, water curtain, fountain, fireworks, and drones Water show performances, Ren Shan Zhi Shui experience the joy of the sacred landscape landscape. Respecting the ancestors activities (matine session)--respecting the ancestor Confucius, ascending the steps to pray for blessings, and gaining insight into the wisdom of saints. Indoor activities mainly include: The Way of the University, hand-reading the Analects of Confucius, drums and sheng, Mingli Small Theater, Tianxia Guiren Lighting Show, Qipan Dance, Qingge Mandance, Paper Fan Welcome Dance and other activities.Qufu · 19.8km from downtown
Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort
No. 6 of Night Attractions in Shandong

Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort

7.1
4.2/5
1.1k reviews
The Nishan cultural tourism resort is located approx. 25 km southeast of Qufu city, Jining, Shandong province, China, built around the birthplace of Confucius.NishanA cultural tourism complex built with attractions including Nishan holy land,Luyuan villageNishan Confucian temple. The attraction features "etiquette and landscape" as its highlights, serving as an important destination to explore the roots of Confucian culture. It is suitable for culture enthusiasts, families, and study visitors. 1. Core attraction highlights: 1. Birthplace of Confucius:NishanIt is the place of birth of Confucius, the founder of Confucianism (551 BC), known as the "cradle of Confucian culture". The attraction preserves historical sites such as the Confucius Cave (legendary birthplace of Confucius) and the Nishan Confucian Temple. 2. Nishan holy land: The core cultural experience area includes: Nishan sacred land - Confucius statue: A 72 m tall giant bronze statue of Confucius, symbolizing the "72 disciples". University hall: An immersive exhibition space blending architectural aesthetics with Confucian culture, featuring five thematic halls dedicated to benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness. "Jinsheng Yuzhen" performance: A grand ritual music show showcasing the Confucian "enlightened lifestyle of rites". 3. Integration of nature and culture: Surrounded by Nishan Reservoir (Confucius Lake), the landscape blends ecological harmony with poetic charm. 2. Main attractions: 1Nishan Confucian temple and academyOriginally built during the Northern Wei dynasty and renovated through successive dynasties, it serves as an important site for Confucius worship. 2. Fuzi cave: A natural stone cave where Confucius was allegedly abandoned after birth but later retrieved and raised due to miraculous signs. 3Nishan night tourNightlife: Light shows, drone performances and other modern technologies showcasing traditional culture.Qufu · 21.9km from downtown
Confucius Temple
No. 14 of Family-friendly Attractions in Shandong

