[2025 Pingyao Attraction] Travel Guide for Pingyao Confucian Temple (Updated Mar)

#favouriteitinerary Wenmiao Temple is one of the earliest Confucian temples in China, dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. It served as the ancient center of education and culture in Pingyao. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, Wenmiao Temple is a significant cultural landmark that offers a deep connection to the educational and philosophical traditions of ancient China. Its dedication to Confucius and his teachings makes it an inspiring and enriching destination for anyone interested in the historical foundations of Chinese education and culture.

The Pingyao Confucian Temple, located at 17 Wenmiao Street, Pingyao County, was initially built during the early years of the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era. Its Dacheng Hall, rebuilt in 1163 during the Jin Dynasty's Dading period, retains its original appearance. It is the oldest existing hall among all Confucian temples in China and the only remaining Jin Dynasty structure among them, designated as a major national cultural preservation site. The Confucian Temple complex, encompassing the East School, West School, and the central temple area, covers a total area of 35,811 square meters, with the temple area occupying 8,649.6 square meters. It consists of five courtyards and three building clusters: the central temple area and the East and West School palaces on either side. The overall layout of the temple reflects the standard design of Chinese Confucian temples since the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. The East School now houses the Pingyao International Photography Museum, along with the Chongsheng Shrine and the Jiexiao Shrine, dedicated to the ancestors of Confucius and virtuous women, respectively. The West School houses the Pingyao Exhibition Hall of Shanxi Province, showcasing calligraphy and painting masterpieces by renowned artists and traditional folk paper-cuttings. Along the central axis, from south to north, stand the Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Minglun Hall, Jingyi Pavilion, and Zangjing Pavilion. The five courtyards are divided into service, sacrificial, Confucian study, and imperial examination areas. The first gate, the Lingxing Gate, is named after Lingxing, also known as Wenquxing (the God of Literature), believed to be the star from which Confucius descended. The gate symbolizes Confucius's role as the "master of scholars' fortune." Crossing the Panchi Pond and the Zhuangyuan (top scholar) Bridge signifies a smooth path to success. On either side of the Panchi Pond are the Minghuan Shrine and the Xiangxian Shrine, dedicated to officials and local figures who made significant contributions to the country and the county. The second gate, the Dacheng Gate, has three entrances: east, central, and west. The central gate is usually closed, with visitors using the side gates, the east called "Jinsheng" (Golden Sound) and the west called "Yuzhen" (Jade Vibration). The second courtyard is the sacrificial area, dominated by the Dacheng Hall, the oldest existing structure among all Confucian temples in China, dating back over 860 years. It houses a statue of Confucius. The "Four Companions"—Yan Hui, Kong Ji, Zeng Shen, and Mencius—are also enshrined, along with the "Ten Wise Ones" on platforms to the east and west: Min Sun, Ran Yong, Duanmu Ci, Zhong You, Bu Shang, You Ruo, Ran Geng, Zai Yu, Ran Qiu, Yan Yan, and Zhuan Sun Shi. The side halls house statues of the Seventy-Two Disciples. In the third courtyard, the Longmen Arch (Dragon Gate Arch) symbolizes a leap to success, with those who jump over it becoming "dragons" and those who fail, "fish." The main hall, Minglun Hall, built during the mid-Ming Dynasty, served as a place for Confucian scholars to lecture and practice rituals. It now houses an exhibition on the life of Confucius. The adjacent buildings, Shixi Zhai and Rixin Zhai, were used by lecturers for teaching and studying. They now host exhibitions on "Ancient Education" and "The Four Treasures of the Study." On either side of Minglun Hall are the Xianhou Shrine and the Zhongxiao Shrine, dedicated to meritorious officials and loyal figures. The Chaoshan Academy in the fourth courtyard, established during the Ming Dynasty, has 30 rooms and a three-bay lecture hall. It now serves as a museum of China's ancient imperial examination system, with nine exhibition halls showcasing artifacts and images related to the system. The "treasure of the temple," and a national treasure of China, is the only surviving Zhuangyuan (top scholar) examination paper from the imperial examination era. The fifth courtyard houses the Jingyi Pavilion and the Zun Jing Pavilion, which enshrine the largest statue of Kuixing (God of Examinations) and the most revered Wenchang Dijun (God of Culture and Literature) in China. Kuixing is a folk deity believed to preside over literary fortune. Wenchang Dijun, also known as Wenchangxing, is the star that governs literary achievements. The Zun Jing Pavilion, the highest and most revered structure in the temple, houses the Wenchang Pagoda and serves as a library. The Pingyao Confucian Temple boasts six distinctions: the oldest existing Confucian temple in China, the most complete preserved Confucian temple complex in China, the largest collection of statues of Confucius and Confucian scholars in China, the largest existing exhibition on the history of the Chinese imperial examination system, and China's only specialized photography museum.

