Hall of Great Achievement in Qufu

Hall of Great Achievement in Qufu

The Hall of Great Achievement in Qufu is a cultural tourism attraction.

The main structure of the Confucius Temple, it serves as the central site for worshipping Confucius.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Hall of Great Achievement was called the Hall of Literary Eminence, featuring five bays. During a major renovation in the second year of the Tianxi reign (1018) of the Song Dynasty, it was relocated to its current site and expanded to seven bays. In the third year of the Chongning reign (1104) of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji, drawing from Mencius’s phrase “Confucius is said to have embodied the great achievements of the ancients,” praised Confucius’s thought as the culmination of the wisdom of ancient sages, and issued an edict renaming it the “Hall of Great Achievement.” It was later destroyed by fire. The existing Hall of Great Achievement was rebuilt during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. The hall stands 24.8 meters tall, spans 45.8 meters in width, and extends 24.9 meters in depth. It features a double-eaved roof with nine ridges, yellow tiles, soaring upturned eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, presenting a majestic appearance. The octagonal caisson ceiling is adorned with golden dragons and imperial-colored patterns. At the center of the double-layered upturned eaves hangs a plaque inscribed with the three gilded Chinese characters “大成殿” (Hall of Great Achievement), written by Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty.

The Hall of Great Achievement, along with the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing’s Forbidden City and the Tiankuang Hall in the Dai Temple of Mount Tai in Tai’an, is known as one of the Three Great Halls of the East. Among them, the Hall of Great Achievement holds the greatest historical significance and value. Around the hall, 28 intricately carved stone dragon pillars stand in the corridors, each hewn from a single piece of stone, measuring 6 meters in height and 0.8 meters in diameter, crafted by artisans from Huizhou during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty. The 18 octagonal stone pillars on the two sides and rear eaves of the hall feature shallow-carved cloud-and-dragon designs. Most striking are the 10 deeply carved dragon pillars along the front eaves—each pillar depicts two dragons flying in pairs, coiling and rising, with a precious pearl in the center. The carvings are exquisitely detailed, with lifelike and uniquely posed dragons, making them true treasures of China’s stone carving artistry. Legend has it that when Emperor Qianlong visited Qufu to offer sacrifices to Confucius, the dragon pillars were wrapped in red silk to prevent the emperor from seeing them, for fear he might be displeased that they rivaled those in the imperial palace.

The architectural artistry of the Hall of Great Achievement fully demonstrates the ingenuity of the Chinese working people.

Time Needed

1 hour

Transportation

Bus: Take bus lines 2, 3, or 5 and get off at the South Gate of the Confucius Mansion.

By Car:

(1) G3 (Beijing–Fuzhou) Expressway — exit at Qufu — head west along National Highway 327 to downtown Qufu — follow the scenic area signs to the Three Confucian Sites; approximately 10 minutes’ drive after exiting the expressway.

(2) G1511 (Rizhao–Dongming) Expressway — exit at South Qufu — head south along National Highway 104 to downtown Qufu — follow the scenic area signs to the Three Confucian Sites; approximately 10 minutes’ drive after exiting the expressway.

On-site Transportation: Tourist shuttle electric buses are available at a fare of 15 RMB per person (10 RMB per person for groups). After purchasing tickets at the tourist distribution center, visitors can take the shuttle buses to visit the Three Confucian Sites.

Ticket

Included in the Confucius Temple ticket.

Opening Hours

Low season: 8:00–16:30; peak season: 8:00–17:00.

Location

Inside the Confucius Temple, Banbi Street, Qufu City, Jining, Shandong Province