Qufu

By train

add listing Qufu East Railway Station曲阜东站, Qūfù Dōng Zhàn).The high-speed line passes within a few kilometers from Qufu, and Qufu East Railway Station , located within several kilometers to the south-east of the city, is served by many high-speed (G- and D-series) trains (during daytime only), with direct service to Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Qingdao, and points in between. With the faster of them (G-series) it takes 2 hours from Beijing and 3 hours from Shanghai.Yanzhou Railway Station兖州站).The "conventional" Beijing-Shanghai mainline, running slower and less expensive trains (T-, K-, etc. series, both in daytime and at night), gives a wide berth to Qufu; the closest station on that line is in Yanzhou, a small city around 15 km west of Qufu. If you arrive to Yanzhou, you can get to Qufu by taxi (around ¥40) or bus (running every 20 minutes from the early morning until 18:00-19:00) for around ¥6. When buying train tickets to Yanzhou, make sure not to confuse the station with the better known Yangzhou](https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?to=35.556222,116.835737 "OSM directions")

• 35.5862117.0292134 Qufu Railway Station曲阜站 (Qūfù Zhàn))2-3 km to the SE from the historic center; accessible by city bus).It is served by a branch rail line, and sees only a very limited service (just a few slow trains a day).

If you are also visiting Mencius Temple and Mansion in the nearby Zoucheng, you may choose to travel by train to Zoucheng (which is also on the Beijing Shanghai mainline), and go to Qufu by bus (¥6-7, about 30 min travel time) or taxi. However, buses stop running around 18:00.

By plane

add listing The closest airport to Qufu is the rather misleadingly named Jining Qufu Airport. While the airport is fairly close to Jining#By_plane "Jining (Shandong)"), the capital of the prefecture that Qufu belongs to, it is over 90 km from Qufu by road. Bus J963 can take you from the airport to Qufu. The airport has flights from Beijing, Shanghai, and a few other cities, including Guangzhou, Chengdu, Qingdao and Shenyang. Jining Da'an Airport (JNG) is the primary airport serving the region. It is in Yanzhou District, a 30-minute drive from downtown Qufu. Both airports offer domestic flights from cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Qingdao, and Shenyang.

Get around

add listing [The main street of Qufu's walled city. The Drum Tower (the central point of the city) on the left, a row of hotels, on the right Walk or if you stand in one place too long, hordes of people will offer to transport you via all manner of vehicle, from rickshaw, to bicycle, to taxi, to beast. The historical central city, surrounded by the restored Ming-era city wall and a moat, and containing Confucius Temple and Kong Family Mansion near its center, is about a mile across, and is small enough to walk. The modern visitor center is located outside the southern gate of the city wall. From the northern gate one can walk to the Confucius Cemetery (Confucius Forest) along a pleasant tree-lined (and, in the summer, vendor-lined) avenue. Qufu has a small and inexpensive local bus system. The buses run along the east-west street south of the walled city, and can be used to travel to various locations on the city's outskirts, such as Shou Qiu (see below), the Qufu Railway Station (see below), and the intercity bus station. On buses in Qufu, you must press the stop button in advance to signal the driver to stop at your desired station. The bus may not stop if no one signals.

From the rail station

add listing From Qufu East Station, the most convenient way is to take the K01 bus, which directly leads to the city center and major attractions. After exiting the station, follow the instructions inside to the bus stop at West Square. Users have reported that taking the east exit might cause a detour, so be sure to follow the station's instructions. Ticket price: ¥1. Arrival: Take bus K01 to the Kongmiao South Gate station, and you will arrive at the Three Holes Scenic Area.

Transportation between attractions

Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, and Yan Temple: These three attractions are very close by, making them easy to explore on foot or by bike, with a seamless connection. Konglin is about 2 km from Kongfu. It is recommended to take a taxi or a sightseeing bus within the scenic area (around ¥20 per person), as the larger area makes walking more tiring. Nishan Holy Land: about 25 km from the city center. It is recommended to take a taxi, hire a private car, or join a tour group that includes transportation. Self driving can help you plan your route in advance. Shared bicycles and electric vehicles can be found near tourist areas like Wuma Temple Street, suitable for short exploration.

See

add listing Confucius Museum孔子博物馆),No. 100 Confucius Avenue (山东省曲阜市孔子大道100号)take bus D55 or J963; both buses may be caught from Qufu Bus Station),☏ +86 537 4459088, +86 537 4459065.09:00-16:00.It is a thematic museum of social science celebrities dedicated to Confucius and Confucian culture, integrating history, art, and interactive technology. It houses a rich collection of artifacts, making it an excellent place for cultural enthusiasts and families. Notable exhibits include the Warring States Period Jade Horse, the Gold and Silver Inlaid Ape Shaped Belt Hook, and a set of Ten Shang and Zhou Dynasty Ritual Vessels bestowed by Emperor Qianlong. (updated Dec 2024)Free.updated Dec 2024 | )

[Warring States Period Jade Horse:

• * _Warring states period jade horse:_ This small horse, only 5 cm tall, is made of warm, lustrous jade with exquisite craftsmanship. Its "sweet smile" is undoubtedly the museum's most eye catching feature, melting hearts with its cuteness.
  

