# Qufu travel guide (曲阜) Shandong Province · East China, China · 7 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/shandong/qufu ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Confucius Temple → Confucius Mansion (you can enjoy the Confucius Family Feast at lunchtime) → Confucius Forest → Six Arts City of Confucius - **Day 2:** Shouqiu Shaohao Mausoleum → Mencius' Hometown ## The feel of the place - **Gouxin Doujiao (intricate, interlocking eaves):** Gouxin Doujiao was once a very common style of traditional Chinese architecture, but it has almost vanished from modern design. In Qufu, however, apart from the prevailing grey tones, nearly all the buildings still follow this ancient style, and you feel as though time has rolled back a thousand years. Beneath the eaves, however, are signs for pool halls, telecom shops and fashion boutiques, and scenes of daily life from several decades ago are still preserved. - **The Legacy of Confucius:** In Qufu, the Confucius Mansion is naturally the centre of attention, and Confucius himself is the centre of that centre. This is not because Confucian sayings appear everywhere or because of the buildings linked to him, but because of the calm that shows in people's bearing and expressions. First, the town is clean, a result of residents consistently looking after it, and both the streets and the free markets are spotless. Second, there is a gentle courtesy between people. You will hardly hear anyone shouting to sell their wares, let alone people arguing in the street. Even affectionate behaviour between young couples is restrained; holding hands or putting an arm around the waist in public is about as far as it goes. To people from large, open cities, this may seem unfashionable, but once you experience it for yourself, you cannot help but be moved by the noble spirit of the gentleman, which is as lofty as the mountains and as enduring as flowing water. ## The feel of the place ### Agree on Prices in Advance In Qufu, always agree on prices before you use any service. This avoids trouble and spoiled moods later on. ### Use Official Guides Qufu has many unlicensed guides, and their service standards vary widely. For your own protection, it is best to hire a licensed guide from the attraction or from a travel agency. ### Stay in Reputable Hotels Touts with tricycles and taxis wait around Qufu Station. To earn commissions, they will enthusiastically take visitors to private guesthouses. These are not only expensive, but hygiene cannot be guaranteed. ### Qufu's Distinctive Shop Signs Shop signs in Qufu are distinctive, with black or blue backgrounds. This complements the overall atmosphere of Qufu as the home of Confucius. ### Pedicabs Qufu is small and buses run infrequently, so hiring a pedicab to explore the town is the most economical option. Around ¥5 per person is usually enough. ### Preparation and Information ### Language Language is not a barrier here, as Mandarin is widely spoken. ### Climate and Travel Seasons Qufu's annual average temperature is 13.6°C. January is the coldest month, with an average monthly temperature of − 1.7°C. July is the hottest month, but its average temperature is only around 26°C. Visitors from southern China should bring warm clothing. The best time to visit is from June to September. ### Festivals ### Confucius Culture Festival - hours: 26–28 September During the festival, Confucian ritual dance performances are held in front of the Hall of Great Achievement at Confucius Temple. There are also symposiums and lectures on Confucian thought and exhibitions of art and culture, along with a range of tourist activities centred on the “Six Arts” that Confucius advocated: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy and mathematics. If you are visiting Qufu, it is worth taking in the festival. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There ### By air Qufu is 180 km from Jinan Airport, 85 km from Jining Airport, and 160 km from Xuzhou Guanyin Airport. Travellers can fly into Jinan, Jining or Xuzhou and then take a bus to Qufu, which is very convenient. ### High-Speed Rail Qufu sits right at the golden midpoint of the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed rail line. Qufu East Station is located in Xizou Town, not far from Confucius's birthplace. High-speed trains run daily to Beijing and Shanghai. - transport: Within the city, take the K01 high-speed rail connector bus, whose terminus is ### Road The Beijing–Fuzhou (Jingfu) and Rizhao–Heze (Riche) main highways intersect in Qufu. ### Getting Around Buses and pedicabs are the main means of transport within Qufu. Buses are limited, and pedicab drivers are usually locals who can sometimes be very good guides. ### Sightseeing Shuttles Qufu's urban area is connected by