​Three Confucian sites

The three Confucian sites in Qufu, a county-level city in Jining, East China's Shandong province, are the Confucius Temple, the Confucius Cemetery, and the Confucius Family Mansion. They were recognized as World Cultural Heritage items in 1994.

The Confucius Temple

A bird's eye view of the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Jining. [Photo/jnnew.tv]

The Confucius Temple is a place to pay tribute to god and ancestors during festivals and special occasions. Its construction began in 478 BC and it has been expanded many times. The site now covers an area of 218,000 square meters, with more than 460 rooms built in different dynasties. The design of many Confucius temples in East and Southeast Asian countries are based on the temple in Qufu.

The Confucius Cemetery

Many different tree species grow in the Confucius Cemetery. [Photo/jnnews.tv]

The Confucius Cemetery is the largest and the oldest family cemetery in China. The tombs of Confucius, a great ancient Chinese philosopher and educator, and his descendants are located in the cemetery. In addition, the cemetery features a number of stone tablets with inscriptions written by renowned calligraphers such as Li Dongyang and Kang Youwei.

Confucius Family Mansion

The front gate of the Confucius Family Mansion in Qufu, Jining. [Photo/jnnews.tv]

The Confucius Family Mansion, which started construction in 1377, is located on the eastern side of the Confucius Temple. It is the residence of the eldest sons of Confucius' descendants, with more than 480 rooms spanning an area of 160,000 square meters.