[Museum interior display

• * Gold and silver inlaid ape shaped belt hook: A belt buckle from the Warring States period, its unique design and exquisite craftsmanship exude a sense of everyday life, allowing you to appreciate the ancients' attention to detail in clothing.
  

  • Ten shang and zhou dynasty ritual vessels : These are ten bronze ritual vessels from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, bestowed upon the Confucius Temple by Emperor Qianlong. They include a ding (tripod cauldron), you (wine vessel), gui (food vessel), and yan (cooking vessel), and are important ritual objects used in the worship of Confucius, possessing immense historical value.
  • Inverted vessel: An ancient water container symbolizing the principle that "empty water tilts, half full water stands upright, and full water overturns." Visitors can experience firsthand the physical phenomenon of water overflowing when full, and appreciate Confucius' wisdom of "maintaining moderation even in the face of pride."

Three Confucian Sites

add listing The main areas to see are the so called Sān Kǒng ("Three Confucian [sites]"): the Temple of Confucius, the Confucian mansions, and the Confucius forest (just north of town). During the warm part of the year, it's very touristy and loaded with guides herding sightseers with little flags and megaphones, but in winter the place is almost deserted. English is not widely spoken. Temple of Confucius孔庙, Kǒng Miào).A row of gates and pavilions, and twenty-five stone turtles (bixi) holding tablets on which numerous emperors expressed their respect to the sage, in Chinese, Manchu, and Mongol (written in Phags-Pa script)

• * [Dacheng Hall:](https://w.wiki/Gc2n) The core hall of the temple, and one of the “Three Great Halls of the East” (alongside the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing and the Tiankuang Hall in Tai'an). It houses a statue of Confucius, and its yellow glazed tile roof signifies his supreme status.
  

  • Kuiwen Pavilion: One of the temple's earliest structures, built in 1018. It served as a renowned library during the Ming and Qing dynasties and is celebrated for its triple eaves and complex wooden bracket system. It is considered one of China's ten most famous ancient pavilions.
  • Apricot Altar: A pavilion traditionally marking the site where Confucius gave lectures to his disciples. It is now a focal point for visitors to pay respects and engage with Confucian culture.

Transport to Temple: Take bus K01 or K05 to the South Gate (Nanmen) station.

• 35.6116.993 Fusheng Hall复圣殿).The principal hall of the temple. It was built as a five-bay structure during the Yuan Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1507 into its current form, a seven-bay-wide hall with a double-eaved roof.updated Dec 2025 | )

Temple of Duke Zhou周公庙).A temple dedicated to the Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan), a revered statesman and thinker of the early Western Zhou Dynasty. The Qufu Zhougong Temple is one of the three most notable such temples in China, alongside those in Luoyang and Baoji.updated Dec 2025 | )

Confucius ForestKong Lin).The Cemetery of Confucius, or "Confucius Forest", is a cemetery where Confucius and more than 70 generations of his descendants have been buried. Besides the tomb of Confucius, it contains a number of interesting sculptural ensembles from the Ming and Qing eras, decorating the tomb sites of Confucius' descendants who were the area's feudal rulers, as well as other dignitaries. A typical ensemble (神道 "shéndào", or "spirit road") for a Duke of Yansheng (the senior-line descendant of Confucius in his generation, and the lord of Qufu) would start with a stone arch and contain a few stone animal statues (horses, rams, felines), a pair of human characters (a warrior and an official), and a stone turtle (赑屃 bìxì) holding a stele praising the deceased. The path leads to the grave tumulus with another (turtle-less) stele on top. Go to the Confucian cemetery towards the end of the day (maybe at 4) and then stroll around until the tour groups are leaving, and you will have the forest all to yourself. Walk to Confucius grave and share some silent moments across 2,500 years with him. A treat if you have been travelling around China for a while and are tired of hordes of people and noise. You can easily walk to the main (southern) gate of the Confucius Forest from Qufu's walled city. A wide tree-lined avenue, about a kilometer long, connects it with the northern gate of the city wall.Wangu Changchun Archway万古长春坊).A stone structure, 22.71 meters long and 7.96 meters wide, rebuilt and reinforced during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. This archway is a six-pillar, five-bay, five-story structure with a hip roof. The roof is decorated with carved tiles and ridge beasts, and the eaves are adorned with carved brackets. The lintel, pillars, and decorative panels are covered with exquisite carvings, with deep relief on the pillars and archway and shallow relief on the decorative panels.updated Dec 2025 | )

