Nanjing Confucius Temple - Qinhuai Scenic Belt is located in Qinhuai District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, centered on the Confucius Temple ancient architectural complex and with the ten-mile Qinhuai River as the axis, covering a total area of approximately 4.69 square kilometers. The scenic area integrates natural scenery, historical sites, and folk culture. Within its core area, there are more than 50 historical buildings of various types, including the Ming Dynasty city wall, ancient dwellings, temples, and nunneries. Among them, 3 are national key cultural relics protection units and 10 are provincial-level cultural relics protection units. As Nanjing's mother river, the Qinhuai River flows through the scenic area, with numerous restaurants and teahouses lined up along both banks, presenting the unique style of "the ten-mile Qinhuai River flowing for thousands of years, and the historic site of the Six Dynasties more glorious today". It is not only a microcosm of Nanjing's history and culture but also an important window showcasing Jiangnan folk customs, attracting a large number of tourists every year for sightseeing and experience.
History and Culture
The history of the Confucius Temple - Qinhuai Scenic Belt can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. As a natural waterway, the Qinhuai River has witnessed the rise and fall of Nanjing. During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Quan established his capital here, and settlements began to form along both banks of the Qinhuai River; from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it became a settlement for prominent families, with an increasingly strong cultural atmosphere.
After the Sui and Tang dynasties, the banks of the Qinhuai River gradually became a gathering place for literati and scholars. The Tang poem "Mist shrouds the cold water, moonlight shrouds the sand; mooring at Qinhuai at night, near the wine shop" depicted the prosperous scene at that time. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Qinhuai scenery reached its peak. The Confucius Temple became the cultural and educational center in the Jiangnan region. During the imperial examination period, countless candidates gathered here, and the surrounding commercial streets and entertainment venues emerged, forming a unique "Qinhuai culture".
The folk culture in the scenic area is rich and colorful. The Confucius Temple Lantern Festival during the Spring Festival originated in the Southern Dynasties and has a history of more than 1,700 years. Every year from the first to the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, various colored lanterns light up the banks of the Qinhuai River, attracting millions of tourists. In addition, traditional activities such as the Dragon Boat Race on the Dragon Boat Festival and moon appreciation on the Mid-Autumn Festival have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming cultural bonds connecting the past and the present.
Main Attractions
Nanjing Confucius Temple
Nanjing Confucius Temple was first built in the third year of Xiankang in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (337 AD). It has undergone numerous damages and reconstructions. The existing buildings were rebuilt in 1984 in the style of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of approximately 26,300 square meters. Its core buildings include the Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Mingde Hall. The Dacheng Hall houses statues of Confucius and his disciples, and the walls inside the hall are inlaid with stone carvings of "The Life of Confucius", which vividly show the life story of Confucius. Together with the Confucius Temple in Beijing and the Confucius Temple in Qufu, it is known as one of the three major Confucian temples in China. It was the highest institution of learning in ancient Nanjing and an important carrier of imperial examination culture. Now it is a special museum displaying Confucian culture and imperial examination history.
Qinhuai River Boat Tour
The Qinhuai River boat tour is a characteristic project for visiting the Qinhuai scenery. The route covers the core section of the "ten-mile Qinhuai River" from Dongshuiguan to Xishuiguan, with a total length of about 5 kilometers. The boats are divided into two types: antique boats and modern cruise ships. The antique boats are elegantly decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, capable of holding 30-50 people. Tourists take the boats westward along the river, enjoying views of the Confucius Temple, Jiangnan Examination Hall, Li Xiangjun's Former Residence, etc., while listening to the boatmen tell stories about the history of Qinhuai. Night tours on the Qinhuai River are the best way to experience it. With lanterns hanging high on both banks, ancient buildings shine brightly under the light, recreating the scene of "the Qinhuai River in the sound of oars and the shadow of lights". The one-way tour takes about 50 minutes.
