Temple of Confucius, Qufu (孔庙)

The Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Jining, Shandong, China, is the principal shrine to the philosopher and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage site listed in 1994 as the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion. Founded in 478 BC, the year after Confucius died, it grew over the centuries into a vast complex of more than 460 rooms arranged along a north-south axis, with nine courtyards, dozens of gate towers and pavilions, and hundreds of stone steles. Its centrepiece is the Dacheng Hall (Hall of Great Achievement), raised on a terrace and ringed by carved stone dragon pillars, which is among the largest historic timber halls in China. Other highlights include the Kuiwen Pavilion library, the Apricot Altar where Confucius is said to have taught, the Poetry and Ritual Hall, and stele pavilions with imperial inscriptions. Visitors normally walk the axis from the south gate through cypress-lined courtyards to the main hall and back through the side halls, which takes two to three hours. The complex is on Queli Street inside the old city, close to the Kong Family Mansion, and a combined ticket covers both plus the Cemetery of Confucius. Weekday mornings are quietest; large tour groups arrive from mid-morning, and the Confucius birthday festival in late September brings heavy crowds and ceremonies. Photographers favour the dragon pillars of Dacheng Hall, the old cypress avenues and the red walls in low afternoon light. Qufu is reached by high-speed rail to Qufu East station, then bus 1 or a taxi of about fifteen minutes to the old city gate area.