In the vast land of China, there is an ancient city that stands quietly, like a living history book. It is the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi. "One city to see Shanxi, one street for 5,000 years" is no exaggeration. Pingyao Ancient City is the first of the four ancient cities in China. It has been more than 2,800 years since its establishment. When you step into this ancient city, it is as if you have traveled back in time. The tall and majestic city walls surround the ancient city. Although they have been tempered by time and war, they are still as strong as ever, silently guarding the peace within the city. The city gate towers stand tall, with flying eaves and bucket arches, showing the majesty and solemnity of the past. Inside the city, Ming and Qing-style buildings are lined up. The bluestone roads are winding and twisting, and after years of polishing, they shine with a warm luster, as if telling the prosperity of the past. The ancient residential courtyards are laid out in a rigorous manner, with exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings everywhere. Every detail shows the ingenuity and extraordinary wisdom of the ancients. Rishengchang Bank, as the pioneer of modern banks in China, its former site witnessed the glory and honor of Shanxi merchants, making people think of the prosperity of Shanxi merchants who were once the richest in the world. Walking through the streets and alleys of Pingyao Ancient City, the air is filled with the breath of history. The ancient county government office is solemn and solemn, the Pingyao Confucian Temple is full of books, and there are ancient temples and Taoist temples, with incense lingering, carrying people's prayers and expectations for a better life. Here, time seems to slow down, the hustle and bustle of the world gradually fades away, leaving only inner peace and harmony. Pingyao Ancient City is not only a museum of architecture, but also a treasure of traditional Chinese culture. With its unique charm, it attracts tourists from all over the world to explore the history of thousands of years, appreciate the beauty of ancient architecture, and feel the brilliance of ancient wisdom. Come and start a journey to Pingyao Ancient City, let your soul be baptized and sublimated in the long river of history. Pingyao Ancient City·Pingyao

beautiful Confucian temple

Pingyao is one of my favorite ancient cities in Shanxi, but you don't have to hold the mentality of 'since I'm here', and visit all the escort agencies and ticket numbers in Pingyao Ancient City. They are too similar, whether it's architecture, exhibits or introductions, you can choose one or two representative places to visit; and the Pingyao Confucian Temple in the corner of the ancient city is my favorite, what's even more amazing is the Guoer Temple in Shuanglin Town outside the ancient city, with a reasonable arrangement for the day, you can catch all the wonderful ancient sites in Pingyao —Morning— 📍Pingyao City Tower The city tower is still quiet in the early morning, the street is extremely quiet and beautiful, covered with peacock blue, yellow, and green glazed tiles, three-tiered eaves and mountain tops, the ends of the ridge are exquisitely ironed, it is the symbol of Pingyao 📍China Ticket Number Museum How can you say you've been to Pingyao without going to China's earliest 'ticket number', take a look at the actual tickets and passbooks, and listen to the story of China's earliest banking system 📍Pingyao Confucian Temple Because the location is too cornered, there are much fewer tourists in the Confucian Temple. Pingyao Confucian Temple is the oldest existing Confucian temple in China, and also the oldest building in the ancient city, rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty. The Dacheng Hall is five rooms wide and ten rafters deep, it can be described as a grand construction! Also appreciate the huge 'Kui' character behind, and jump a 'Dragon Gate' —Afternoon— 📍Zhen Guo Temple The Wanfo Hall (built in 963) of Zhen Guo Temple is one of the four buildings of the Five Dynasties in China. Since the Tang Dynasty, only the buildings of the Five Dynasties and the Liao Dynasty have inherited the Tang style, the stretched and gentle eaves are pleasing to the eye, and the hall miraculously preserves the only colored sculptures of the Five Dynasties in China, and the murals are also relics of the Five Dynasties. Getting the Wanfo Hall is also the luck of Pingyao. The entrance of Zhen Guo Temple is the almost unnoticed Li Ying Hou Temple of Pingyao, another national treasure, but the gate is always closed; self-driving or taxiing, you can visit the nearby Ci Xiang Temple, the Lu Tai Pagoda inside is not a Buddhist pagoda but a monk's spirit pagoda, the first floor is a 16-hole beamless arch door added in the Qing Dynasty 📍Shuanglin Temple The pinnacle of Yuan and Ming colored sculptures, in addition to the wide-eyed Vajra, the leisurely Guanyin, the highly artistic Weituo, the 26-handed Guanyin in the Bodhisattva Hall, I also suggest you pay attention to the hanging sculptures that can be described as covering the sky, according to statistics, there are a total of 2056 colored sculptures in Shuanglin Temple! It is the 'Temple of Ten Thousand Gods' in Pingyao, and also the top art and aesthetic hall in China ❗Practical information 🍜Food: Tian Yuan Kui Restaurant Recommended food: Beef copper hot pot, beef truffle, yellow rice cold cake, long dragon eggplant, vinegar egg 🎫Tickets: Ancient city: 123, visit each attraction once, valid for three days; Shuanglin Temple: 28, Zhen Guo Temple: 20, if you want a paper ticket for souvenir, you must buy it offline 🚌Transportation: Bus 108 has a Shuanglin Temple station, and bus 209 has a Zhen Guo Temple station