Confucius Temple

6.6
4.6/5
6k reviews
The Confucius Temple is located in Qufu, a large-scale temple dedicated to Confucius, built on the site of his former residence. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's four great ancient architectural complexes, alongside the Palace Museum, the Chengde Mountain Resort, and the Dai Temple. The architectural complex here is grand and vast, preserving many historical relics and stories. Travel notice On-site guides are available at the visitor service hall and Confucius Temple square. It is recommended to hire a guide to better understand the historical anecdotes of the relics here. If you come in the morning, you can watch the city gate opening ceremony at 8 am outside the south gate of the attraction, featuring performers in ancient costumes. At 5 pm (5:30 pm during peak season), there is a city gate closing ceremony. However, performances are usually suspended during the Spring Festival (please check the attraction's official website for specific announcements). Another thing to note is that the localPrice gougingIt is quite common, and many travelers have encountered taxi drivers, tricycle riders, or guides who trick them into visiting overpriced and obscure man-made attractions or restaurants. Do not easily believe their promotions. Also, try to avoid eating around the attraction, as many nearby restaurants overcharge customers severely. Travel guide Here there are nine courtyards in total, with over a hundred buildings symmetrically arranged on both sides of the central axis. After entering the first memorial gate, "Confucius Temple - Lingxing Gate," and looking inward, one sees gateways layered deep beyond sight. Next, you will pass through the Confucius Temple - Shengshi Gate, Confucius Temple - Hongdao Gate, Dazhong Gate, and Tongwen Gate in sequence, with lush courtyards between each gate. Among them, there is a corner tower on each side near the corners of the Dazhong Gate, while the Tongwen Gate has two large stone steles on each side, which are the famous four imperial steles from the Ming Dynasty. Beyond the Tongwen Gate stands the towering Kuixing Pavilion, a library building originally constructed during the Song Dynasty. Past the Kuixing Pavilion, you'll find thirteen stele pavilions housing over fifty stone inscriptions from various dynasties, primarily recording imperial temple renovations and sacrificial ceremonies. Further ahead lies the Dacheng Gate, whose name plaque bears the calligraphy of Emperor Yongzheng from the Qing Dynasty. The architectural highlight here is the interlocking flying eaves between the Dacheng Gate and adjacent stele pavilions. Beyond the Dacheng Gate stands a pavilion named "Confucius Temple - Apricot Altar," built by Confucius' descendants to commemorate his teaching. Further ahead lies the majestic Confucius Temple - Dacheng Hall, with its twenty-eight stone columns adorned with cloud-and-dragon relief carvings. Inside the hall hang inscribed plaques, including Emperor Kangxi's calligraphy "Model teacher for all ages" and Emperor Guangxu's "The essence of culture resides here." Confucius Temple - Dacheng Hall is the main hall and iconic building of the attraction. It is known as one of the "three great halls of the East" along with the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Palace Museum and the Tiankuang Hall in Dai Temple. The hall enshrines a statue of Confucius in the center, flanked by statues of his 72 disciples and other Confucian sages. Major Confucius worship activities by emperors throughout history were held here. Today, many visitors come here daily, among whom areDacheng HallIt used to be quite popular for incense offerings. Dacheng HallThe rear hall enshrines Confucius' wife Qiguan Shi, while the hall of sacred traces contains stone-carved comic strips depicting Confucius' deeds. Additionally,Dacheng HallThe western path features structures for worshipping Confucius's parents, while the eastern path includes Confucius's former residence and the Lu Wall. The "Lu Wall" is a short section of low wall where, according to legend, Confucius's descendants hid his bamboo scrolls during the Qin Shi Huang's "burning of books and burying of scholars" era. During Emperor Wu of Han's reign, bamboo slips such as the "Analects" and the "Classic of Filial Piety" were discovered here. Attraction activities Throughout dynasties, it has been a place for worshipping Confucius, and the Confucius worship activity continues to this day. In recent years, the grand Confucius memorial ceremony is usually held between September 26 and October 10 annually, featuring large-scale temple music and dance activities. You can see many participants wearing Hanfu and traditional hats, along with people from all walks of life coming to pay homage to the sage Confucius.Qufu · 1.5km from downtown
Confucius Museum
No. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Qufu

Confucius Museum

6.2
4.9/5
622 reviews
The Confucius Museum is a museum built to commemorate Confucius, showcase Confucius' thoughts and doctrines, and spread and promote traditional culture represented by Confucian culture. It is located at No. 100 Confucius Avenue, Qufu City, Shandong Province. The main building is based on the imitation of Han-style architecture. It is a large-scale modern museum with a clear theme and comprehensive features. Construction began in early 2013 and it officially opened on September 6, 2019. The collections of the Confucius Museum are mainly from the old collections accumulated by the Confucius Mansion over thousands of years in history, and its profound cultural support is the long and splendid history of Confucius' hometown. The Confucius Museum is an extension of the "Three Confucius" cultural heritage. It has a rich collection of 700,000 cultural relics of various types. The world-famous collections include 300,000 private documents and archives of the Confucius Mansion from the Ming Dynasty to 1948, more than 40,000 rare ancient books since the Song Dynasty, more than 8,000 Ming and Qing Dynasty costumes, and a large number of ritual instruments related to the worship of Confucius. The Confucius Museum has a total exhibition area of ​​17,000 square meters. The Upward exhibition hall is the basic exhibition of Confucius, which consists of the preface hall and five parts. The preface hall gives a comprehensive introduction to Confucius through multimedia projection. The five parts are Confucius' era, Confucius' life, Confucius' wisdom, Confucius and Chinese civilization, and Confucius and world civilization. The Downward exhibition hall is the basic exhibition of poetry and rituals, which is divided into three units: Yuyin Baishi, Confucius Mansion Archives, and Quli Legacy. In addition, there is a special exhibition hall for temporary exhibitions. The exhibition uses cultural relics and artistic scenes as carriers, high technology as a means, and serves the public, especially young students, as the main goal, highlighting interactive experience and perception.Qufu · 2.9km from downtown
Shuipo Liangshan Scenic Area
No. 4 of Family-friendly Attractions in Jining

