Shanghai Confucius Temple

Shanghai Confucius Temple

Shanghai Confucius Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a key cultural relics protection unit in China, and a patriotic education base.

The Confucius Temple, located at 215 Wenmiao Road, is the only Confucian sacred site in Shanghai’s central urban area and one of its renowned historical landmarks.

Originally built during the Yuan Dynasty on Xuegong Street, the temple served as the headquarters of the Small Swords Society uprising in 1853 (the third year of the Xianfeng reign in the Qing Dynasty). After Qing troops captured Shanghai County, the temple was destroyed by cannon fire. It was rebuilt on its current site in 1855 (the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign), covering an area of 17 mu. The site includes structures such as the Lingxing Gate, Pan Pond, Three-Arch Bridge, Dacheng Hall, Chongsheng Shrine, Minglun Hall, Zunjing Pavilion, and Kuixing Pavilion, as well as attractions like the Liberation Pond and Lotus Pond, with flowerbeds filling the gaps. Though it had initially taken shape, the temple gradually declined, much like a pearl buried in dust.

After the liberation, the government allocated funds for renovation and designated it as a cultural relics protection unit. However, it suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution. Following the reform and opening-up, the government funded repairs and reconstruction of several buildings and attractions, partially restoring the temple to its former glory.

In 1995, under the development strategy of “focusing on old district renovation, with road construction and tourism as the lead,” the Nanshi District formulated a plan for the restoration and development of the Confucius Temple. The project aimed for overall planning and phased implementation, with a goal of completion within three years.

The overall layout of the Confucius Temple’s restoration and development is divided into three lines: the Worship Line, Leisure Line, and Market Line. The Worship Line—from the Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, east and west side halls, Dacheng Hall and its stone platform, to the Chongsheng Shrine—was entirely restored in the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Leisure Line mainly restored the Kuixing Pavilion, Minglun Hall, Liberation Pond, and Confucian School Office, while newly constructing the Wenqu Gate and Dazhong Gate, adding green spaces, transplanting trees, and establishing the “Shanghai Cultural Celebrities Stele Forest” along the corridors to honor the achievements of cultural figures over the city’s 700-year history. The Market Line involved renovating the Zunjing Pavilion, creating flower beds, planting trees and flowers, and constructing a new 70-meter-long street market on the east and west sides of the Zunjing Pavilion. This market features undulating terrain and varying widths, styled in Ming and Qing architectural designs, as a venue for Shanghai Confucius Temple’s book and publication trade. Additionally, single-story to three-story buildings consistent with the temple’s style and varied in height were constructed along the old Daoqian Street, Menghua Street, and Xuegong Street. These houses host shops rich in cultural character, selling antiques, calligraphy and paintings, ancient coins, and postage stamps. With these additions, the temple and its surroundings will be filled with traditional folk culture, becoming a popular destination for visitors.

Address: 215 Wenmiao Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Type: Historic Site/Temple

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 021-63771815

Official Website: http://www.confuciantemple.com

Opening Hours:

9:00–17:00, ticket sales stop at 16:30; Sunday flea market runs from 7:30–16:00.

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 10.0 RMB