Jiangnan Examination Hall
Jiangnan Examination Hall was first built in the fourth year of Qiandao in the Southern Song Dynasty (1168 AD). It was the largest imperial examination venue in ancient China. At its peak, it covered an area of about 300,000 square meters, with 20,644 examination sheds, capable of accommodating more than 20,000 candidates at the same time. The existing buildings are relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Mingyuan Building, Zhigong Hall, and examination sheds. Among them, Mingyuan Building is the central building of the examination hall, 17.8 meters high, with a three-story quadrangular pyramidal roof structure, and it was the place for monitoring candidates during the imperial examinations. Now, Jiangnan Examination Hall has been converted into the China Imperial Examination Museum, which showcases the development of the imperial examination system through cultural relic exhibitions and scene restorations. Some of the original examination sheds are still preserved in the museum, allowing tourists to experience simulated imperial examinations.
Zhonghuamen Wengcheng
Zhonghuamen Wengcheng was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, originally named "Jubao Gate". It is one of the thirteen gates of the Nanjing Ming City Wall, covering an area of about 15,000 square meters. It consists of three Wengcheng (enclosure walls) and four arch gates, with a wall height of 21.45 meters. It has 27 soldier hiding holes, capable of accommodating thousands of soldiers. It is the largest and best-preserved fortress-style Wengcheng existing in China. The Wengcheng has an ingenious structure, with both defensive and passage functions, reflecting the superb city-building technology of the Ming Dynasty. Climbing up to the Zhonghuamen tower, you can overlook the scenery of the Qinhuai River and the panoramic view of the Confucius Temple. The walls still retain the brick inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty, recording information about the city-building craftsmen at that time.
Li Xiangjun's Former Residence
Li Xiangjun's Former Residence, also known as "Meixiang Tower", is located on Chaoku Street. It was the residence of Li Xiangjun, one of the eight beauties of Qinhuai in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The existing building is in the style of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of about 200 square meters. The former residence is a two-story brick-and-wood structure, with a statue of Li Xiangjun in the courtyard. The upper floor displays historical materials and calligraphy and painting works related to Li Xiangjun, restoring her love story with Hou Fangyu and the living scenes of Qinhuai geishas in the late Ming Dynasty. The building has an exquisite layout, with carved wooden windows and a courtyard, reflecting the characteristics of Jiangnan dwellings. It is an important attraction for understanding the Qinhuai romantic culture and the history of the late Ming Dynasty.
Food
Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup
Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup is a signature snack in Nanjing and one of the most popular foods around the Confucius Temple. It is made with duck offal such as duck blood, duck liver, and duck intestines, combined with vermicelli, tofu puffs, and coriander, simmered in duck soup. The soup is clear, the taste is fresh and delicious, and it is both nutritious and flavorful. Stores such as "Huiwei Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup" and "Jinyuan Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup" in the Confucius Temple scenic area have a good reputation, with a bowl priced at about 15-25 yuan. It is a must-try local specialty for tourists.
Salted Duck
Salted Duck is a traditional famous dish in Nanjing, known as "Jinling duck dishes are the best in the world". It uses local lake ducks, made through processes such as marinating and boiling. The finished product has white skin and tender meat, with a salty and fresh taste, and is fatty but not greasy. Time-honored brands around the Confucius Temple, such as "Zhangyun Braised Duck" and "Jinhongxing Duck Shop", offer it for immediate consumption or vacuum-packed for taking away. A half duck is priced at about 30-50 yuan, making it an excellent gift for relatives and friends.
Qinhuai Eight Delicacies
"Qinhuai Eight Delicacies" are eight combinations of characteristic snacks in the Confucius Temple area, including spiced beans and spiced eggs from Kuiguang Pavilion; crab shell yellow cakes and dried shredded shrimps from Yonghe Garden; duck oil crisp cakes and sesame oil plain dried shreds from Qifang Pavilion; green onion cakes and tofu pudding from Liufeng Residence; mixed vegetable buns and chicken shred noodles from Qifang Pavilion; beef pot stickers and beef soup from Jiangyouji; sweet osmanthus stuffed small glutinous rice balls and five-color small cakes from Lianhu Cake Shop; and thin-skinned dumplings and red soup fried fish noodles from Zhanyuan Noodle Restaurant. Each snack is delicate and small, with prices ranging from 3-15 yuan. Tourists can taste them one by one in various time-honored stores to experience the Qinhuai flavor.