Shuipo Liangshan Scenic Area

5.9
4.1/5
1.6k reviews
Shuipo Liangshan Scenic Area is located in Liangshan County. This is the birthplace of the stories in "Water Margin," where the layout of Liangshan's stronghold and architectural scenes have been recreated according to the descriptions in the novel. Here, you can enjoy ancient costume performances such as "Majestic Gongs and Drums" and "Heroes Welcoming Guests," listen to traditional Shandong Kuaishu and Lianhualuo, and watch exciting performances like Liangshan martial arts and folk customs such as cockfighting and sheep fighting, experiencing the rich culture of "Water Margin." The Water Margin-themed performances are a major highlight of Shuipo Liangshan Scenic Area, where you can watch various scenes related to the classic novel "Water Margin," such as "Yang Zhi Selling His Sword," "Yan Qing's Martial Arts Challenge," and "The Real and Fake Li Kui." You'll be amazed by the ancient-costumed "heroes" showcasing their impressive martial arts skills – it's truly spectacular. Additionally, you can enjoy wonderful folk art performances like Shandong clapper ballads, qinshu storytelling, and lotus chant. All these performances are included in your admission ticket and have fixed performance times and locations. We recommend arriving early in the morning, as the attraction's broadcast announcements will help you plan your visit to catch these shows. Shuipo Liangshan Scenic Area centers around Liangshan Mountain, featuring numerous structures built along the mountainside including the stronghold gate, Left Army Camp, Right Army Camp, Command Platform, and Loyalty Hall, recreating the majestic appearance of the Liangshan stronghold. With an elevation of 197.9m, the mountain isn't particularly high but has steep climbing paths. Hiking up allows visitors to experience the strategic terrain described as "one warrior guarding the pass can stop ten thousand troops." The attraction also offers horseback riding tours up Liangshan, where visitors can follow the ancient horse trail directly to the Loyalty Hall at the summit. Within the attraction stands the ancient Lotus Terrace Temple, founded by a Tang Dynasty monk. Built against the mountain, its halls are arranged in picturesque disorder. The temple houses a statue of Sakyamuni carved from a natural boulder. During Buddhist festivals each year, numerous devotees come to pray, making it a highly active site of worship.Liangshan · 1.7km from downtown

Traveller favourites curated for you

Experiences you can't miss in Jining

Featured Day tours in Jining

View all Day tours

More things to do

Private Tours in Jining

View More Private Tours in Jining

Group Tours in Jining

View More Group Tours in Jining
Jining Today's weatherFoggy 4-16℃
Jining weather for the next 2 days11/2: 8-19℃, 11/3: 9-19℃

Free things to do in Jining

What travellers say about Jining

user-avatar
Anonymous user31 October 2026
5.0
Amazing place, have similar vibes as the forbidden city in Beijing. A place full of history and great architecture.

Qufu's Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion

user-avatar
愚人老石26 October 2026
5.0
Nestled amidst mountains and water, Nishan offers stunning autumn scenery via a scenic shuttle bus along winding mountain roads, or you can walk to the park. Gazing at the intermittently appearing Laozi statue, visitors can follow performances at different times by scanning a QR code. The park also features the University Hall, allowing visitors to soak in its cultural atmosphere. The nighttime scenery and light show are breathtaking, with the "Golden Sound and Jade Resonance" performance being particularly creative. Note: Individual visitors must take the free shuttle bus from the visitor center to enter the park.

Nishan Sacred Land

user-avatar
Liu Kai🍀4 October 2026
5.0
The hotel is located within the scenic area and has its own parking lot. On our first day, they gave us snacks and drinks, and when we left, they gave us a souvenir—a copy of the Analects of Confucius. The hotel was very clean and tidy, and they upgraded our room for free. Overall, it exceeded our expectations and is a great place to stay when visiting the Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, and Confucius Cemetery.

Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort

user-avatar
_We***541 September 2026
5.0
The official guide, Mr. Li, was excellent and definitely a plus for our experience at the Confucius Temple! Because it was past the summer holidays, there weren't many tourists, which made it a really pleasant experience. Mr. Li spoke softly and gently, making the explanations very comfortable, and the content was rich and interactive. Highly recommended!