• 35.61146116.991187 Zhishenglin Archway“宣圣林”坊).The main ceremonial archway at the southern entrance to the cemetery was built in 1424. This four-pillar, three-bay wooden archway with a green glazed tile roof retains distinct early Ming architectural features and marks the symbolic entrance to the sacred forest.updated Dec 2025 | )

• 35.61209116.991548 Erlin Gate观楼).Located north of the Zhishenglin Archway, this castle-like gate is also known as the "Viewing Tower". It stands on the site of the north gate of the ancient Lu city, with its current form dating to a 1494 reconstruction.updated Dec 2025 | )

• 35.6116.999 Yan Miao颜庙).The Yan Temple, also known as the Temple of the Resurrected Sage, is a dedicated shrine to Yan Hui, Confucius's most esteemed disciple. Yan Hui was renowned for his simple life, finding joy in poverty, and for his virtues of never holding grudges or repeating mistakes, earning him the title "Resurrected Sage." The temple was first built in the Han Dynasty and has been repaired throughout history. Its existing buildings are primarily in the Ming and Qing Dynasty style. Along the central axis are the Resurrected Sage Gate, the Guiren Gate, and the Yangsheng Gate, with the Resurrected Sage Hall being the core building. Inside the hall is a statue of Yan Hui. The temple also contains the famous "Humble Alley Well" and the Music Pavilion, which are said to be related to Yan Hui's life during his lifetime.updated Dec 2025 | )

Others

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Shou qiu and Shaohao tomb

Shaohaowith a small stone pyramid (much smaller than those in Egypt or Mexico). These monuments date to the Song Dynasty.

Do

add listing Nishan Sacred Landtake intercity bus from Jining Qufu Airport to Qufu Bus Station; it takes about 3 hours to reach Qufu Bus Station and transfer to Bus No. 30; then, it takes about 1 hour to reach the Lushan Holy Land Luyuan Tourist Center),☏ 400-6882323 (domestic)Country code missing.ordinary days:09:30-21:00 weekend:09:30-21:30.Nishan Sacred Land is a large scale Confucian culture-themed experience area built around Nishan Mountain (traditionally the birthplace of Confucius). Unlike the "Three Confucian Sites" in Qufu Ancient City, which are centered around historical sites, this place showcases the essence of Confucianism and its contemporary interpretation through grand modern architecture, garden landscapes, and immersive cultural projects, making it more suitable for tourists who wish to experience Confucian culture in depth and intuitively.Adult ¥100/discount ticket ¥80; children under 1.4 meters in height and passengers aged 70 and above can enter the venue free of charge with valid documents.Confucius statue in Nishan Sacred Site尼山圣境孔子像).updated Dec 2025 | )The world's tallest confucius statue The iconic building of the scenic area, standing at 72 meters tall, is based on the Tang Dynasty painting "Confucius Teaching" by Wu Daozi. Solemn and dignified, it is a must see landmark. * 35.4901117.18333 Luyuan Village曲阜市鲁源).updated Dec 2025 | ) adjacent to the Nishan Sacred Land Scenic Area, Luyuan Village is the legendary hometown of Shuliang He, the father of Confucius, and is hailed as a "living village of Confucian culture." Unlike traditional scenic spots, it focuses on an immersive cultural experience, recreating the ancient rural landscape of the State of Lu and scenes of Confucian ritual and music life through meticulously restored stone houses, streets, and courtyards.

Evening walks and night views

City wall and moat: The restored Ming era city wall and its moat are illuminated with ornamental lights at night, creating a picturesque setting for a stroll. It's a popular gathering spot for local residents.

Bar in the city wall

A unique bar built into the structure of the ancient city wall. It's known for a quiet atmosphere, friendly English speaking staff, and is a weekend haunt for some local expatriates.

Core experiences

• Ancient village scenery stroll through the village characterized by stone-paved roads, stone walls, and ancient trees, and visit cultural sites related to the history of Confucius's family, such as the "Shuliang Ancestral Hall."
  • Cultural activities The village features numerous study workshops, academies, guesthouses, and teahouses themed around poetry, literature, ritual, music, and family traditions. Visitors can participate in activities such as copying scriptures, making rubbings, and experiencing the guqin (a seven stringed zither).

Buy

add listing [A busy street market in the Xiguan neighborhood, west of the Qufu Mosque There are tourist stands all around the temples and shouts of "hello! hello!" can be irritating. The main buys are copies of the Analects and a "chop" with your name engraved on it or something like that. Otherwise, it's the usual tourist stuff.

Stone and stone art: rubbings and seals

Rubbings of inscriptions**:** These are the most distinctive high end cultural souvenirs of Qufu. Rubbings of original steles (such as the famous Han Dynasty steles in the Confucius Temple) are cultural relics and are strictly prohibited from being made or sold. Rubbings sold on the market are all made from newly made replicas of the original steles, and are divided into red rubbings and black rubbings. When purchasing, pay attention to whether the content is a famous passage or inquire about the mounting. A medium sized, mounted rubbing usually costs several hundred yuan.

