Confucius Six Arts City & Yan Temple

Confucius Six Arts City (also called Confucius’s Six Classical Arts Hall), located at No.15, Chunqiu Road, Nanxin District, Qufu City, is a theme park displaying the thought, teaching and life of Confucius (551-479BC) (an ideologist and educator in ancient China, and the great founder of Confucianism) and the folk culture of ancient Lu State. It is so named, because the six arts (ritual, music, archery, driving, calligraphy and mathematics) were advocated and taught by the sage.

The scenic spot encompasses an area of 13ha with a distinctive and magnificent architectural complex. Inside the gate is a large group of bronze sculptures. Behind it, there is an impressive building – the sphere-shaped Mathematics Hall, where visitors can use all kinds of electronic game machines to solve different mathematics puzzles. The halls of the other five arts surround the Mathematics Hall. Music Hall and Archery Hall are on its left side; Driving Hall and Calligraphy Hall on its right side; the Ritual Hall is at its front. The six arts are shown vividly by employing modern techniques of sound, light and electricity. Following a visit here, tourists will more fully understand the six arts and ancient culture of the Pre-Qin Period.

Garden of Confucius Hometown is located in the northeast corner of the Six Arts City. With characteristic architecture of the Orient, it illustrates the residence and culture of Lu State. With so much historic beauty, it draws a glorious picture of Confucian heritage. There are dozens of folk-custom activities for tourists to enjoy, such as walking on stilts, listening to traditional operas and playing dragon dances.

Every day the Grand Theatre of Confucius Six Arts plays ancient dance and music at 10:00 and 15:00. It is really a feast to the eyes and ears.

 Tips:
1. Dining: The three representative dinners deserve a taste, including Family Feast, Birthday Banquet and Wedding Banquet.
2. Recommended travel route: Confucius Square – the Bronze Statue of Confucius’ Visiting to Many States - Ritual Hall - Calligraphy Hall - Driving Hall - Archery Hall - Music Hall - Mathematics Hall – Yan Music Hall – the Theatre - the Garden

Admission Fee	The Six Arts City: CNY 40 The Garden: CNY 30 Through Ticket: CNY 60 Preferential policy: 1.Free for children no more than 1.2m in height and the seniors over 70 years old with a valid proof; 2. Children between 1.2m and 1.6m in height and the seniors between 60 and 69 years old get 50% discount.
Opening Hours	07:30-17:30
Transportation	Take local bus no. 5 to get off at Xingtan Middle School Bus Stop, which is at the opposite of Six Arts City. (Note: You’d better not get off at Garden of Confucius Hometown station by bus no. 5, as the gate near the bus stop is only for exit instead of entrance.)

 

Yan Temple is located in the north of Louxiang Street of Qufu City and can easily be reached by crossing a street from the rear garden of Kong Family Mansion. It was built for Yan Hui (521-481BC), one of the great disciples of the sage. People say that Yan Hui enjoyed great popularity among people for his virtues although he lived in a humble lane. He was conferred an honored title of Fusheng Gong in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), so the temple is also called Fusheng Temple.

The temple was built when Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), held a memorial ceremony for the sage and Yan Hui. It was originally located in the northeast corner of Qufu City. In 1594, Yan Temple was rebuilt in style of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) architecture on the site of Yan Hui’s former residence.

With an area of about 36 mu (6 acres), buildings in the temple are divided into east, west and central parts. There are five courtyards in total, where sky-kissing ancient trees grow. In the front of the temple, a tall granite archway takes on a solemn and simple look. Fusheng Hall is the main hall of Yan Temple, which honors the sage Yan Hui. The hall is magnificent and imposing with finely carved columns and painted beams. The buildings in the west part worship Yan Lu, Yan’s father. An ancient Rough Lane Well in the west of the second courtyard and a Joy Pavilion built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) are the most famous constructions in the temple. Now the temple preserves 25 ancient buildings of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, 53 steles from the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and more than 500 ancient trees.  

Admission Fee	CNY50 for adult, CNY25 for the elderly between 60 and 69 years old with a valid proof, Free for children no more than 1.2m in height and the elderly over 70 years old and journalists with a valid proof. (Note: For tourists with the CNY140 through ticket of the Temple of Confucius, Confucius Family Mansion & Cemetery, they can visit Yan Temple for free.)
Opening Hours	08:00-17:00
Recommended Time for a Visit	Half an hour to an hour
Bus Route	Local bus no. 1 and 3