Temple, Cemetery and Mansion of Confucius in Qufu

Background

Qufu is the hometown of Confucius. The Temple was first built in 478 BCE (the 17th year of Duke Ai of Lu) and was repeatedly enlarged over the dynasties; sacrifices have continued there for more than two thousand years. It is one of the largest and oldest Confucius temples surviving in China, and the forerunner and model for Confucius temples elsewhere. The Mansion was the residence of Confucius's descendants who held the hereditary title of Duke Yansheng; it was first built in the Song dynasty and rebuilt and enlarged in the Ming. The Cemetery is the burial ground of Confucius and many of his descendants, with ancient cypresses forming a forest. The three sites were inscribed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994. Chinese Wikipedia gives 1994 for the Temple and Mansion and 1997 for the Cemetery as an extension, while the UNESCO archive describes a single inscription in 1994; the official UNESCO List prevails.

Local customs

• You can follow the Temple's central axis past Lingxing Gate, Kuiwen Pavilion, the Apricot Altar, Dacheng Hall and the steles
• visit the Mansion to see its layout of front halls, rear residence and back garden
• and walk among the ancient cypresses and tomb paths of the Cemetery to feel its solemn atmosphere. The three sites are visited separately, so allow plenty of walking time.

Travel tips

• The three sites are not in one compound: the Temple and Mansion stand side by side inside Qufu and can be visited on foot, while the Cemetery lies to the north of the city, farther away, and needs separate local transport. The historic complex has many stone-paved paths, so wear comfortable walking shoes
• opening hours, reservations and combined tickets follow official announcements, as do intercity services to Qufu and local routes.
• Spring and autumn suit long outdoor walks best
• guard against heat in summer and cold in winter, and note that stone paths are slippery in the rain.