UNESCO World Heritage SiteNational 5A Scenic AreaEast China
Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, Qufu
曲阜三孔 · Shandong, Jining
The hometown of Confucius, with a grand temple, the Kong family mansion and the Kong family cemetery.
Qufu is the birthplace of Confucius (551–479 BC), and its 'Three Confucian Sites' — the Temple, the Kong Family Mansion and the Cemetery of Confucius — form one of China's most important cultural complexes. The temple rivals the Forbidden City in scale, with grand halls, ancient cypresses and stele pavilions honouring the great sage.
The temple was first built in 478 BC, the year after Confucius died, and was expanded by emperors over two millennia, especially in the Ming and Qing. The Kong family lived nearby for 77 generations. The Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
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