Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Scenic Belt

Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Scenic Belt

The Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Scenic Belt is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism destination.

The Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Scenic Belt is located in the southern part of Nanjing. It refers to the area centered around the Confucius Temple complex, with the Qinhuai River as its connecting thread. Stretching from the Huaiqing Bridge and Qinhuai Water Pavilion at Dongshuiguan in the east, crossing the Wende Bridge, and extending to Zhonghua Gate Fortress all the way to Xishuiguan along the Inner Qinhuai River, it encompasses the streets, residences, historical sites, and scenic spots on both banks of the Qinhuai River, and is the most bustling area in Nanjing.

Nanjing has served as the capital of China eleven times throughout history. During the Six Dynasties period, the Confucius Temple area was already quite prosperous. Places such as Wu Yi Lane, Zhuque Street, and Taoye Ferry were residential areas for the elite families of the time. In the Ming Dynasty, the Confucius Temple served as the examination hall for the imperial civil service exams, attracting a large number of candidates. As a result, many service industries flourished here, including restaurants, teahouses, and snack stalls, and brothels also emerged. The phrase “the sound of oars and the glow of lanterns stretch for miles, with singing girls on flower boats playing amid the murky waves” and “painted boats with flutes and drums playing day and night” depict the distorted prosperity of the Qinhuai River during that era.

Due to historical changes, the once-thriving scene of the ten-mile Qinhuai has long since vanished. Since 1984, the National Tourism Administration and the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government have undertaken restoration and renovation efforts focusing on developing the Qinhuai Scenic Belt, reviving the style of the commercial streets and markets of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The Qinhuai River has once again become one of China’s renowned tourist destinations.

The restored Qinhuai River Scenic Belt centers around the Confucius Temple and includes the Zhanyuan Garden, the Confucius Temple, Baijizhou, Zhonghua Gate, as well as the riverboat cruises from Taoye Ferry to Zhenhuai Bridge and the riverside pavilion landscapes. It combines historical sites, gardens, painted pleasure boats, streets, towers, and folk customs. There is also an enticing Qinhuai night market, the Jinling Lantern Festival, folk attractions, and local snacks, all of which captivate visitors from home and abroad.

Address: No. 53 Gongyuan West Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing

Type: River-themed Cultural & Historic District

Rating: AAAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–6 hours

Phone: 025-52209788

Official Website: http://www.njfzm.net/

Social Media Accounts:

Opening Hours:

Open all day, but opening hours vary by attraction, generally from 9:00–22:00.

Ticket Information:

No general admission ticket required. Jiangnan Gongyuan (Imperial Examination Hall): Adults 25 RMB, students 12 RMB; Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple: Adults 30 RMB, children 15 RMB; Former Residence of Li Xiangjun: Adults 16 RMB, students 8 RMB; Qinhuai River Boat Cruise: Daytime ticket 60 RMB per person, nighttime ticket 80 RMB per person; Zhanyuan Garden: Adults 30 RMB, students 15 RMB.

Confucius Temple Community: The Confucius Temple Community is situated within the Confucius Temple Tourist Scenic Area, covering an area of 0.38 square kilometers, with 2,221 households and a total population of 6,174. The area includes attractions such as Zhanyuan Garden, Juxing Pavilion, Nanjing Qifangge Halal Restaurant, Confucius Temple specialty snacks, lantern viewing from Zhonghua Gate to Dongshuiguan, and the Qinhuai River Scenic Belt. There are also four educational institutions in the area: Confucius Temple Primary School, Zhonghua Middle School, Finance and Economics School, and the Space Cadre Management College. Local facilities include the Zhuangyuanlou Hotel, Jiankang Hotel, Shanghai Grand Hotel, Urban Inn, the Third Fire Brigade, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Memorial Hall, Weihao Electric, and the Telecom Building... More details about the Confucius Temple Community++