Stationery

Qufu kai wood carving: a national intangible cultural heritage. Traditionally, it involves carving ruyi (a type of scepter), walking sticks, and seals from the unique Kai wood found in the Confucius Forest. Nowadays, small Kai wood carvings are also used to create pen holders and paperweights.

Cultural and creative products

Nishan sacred land cultural and Creative products: If you're looking for a modern design aesthetic, head to the cultural and creative shops in the Nishan Sacred Land scenic area. The products there are more ingeniously designed, such as bookmarks, canvas bags, and tea sets that combine the Chinese characters for "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness" with abstract patterns, or cartoonish Confucius figurines. Prices are slightly higher than in the old street, but the designs are unique.

Eat

add listing A great variety of restaurants can be found in the eastern part of the old walled city, a block or two east of Gulou Ave (the main north south street of the old city). For Halal food, fresh produce, tofu, baked goods, etc. head to the Muslim neighborhood: Xiguan St that runs west from the old city's west gate. Most restaurants you will easily find have marked up prices due to the tourist nature of the city. Beware asking cab drivers or "wooden cab" drivers as they seem to receive kickbacks. You can expect to pay at least ¥100 getting a meal for two if you are not careful and savvy.

• Qufu International Youth HostelGu Lou Bei Lujust inside the northern gate.),☏ +86 537-4418989.It shouldn't come as much surprise that the cheapest place to eat in Qufu is the "bar" inside the International Youth Hostel. You can find a good bit of western food as well as a variety of standard Chinese fare.¥15-40.
• Kong family mansion pastries (孔府糕点): Representative local pastries. The classic “Qiaoguo” (巧果) come in shapes like apples, pears, and pomegranates, with thin crusts and fillings of jujube or hawthorn paste. Chrysanthemum pastries and mung bean cakes are also popular, known for their flaky crust and balanced sweetness.
• Kongfu cuisine (Kongfu banquet) originated from family banquets of Confucius' descendants. It features exquisite ingredients and a grand presentation, and is often found in mid to high end restaurants. Representative dishes include Braised Tofu, Roasted Pork Belly, and Ginkgo Nuts with Poetry and Etiquette.
• Braised pork belly rice One of the most common daily meals for locals. Pork belly is slow cooked in a clay pot, with a savory and fragrant flavor, served with rice or pancakes.
• Qufu pancakes Mostly multigrain pancakes, thin and chewy, often rolled with scallions, pickled vegetables, or braised pork belly.

Drink

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• Kongfujia liquor (孔府家酒)：a 46% alcohol baijiu originating from Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, is more than just a bottle of wine; it carries a rich Confucian cultural heritage and a legendary, widely known advertising story.
• Local teahouses: There are some traditional teahouses around the old city and Confucius Temple, offering a quiet atmosphere suitable for resting or chatting.
• Coffee and modern drinks: you can find small coffee shops in Qufu's old city, catering mainly to students and tourists. While few in number, they offer a refreshing atmosphere.

Sleep

add listing Finding a place to sleep isn't difficult, as you will probably be approached by people offering accommodation. Outside of the tourist season you can probably bargain pretty hard on the prices. There are a large number of small and mid size hotels within the walled city, on the main north south street and in the blocks to the east. There are also bigger and somewhat more modern looking hotels in the streets south of the walled city, near the visitor center.

• Qufu International youth hostelA very nice place to stay. With a friendly staff, and entirely new building this is an excellent place to sleep while exploring Qufu and its surroundings.¥140 for a double and triple with private shower.updated Dec 2025 | )
• Muslim visitors may choose to stay at one of a number of halal (qīngzhēn) guesthouses in the Xiguan neighborhood, west of the walled city.
• Qufu Nishan hotel (Nishan sacred land branch)No. 189, Shengshuihu North Road, Nishan Townwithin the Nishan Sacred Land scenic area).It offers a tranquil environment and is designed around the theme of Confucian culture.updated Dec 2025 | )

Go next

• If the China's First Sage, Confucius, isn't enough for you, you can visit the nearby Zoucheng, hometown of the perennially Second Sage, Mencius.
  • Tai'an, the gateway to the sacred Mount Taishan, is about an hour away by bus or (infrequent) train.
  • Zaozhuang ：is suitable for tourists interested in modern railway history or rural scenery, and offers a chance to visit the ancient city of Taierzhuang.
  • Jinan： the capital of Shandong Province, is about a 2 hour high speed train ride from Qufu. Known for its springs, such as Baotu Spring and Daming Lake, Jinan boasts well developed urban facilities and is a good stopover for the next leg of your trip.

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