Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) and Qinhuai River

The Confucius Temple, or Fuzimiao, is the centre of the Qinhuai District's historic riverside area in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China. The original temple dates back to the Song dynasty and was rebuilt repeatedly, most recently in the late 20th century after wartime damage. The compound honours Confucius and served historically as a place of learning, with the Jiangnan Examination Hall, the city's imperial civil-service exam centre, standing nearby. Inside the temple gates, visitors find halls with red pillars and upturned eaves, a Confucius statue and courtyards, while the surrounding streets are packed with restaurants, tea houses, souvenir shops and street-food stalls selling Nanjing specialities such as duck blood soup, plum-blossom cakes and salted duck. The Qinhuai River runs along the front of the district, spanned by stone bridges and lined with willows and Ming-Qing style buildings. Wooden boats, often decorated in traditional style, carry passengers along the river for around ¥80 per person, passing under bridges and by the Zhan Garden area. A visit usually takes two to three hours, longer if dining. The district changes character through the day: mornings are calm and best for the temple courtyards, while evening is the signature experience, when thousands of lanterns light the river and facades and the promenade fills with strolling crowds. The busiest times are evenings, weekends and festivals, particularly the Lantern Festival and Spring Festival period, when the lantern displays are at their most elaborate. The riverside promenade is open around the clock and free, while the temple compound charges about ¥30, with free entry for children under 1.2 metres. Photographers gravitate to the bridges over the river at dusk for reflected lantern light. The area is a three-minute walk from Fuzimiao Metro Station on Line 3 and adjoins the Laomendong historic quarter. Prices in the tourist streets run higher than elsewhere in the city, so visitors often venture a block back for cheaper meals.