Things to do in Qufu

The Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, and Confucius Cemetery (the Three Confucian Sites) are rich in history and culture, especially the Confucius Temple, which is the ancestral temple of Confucianism worldwide and is well worth a visit. Many artifacts from the Confucius Mansion have been moved to the Confucius Museum. The Confucius Cemetery is a bit far to walk from; you'll need to take a taxi and then a shuttle bus within the scenic area.

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.

The visitor center's parking lot is very large and well-planned, allowing for quick entry and exit even during the National Day holiday. A short bus ride of about ten minutes from the visitor center takes you to the scenic area, which is very beautiful. Located right next to the reservoir, it features a lake, architecture, and stunning scenery. Inside the Nishan Academy, you can watch exciting acrobatic performances. The five halls representing benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness within the academy are enormous and impressive, each with its own unique design. The visit concluded with a spectacular fountain and fireworks show in the evening, making it a very satisfying experience for visitors.

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!

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.

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.

The Confucius Cemetery, originally called the Sacred Forest, is located 1.5 kilometers north of Qufu City, Jining, Shandong Province. It is the family cemetery of Confucius and his descendants. Construction began in the 16th year of Duke Ai of Lu during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (479 BC). After more than 2,500 years of development, it has now become a vast garden covering approximately 2 square kilometers, making it the world's longest-lasting, largest, and best-preserved clan cemetery. The Confucius Cemetery is not only a solemn mausoleum but also a "natural museum" rich in cultural connotations and a "chronicle of the Confucius family."

The light show at night is a highlight. The colorful lights decorate the bridge and the river bank so beautifully that people can't help but stop and admire them. The boat trip is very interesting, and the water curtain show and micro performances are very good.

The Yan Temple was built to commemorate Yan Hui and is a free attraction. It's a ten-minute walk from the east gate of the Confucius Temple. The archway at the entrance dates back to the Ming Dynasty, while the Louxiang Well is even older. Although the Leting Pavilion and Fusheng Hall are reconstructions, they are very well-preserved. My middle school student had just studied a classical Chinese essay about Yan Hui last semester, so the experience was excellent. Overall, it's worth a visit.

When I first arrived in Qufu, I was surprised to see that Qufu also had a city wall. When I went to the scenic area and passed by the city wall, I realized that it was the Ming City of Qufu. The Confucius Mansion and Temple are inside the Ming City. The Ming City Wall has also undergone many renovations and is very magnificent!