The Confucius Temple was first built in the Song Dynasty. It is located beside Gongyuan Street on the north bank of the Qinhuai River. Originally, it was a place to worship Confucius. Later, it was destroyed and rebuilt many times.
It is known as one of the four major Confucius temples in China along with the Confucius Temple in Beijing, the Confucius Temple in Qufu, and the Jilin Confucian Temple. It is also a major scenic spot in the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai River Scenic Area.
There is a Folk Art Grand View Garden in the Confucius Temple. You can watch the on-site production of handicrafts such as lanterns, paper cuttings, and micro-carvings, and listen to local operas and Nanjing Baiju.
During the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival every year, the Confucius Temple will hold the Spring Festival Lantern Festival (also known as the Qinhuai Lantern Festival or Jinling Lantern Festival). Especially during the Lantern Festival, thousands of lanterns are lit up, and there are crowds of tourists.
In addition, the Confucius Temple also holds exhibitions and activities such as ‘Yuhuashi Exhibition’, ‘Ancient Etiquette Culture Exhibition’, and ‘Ancient Elegant Music Performance’ from time to time, which is very lively.
The entire Confucius Temple complex has a Confucian temple in the front and an academy in the rear.The layout is symmetrical. From south to north, it forms a central axis of Confucian culture. Crossing the Lingxing Gate and Dacheng Gate is the central temple courtyard. The stone-paved corridor leads directly to the Dacheng Hall. In front of the hall stands a bronze statue of Confucius more than 4 meters high. On both sides of the corridor are white marble statues of the Twelve Sages.
Dacheng Hall
The Dacheng Hall is the main hall of the Confucius Temple. Inside hangs a portrait of Confucius more than 6 meters high, which is known as a masterpiece of Confucius temples in China. On the four walls of the hall are 38 colored stone inlaid murals ‘The Sacred Traces of Confucius’, reflecting Confucius’ life story.
Folk Art Grand View Garden
Exiting from the back door of the Dacheng Hall, you arrive at the academy, including Mingde Hall, Zunjing Pavilion (that is, the Folk Art Grand View Garden), etc. On the gate is a plaque inscribed by Qin Dashì, the number one scholar in the late Qing Dynasty, which reads ‘The Number One School in Southeast China’. On the south side of the academy stand four stone tablets. Among them, the ‘Confucius Asking about Rituals Stele’ is particularly famous. It records Confucius’ experience of going from his hometown to Luoyang, the capital of the Zhou Dynasty, to inspect the legal systems and can be called a ‘treasure of the temple’.
Qinhuai River Snacks
While visiting the Confucius Temple, naturally, you should also experience the snacks of the Qinhuai River.
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In this area, you’ll find an abundance of dining options. Be sure to try the local specialties such as crab shell yellow烧饼, dried shredded shrimps, beef pot stickers, chicken shredded noodles, and duck blood vermicelli soup. Moreover, there are numerous shops lining the streets, offering a variety of souvenirs at affordable prices, all imbued with the distinctive charm of Qinhuai.
For families with young children, there is a nursery room conveniently located within the scenic area. As for shopping, you’ll find several convenience stores scattered throughout the area, positioned near the main roads of the attraction. These stores accept payments through WeChat and Alipay, making your shopping experience seamless and convenient.
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