Sweet Osmanthus Taro Paste
Sweet Osmanthus Taro Paste is a traditional dessert in Nanjing. It is mainly made of taro, cooked and simmered with brown sugar and lotus root starch, and finally sprinkled with sweet osmanthus honey. It has a soft and glutinous texture, a sweet taste, and a fragrance of sweet osmanthus. It is sold in stores such as Lianhu Cake Shop and Lan Laoda Sweet Porridge and Lotus Root in the Confucius Temple, with a bowl priced at about 8-12 yuan, suitable as a post-meal dessert.
Tickets
It is open to the public free of charge, but some attractions charge a separate fee starting from 30 yuan.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "南京夫子庙" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
It is open all day, and the opening hours of each attraction are different:
- Nanjing Confucius Temple (Dacheng Hall): 8:30-21:00 (April 1 - October 31); 8:30-20:30 (November 1 - March 31 of the following year).
- Jiangnan Examination Hall (China Imperial Examination Museum): 9:00-22:00 (April 1 - October 31); 9:00-21:00 (November 1 - March 31 of the following year).
- Zhonghuamen Wengcheng: 8:30-20:00 (April 1 - October 31); 8:30-17:30 (November 1 - March 31 of the following year).
- Li Xiangjun's Former Residence: 9:00-21:00 (all year round).
- Qinhuai River Boat Tour: 9:00-17:00 during the day, 17:30-22:00 in the evening (the evening closing time is advanced to 21:00 in winter).
Tour Routes
One-Day Essence Tour
Arrive at the Confucius Temple scenic area at 9:00 am, first visit Nanjing Confucius Temple (Dacheng Hall) to learn about Confucian culture, with a visiting time of about 1 hour; at 10:30, go to Jiangnan Examination Hall to explore the history of the imperial examination and experience the simulated exam, taking about 1.5 hours. Have lunch at the Confucius Temple Food Street, tasting snacks such as Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup and beef pot stickers. At 13:30 pm, climb Zhonghuamen Wengcheng to overlook the Qinhuai scenery and visit the relics of the Ming City Wall, for about 1 hour; at 15:00, visit Li Xiangjun's Former Residence to feel the romantic stories of Qinhuai, for about 40 minutes. At 17:30 in the evening, take the Qinhuai River boat tour to enjoy the night view on both banks, and end the trip at 18:30.
Two-Day In-Depth Tour
On the morning of the first day, visit the Confucius Temple and Jiangnan Examination Hall, and taste Qinhuai Eight Delicacies at noon; in the afternoon, visit Zhonghuamen Wengcheng and Laomen East Historical and Cultural Block (about 1 kilometer from the Confucius Temple) to experience the style of Ming and Qing dwellings; in the evening, take a boat tour on the Qinhuai River, and then enjoy the lanterns during the Confucius Temple Lantern Festival (around the Spring Festival). Stay in a hotel near the Confucius Temple that night. On the morning of the second day, go to Zhanyuan Garden (about 800 meters from the Confucius Temple, ticket price 30 yuan/person) to visit the oldest existing garden in Nanjing, for about 1.5 hours; at 10:30, visit Wang Dao and Xie An Memorial Hall to learn about the history of the Eastern Jin Dynasty; have lunch at Laomen East, tasting salted duck and Sweet Osmanthus Taro Paste; in the afternoon, go shopping freely to buy specialties such as Jinling folding fans and cloud brocade, and return around 16:00.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Nanjing Metro Line 1 to "Confucius Temple Station" (exit 3), and walk for about 5 minutes to reach the core area of the scenic spot; or take Metro Line 3 to "Wudingmen Station" (exit 2), and walk for about 10 minutes to reach. Metro Line 1 operates from 5:42 to 23:27, and Line 3 operates from 6:00 to 23:00, with a departure interval of about 3-5 minutes.
