Qufu Nishan

　　 The mountain is located 30 kilometers southeast of Qufu City and was originally named Niqiu Mountain. Confucius’s parents “prayed at Niqiu and were blessed with Confucius,” hence his given name Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni. Later generations, out of respect for Confucius, referred to it as Nishan.

　　 Nishan is also very important for understanding Confucius, and there are quite a few scenic spots to visit here. Some say it should be ranked alongside the "Three Confucian Sites" and that the term should be changed from "Three Sites" to "Four Sites." This idea is not without merit. The reason Nishan is not as famous as the "Three Sites" is largely due to its distance of nearly 50 li from the city and the relatively inconvenient transportation.

　　 Nishan is the birthplace of Confucius. It borders the Meng River to the east. On the mountain, there are the Confucius Temple, the Temple of the God of Nishan, and the Nishan Academy. These three levels of architecture form a cohesive complex that has an impressive presence. In the southeastern corner of the Confucius Temple stands the tall Guanchuan Pavilion, said to be the spot where Confucius gazed at the river and sighed—a sigh that has echoed through the ages: “Everything flows on and on like this, day and night!” At the eastern foot of the mountain lies the cave where Confucius was born—the Confucius Cave.

　　 To commemorate Confucius, a temple was built here during the Northern Wei Dynasty for worship, and it has been renovated in successive dynasties. The existing Nishan Academy covers an area of 25 mu, surrounded by hundreds of acres of ancient cypresses, offering a serene and beautiful landscape. In ancient times, there were eight scenic spots such as the Wen De Forest, Kun Ling Cave, and Zhong He Ravine. Now, the Nishan Reservoir has been added, with its shimmering blue waters, further enhancing the area’s charm.

　　  Jining City, Shandong Province