Nanjing (Six Dynasties Capital, Cultural City) - Confucius Temple

Confucius Temple Travel Guide I. Basic Information - Address: No. 152, West Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing - Tickets: Main street of Confucius Temple is free, some attractions charge separately (Dacheng Hall ¥30, Jiangnan Examination Hall ¥50, combo tickets available) - Opening hours: Main street open all day, paid attractions 9:00–21:00 (may be extended on holidays) - Recommended visit time: 2–4 hours (better at night) II. Recommended Attractions 1. Dacheng Hall of Confucius Temple - Core building of Confucius Temple, dedicated to Confucius, with an exhibition of Ming and Qing imperial examination culture. 2. Jiangnan Examination Hall (China Imperial Examination Museum) - The largest imperial examination hall in ancient times, the underground museum is full of technology, offering an immersive experience of imperial examination history. 3. Qinhuai River Cruise - The first choice for night tours! Take a boat to enjoy the lights on both sides of the river and listen to the stories of Qinhuai in the sound of oars and lights (ticket price ¥80–100, about 40 minutes). 4. Wuyi Lane - The origin of the phrase "Swallows used to fly into the halls of the Wang and Xie families", with a memorial hall for Wang Dao and Xie An, to experience the elegance of the Six Dynasties. 5. Zhanyuan Garden - The first garden in Jinling, a classical garden of the Ming Dynasty, suitable for photography (ticket price ¥30, with live performances at night). III. Transportation Guide - Subway: - Line 3, Exit 2 of "Confucius Temple Station", 5 minutes' walk. - Line 1, Exit 4 of "Sanshan Street Station", 10 minutes' walk. - Bus: Take Bus No. 1, 4, 7, 30, etc. to "Confucius Temple Station". - Self-driving: There are few parking lots nearby, it is recommended to park at "Water Tour City" or "Maoye Tiandi" mall, 10 minutes' walk. IV. Food Recommendations - Local snacks: - Lianhu Cake Shop: Red bean glutinous rice balls, osmanthus sugar taro seedlings (a time-honored brand in Confucius Temple). - Jiang Youji Pot Stickers: Crispy and juicy beef pot stickers. - Qifangge: Duck oil crispy cakes, sesame oil vegetarian dried tofu. - Yongheyuan: Crab shell yellow cakes, dried tofu with shrimp. - Avoiding pitfalls: The price of snacks on the main street is relatively high, authentic food can be explored in "Laomendong" or residential areas. V. Suggested Itineraries - Half-day tour: 14:00 Arrive at Confucius Temple → Visit Dacheng Hall, Jiangnan Examination Hall → 16:30 Walk to Laomendong (10 minutes) → 18:30 Return to Confucius Temple for a night tour of Qinhuai River. - One-day tour: Morning: Confucius Temple + Zhanyuan Garden → Lunch at Laomendong → Afternoon: Grand Bao'en Temple Heritage Park → Evening: Qinhuai River Cruise + Wuyi Lane. VI. Practical Tips 1. Best time: Spring and autumn (March–May, September–November), the lights are the most beautiful at night. 2. Avoid crowds: The number of people is huge on weekends/holidays, it is recommended to visit before 9 am or after 8 pm. 3. Shopping guide: Qinhuai gift shops sell cultural and creative products, be cautious when buying rain flower stones (prone to counterfeits). 4. Cultural experience: - Take photos in Hanfu (available for rent in the scenic area). - Listen to a Nanjing Baiju (intangible cultural heritage, often performed in Confucius Temple teahouses). VII. Nearby Attractions - Laomendong: Ming and Qing style street, popular food gathering place (10 minutes' walk). - Zhonghua Gate Castle: Ming City Wall site, climb high to overlook Qinhuai River (2 km from Confucius Temple). - Presidential Palace + Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum: If time permits, you can combine a classic one-day tour of Nanjing.