The Three Confucius Sites

The Confucius Temple, the Confucius Cemetery, and the Confucius Family Mansion are The Three Confucius Sites in Qufu, a county-level city in Jining, Shandong province, East China. In 1994, they were designated as World Cultural Heritage Sites. During festivals and important events, the Confucius Temple is a venue to pay homage to god and ancestors. It was built around 478 BC and has since been expanded several times. The complex presently spans 218,000 square meters, with almost 460 chambers constructed by several dynasties. The temple at Qufu is the inspiration for numerous Confucius temples throughout East and Southeast Asia.

The Confucius Cemetery is China's oldest and largest family cemetery. The cemetery contains the tombs of Confucius, a prominent ancient Chinese philosopher and educator, and his ancestors. A number of stone tablets with inscriptions engraved by renowned calligraphers like Li Dongyang and Kang Youwei may also be found in the cemetery. On the eastern side of the Confucius Temple lies the Confucius Family Mansion, which began building in 1377. It is the mansion of Confucius' descendants' eldest sons, with more than 480 rooms across 160,000 square meters.