- Bus: Take buses No. 1, 4, 7, 40, 44, 49, 62, 304, etc., to "Confucius Temple General Station" or "Changle Road Station", and walk for 5-10 minutes to reach. Most buses operate from 5:30 to 22:00, with a departure interval of about 5-10 minutes.
- Self-driving: There are multiple parking lots around the scenic area, such as Confucius Temple Underground Parking Lot and Bailuzhou Park Parking Lot. The parking fee is 10 yuan per hour, which may be increased to 15-20 yuan per hour during holidays. Due to the large number of people in the scenic area, it is recommended to choose public transportation as much as possible.
- Taxi: It is about 15 kilometers from Nanjing Station to the Confucius Temple, costing about 30-40 yuan, taking 30 minutes; it is about 10 kilometers from Nanjing South Station, costing about 20-30 yuan, taking 20 minutes.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Nanjing Confucius Temple: Covering an area of 26,300 square meters, as one of the three major Confucian temples in China, the statue of Confucius and the stone carvings of "The Life of Confucius" in the Dacheng Hall are of great cultural value, making it the core attraction for understanding Confucian culture.
- Qinhuai River Boat Tour: With a route length of 5 kilometers, taking a boat at night allows you to enjoy the light night view on both banks. The boat tour experience is perfectly combined with the history of Qinhuai, and the scene of "the sound of oars and the shadow of lights" is a iconic experience of the scenic area.
- Jiangnan Examination Hall: It once had 20,644 examination sheds, with existing buildings such as Mingyuan Building and examination sheds. The exhibits in the China Imperial Examination Museum systematically show the imperial examination system, making it an important material for studying the history of ancient education.
Travel Suggestions
- Best travel season: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) when the climate is pleasant, avoiding the high heat of summer and the cold of winter; the lantern festival during the Spring Festival (from the first to the 18th day of the first lunar month) is a featured event worth experiencing specially.
- Dining suggestions: For snacks, choose time-honored shops such as Yonghe Garden, Qifang Pavilion, and Jiangyouji. Avoid buying from mobile vendors on the main roads of the scenic area, as their prices are higher and the taste is average.
- Time arrangement: Night tour of the Qinhuai River is a highlight, so it is recommended to reserve evening time; if you want to avoid crowds, you can go on weekday mornings or evenings.
- Shopping suggestions: Yunjin (cloud brocade), Jinling folding fans, and Yuhua stones in the scenic area are characteristic souvenirs of Nanjing. You can buy them in regular stores and pay attention to distinguishing the genuine from the fake.
- Photography suggestions: The ancient bridges along the Qinhuai River (such as Wende Bridge), the Confucius Temple archway, and Zhonghuamen Wengcheng are the best shooting spots. The shooting effect is better after the lights are on at night.
Matters Needing Attention
- Crowd control: The number of visitors to the scenic area is extremely large during holidays, and temporary traffic control and crowd restrictions may be implemented. It is recommended to check the real-time passenger flow information through official channels in advance.
- Property storage: The scenic area is crowded with people, so you need to keep valuable items such as mobile phones and wallets safe. When taking a gondola, be careful not to stretch items out of the window to avoid falling into the water.
- Civilized tour: Take good care of ancient buildings and public facilities, do not climb the city walls or damage cultural relics; keep quiet in places such as the Confucius Temple and temples, and respect cultural customs.
- Consumption tips: When purchasing goods or taking a gondola, confirm the price and service content to avoid being misled by "black guides" or unlicensed vendors.
- Safety tips: Some sections along the Qinhuai River have no guardrails. Be careful when walking, especially when looking after children; the lights are dim at night, so be careful of the steps under your feet.