- Location: Qufu City, Shandong Province

Qufu, Shandong Province, is the hometown of Confucius (551-479 BC), a great thinker, statesman and educator in China's history, and the founder of the Confucian school of philosophy. The place abounds with cultural relics, the most famous of which are the Confucian Temple (孔庙), the Confucian Cemetery (孔林) and the Confucian Family Mansion (孔府).

The Confucian Temple, in the center of Qufu City, was built in 478 BC. There are still 466 halls, pavilions and other rooms intact, covering a total area of 200 mu (13.3 hectares). The Great Accomplishment Hall, the major structure of the temple, is 33 meters tall. It is roofed with yellow glazed tiles and has octagonal eaves. In addition to a statue of Confucius, the hall also houses stone inscriptions of the Ming Dynasty, telling the life story of Confucius in 120 pictures as well as a host of stone tablets.

The Confucian Family Mansion, right next to the Confucian Temple, was the residence of Confucius' descendants and is topped only by the imperial palace in scale. Covering an area of 12 hectares, the family mansion now houses a large number of documents, files and cultural relics.

Travel Tips:

1. The ticket prices of the Confucian Temple, Cemetery and Family Mansion are respectively 90 yuan, 40 yuan and 60 yuan. Senior citizens between the age of 60 and 70 receive 50 percent discounts, while those over 70 get in for free. Disabled persons can get up to the second level for free and receive 50 percent discount for visiting the third level.

- Hours: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

- Admission: 150 yuan

- Tel: 86-537-4412516/4412689

- How to get there: take bus No.1, 2, 3 and 5

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