Jining

The Qufu Three Confucian Sites are the Temple of Confucius, the Confucius Mansion and the Confucius Cemetery. The temple was first built in 478 BC, the seventeenth year of Duke Ai of Lu, and the surviving buildings follow the Ming-Qing layout; its Dacheng Hall is ranked with the Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City and the Tiankuang Hall of Dai Temple as one of the three great halls of the East. The mansion was the office and residence of Confucius's direct descendants, and the cemetery is the family burial ground of Confucius and his descendants, with ancient trees reaching the sky. It was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 1994. The Temple of Confucius, the Confucius Mansion and the Confucius Cemetery are together called the “Three Confucian Sites”; they are the symbol of successive Chinese dynasties' commemoration of Confucius and promotion of Confucianism, and a World Cultural Heritage site. Highlights include the Dacheng Hall of the Temple of Confucius and Confucian culture. Tip: the three sites can be covered on foot or by electric cart; hire a guide to understand the ritual system and the steles, and allow at least half a day. Practical info: located at Qufu City, Jining, Shandong; the ticket is ¥140 (combo ticket for the three sites); opening hours are 08:00–17:30. Best season: March–May and September–November are best; Weishan Lake's lotus is most beautiful in summer, and Qufu is comfortable in spring and autumn. It can be combined with Nishan Holy Land, Weishan Lake and Taibai Tower in Jining City for a half-day or one-day itinerary.

Tip: The three sites can be covered on foot or by electric cart; hire a guide to understand the ritual system and t…

• Address: Qufu City, Jining, Shandong
• Ticket: ¥140 (combo ticket for the three sites)
• Opening: 08:00–17:30

Nishan's five peaks stand side by side at 340 metres above sea level, about thirty kilometres southeast of Qufu. Tradition says Confucius's parents prayed at Niqiu and had a son, and in 551 BC Confucius was born at Zou, the settlement below the mountain; at the foot of the mountain stands the Nishan Confucius Temple, which had already been established for worship no later than the Northern Song, and during the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan dynasty (1337) the Nishan Academy was set up here for teaching, so worship and scholarship have continued without a break since the Song and Ming. The scenic area has opened in phases since 2018. Its main feature is a 72-metre-tall bronze statue of Confucius; the Great Hall has a floor area of more than 60,000 square metres, containing the Hall of Assembled Worthies, the Gallery of the Seventy-Two Worthies and the five halls of Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom and Trustworthiness. After dark there are the ritual music performance “Jinsheng Yuzhen” and a light show, and the park gates stay open until 21:00. The Nishan Forum on World Civilisations, founded in 2010, is also held here regularly. Tip: it is recommended to go in the afternoon so that you can watch the evening ritual music performance. Practical info: located at Nishan Town, Qufu City, Jining, Shandong; the ticket is ¥100; opening hours are 09:30–21:00.

Tip: It is recommended to go in the afternoon so that you can watch the evening ritual music performance.

• Address: Nishan Town, Qufu City, Jining, Shandong
• Ticket: ¥100
• Opening: 09:30–21:00

Weishan Lake is in Weishan County, Jining City, and is part of the Nansi Lakes and one of the largest freshwater lakes in northern China. In summer the lotus grows in continuous sheets, and the reed marshes and fishermen's houseboats form the wetland landscape; during the War of Resistance the Railway Guerrillas operated here, and revolutionary culture coexists with lake delicacies. One of the largest freshwater lakes in northern China, where lotus, reeds and fishermen's houseboats form a canal wetland landscape; it is also the setting of the Railway Guerrillas story. Tip: the lotus is most beautiful in summer, and the boat trip takes about 2 hours; it is far from Qufu for the same day, so it is better to plan them separately. Practical info: located at Weishan County, Jining, Shandong; the ticket is about ¥100 (includes boat ticket, subject to the scenic area's notices); opening hours are 08:00–17:30. Best season: March–May and September–November are best; Weishan Lake's lotus is most beautiful in summer, and Qufu is comfortable in spring and autumn. It can be combined with the Qufu Three Confucian Sites, Nishan Holy Land and Taibai Tower in Jining City for a half-day or one-day itinerary. It is advisable to confirm the day's opening and reservation policy before setting out and to allow sufficient visiting time.

Tip: The lotus is most beautiful in summer, and the boat trip takes about 2 hours; it is far from Qufu for the same…

• Address: Weishan County, Jining, Shandong
• Ticket: About ¥100 (includes boat ticket; subject to the scenic area's notices)
• Opening: 08:00–17:30