Confucius Temple

user-avatar
Anonymous user17 October 2026
5.0
Having traveled extensively and visited numerous museums, this was my first time hiring a guided tour. Today, there weren't many people in my group; I was the only one, meaning the guide was essentially providing a one-on-one explanation. Our guide, Wang Xuemei, didn't slack off just because she was only serving one person. Instead, she spoke calmly and patiently, without rushing me. She not only explained the origins and stories of the artifacts but also incorporated current online trends, answering my questions along the way. The guided tour lasted nearly 2.5 hours, truly excellent value for money. It gave me a much deeper understanding of Confucius and Confucianism. Thank you! A must-see!

Confucius Museum

user-avatar
Anonymous user4 September 2026
5.0
This was my first time visiting the island, and I was impressed by the professionalism and excellent attitude of the staff who operated the ferry, tour bus, and lake boats. Shandong is truly hospitable!

Weishan Lake Tourist Area

user-avatar
M31***625 October 2026
5.0
Having seen Yang Zhi Selling His Knife, Cleverly Seizing the Birthday Gifts, Wu Song Fighting the Tiger, and the Real and Fake Li Kui, the overall experience was quite good. The only slight regret was that it didn't feel like a deep dive into the story. The staff at the scenic area were very polite and enthusiastic, and there weren't too many tourists, which was acceptable.

Shuipo Liangshan Scenic Area

user-avatar
游吟诗人大山猫7 October 2026
4.0
They're all imitation ancient buildings, one large courtyard, overly commercialized. The back garden is alright, but the Confucius Mansion in the Three Confucius Sites area isn't good value for money. It's not as nice as the Confucius Temple.

Kong Family Mansion

user-avatar
꧁༺ཌ༈honey姐༈ད༻꧂5 October 2026
5.0
Although it's a man-made ancient town, it's truly beautiful, especially when the lights are on. The daytime "One Breeze" performance and the evening "Lu Yuan Celebrates a Bountiful Year" show are both spectacular. The downside is the guokui (a type of flatbread) I bought on the intangible cultural heritage street—the beef and preserved vegetable flavors were basically just two pieces of dough with almost no filling, and they weren't cheap either. Be careful when buying from there.

Nishan Luyuan Village Scenic Area

user-avatar
Delia_Zhang5 October 2026
5.0
During the National Day holiday, the Meng Temple was still quite crowded, with performances every hour. P1 Imperial Stele for the Meng Temple (Kangxi Stele Pavilion) P2 ​​Stele commemorating the place where Mencius' mother cut the loom, the shrine to Mencius' mother who moved three times, and the place where Zisi wrote the Doctrine of the Mean P3 Stele commemorating the portrait of the sage, and the eulogy to Zisi P4 Stele commemorating the imperial edict of the Yuan Dynasty, where Emperor Wenzong of Yuan posthumously conferred upon Mencius the title of "Second Sage of Zou," with the upper part in Phagspa script and the lower part in Chinese script. P5 Stele commemorating the posthumous titles of Mencius' father and mother, where Emperor Renzong of Yuan posthumously conferred upon Mencius' father the title of "Duke of Zhu" and his mother the title of "Lady Xuanxian of Zhu." P6 Imperial Stele of Emperor Qianlong (Eulogy to Mencius) P7 Stele commemorating the official precepts of benevolence, integrity, public service, and diligence: Erected in the Ming Dynasty, the stele has four sides engraved with precepts on benevolence, integrity, public service, and diligence, the content of which originates from the principles of official conduct proposed by Zhen Dexiu of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Temple and Family Mansion of Mencius

Trip Moments in Jining

Popular cities near Jining

Frequently asked questions

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include 1-day tour to Shandong Weishan Lake + Railway Guerrilla Memorial Park + Weizi Cultural Garden - Chinese/English service, 1-day tour to Mount Taishan + Yuhuang Ding + Dai Temple in Tai'an, Shandong with Chinese and English service available, and 1-day tour to Mount Taishan + Yuhuang Ding + Dai Temple from Jinan with Chinese and English service available. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 1 November 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Jining is around TWD 2,781 – TWD 8,900. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

Get help anytime, anywhere within 30 secondsContact customer support

Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

Ticket prices may vary between weekdays and weekends, as well as during peak and off-peak seasons. When booking with Trip.com, you can also use Trip Coins to get extra savings. For more tips on booking discounted tickets, please visit Trip.com for the latest information.