road to all the main sights, and 12 tourist shuttle routes now run from Qufu to Nishan, Shimen Mountain, Jiuxian Mountain, Jiulong Mountain and the Shaohao Mausoleum. ### Taxis Qufu taxi fares: flag-fall of ¥7 for the first 2 km; ¥1.3 per km for 2–4 km; ¥1.95 per km beyond 4 km. - **Qufu Bus Station** — (Jingyulong Road, Qufu City, 0537-4412554) - **Qufu Taxi Complaints** — ## Eat & drink A visit to Qufu would not be complete without a Kong Family Feast, alongside the Three Confucian Sites. ### Signature Dishes ### Signature Dishes of the Kong Family Feast - **Kong Family Feast** — This is the high-grade banquet of the Kong family mansion, used to host distinguished guests and for occasions such as inheriting titles, taking office, sacrificial days, birthdays, weddings and funerals. The Analects (Xiangdang chapter) says: 'Rice should not be too refined, and minced meat should not be too finely chopped,' showing how demanding Confucius was about everyday food. Because successive dynasties honoured Confucius, new chefs kept joining the sacrificial ceremonies each year, so the Kong Family Feast gathers the finest of Lu cuisine and embodies the full range of Chinese flavours. Its emphasis on colour, aroma, taste, shape, name, ingredients and every step of preparation is a major feature. Traditional versions even use camel hooves, bear paws, and fish and shrimp from Weishan Lake, which is why it is so remarkable. The Kong Family Feast includes five great banquets: the Longevity Banquet, Flower Banquet, Reception Banquet, Home-Style Banquet and Manchu-Han Full Banquet. - **Long Life and Good Fortune** — The dish is delicious and auspicious, and it has become a Qufu specialty in its own right and a must-order at birthday banquets. It consists mainly of longevity noodles and a carp in sauce, and visitors can try it at major restaurants throughout Qufu. - **First-Grade Longevity Peach** — Inspired by the idea of Magu offering longevity (麻姑献寿), the dish spread among the people and became one of Qufu's local specialty snacks. It is shaped like a large, plump fresh peach covered with a red character for longevity (寿). The dish is beautifully presented, and its sweet, refreshing peach-shaped dessert carries the wish 'may your happiness be as boundless as the East Sea and your life as enduring as the South Mountain.' - **Roasted Mandarin Fish with Flower Garnish** — The name draws on the wish for 'wealth to spare' (富贵有余), since 'fish' (鱼, yú) sounds like 'surplus' (余, yú). The dish combines the freshness of fish with the tenderness of meat, and places special emphasis on knife work and heat control. - **Immortal Duck** — The meat is so tender it falls off the bone, the broth is rich and flavourful, and the dish is rich without being greasy. It is a much-loved classic. ## Shopping ### Recommended Shopping ### Recommended Shopping Street - **Kai-wood Carving** — Kai wood is dense yet flexible, and its grain is particularly fine and golden in colour, which makes it ideal for carving walking sticks. Walking sticks and ruyi sceptres are the traditional products of Kai-wood carving. - **Stele Rubbings** — Also known as stele rubbings. Qufu has many rubbing techniques, but mainly relies on the dabbing method (扑拓), producing clear, fine and beautiful rubbings. - **Nishan Inkstones** — The finest are the Songhua inkstones (松花砚). Each one makes full use of the natural form and veining of the stone. Simple and elegant, a piece on your desk is both practical and beautiful. - **Kong Family Liquor** — The Kong Family Liquor Group uses carefully selected sorghum as its main raw material and follows the old five-steamer mixed steaming technique of the Kong family distillery. The liquor is known for its 'three aromas and three correctnesses': a fragrant scent when you smell it, a fragrant taste when you drink it and a fragrant aftertaste, with correct aroma, correct flavour and correct body. - **Kong Family Pastries** — Kong Family pastries have a long history and a self-contained range of varieties. They excel in colour, aroma, taste and shape, and fall into two categories: those for external use and those for internal use. External-use pastries were mainly presented as tribute, gifts and imperial rewards. Internal-use pastries include seasonal pastries, year-round pastries, pastries for visiting guests, and banquet pastries. In recent years, research into Kong Family pastries has received much attention, and local producers have revived most varieties, so visitors from China and abroad can taste them. - **Quli Pedestrian Street** — On the east side of the Confucius Temple is a tourist shopping street selling Confucius statues, books about Confucius, rubbings, jade, stone carvings, seals, jewellery and other handicrafts. Anyone who wants souvenirs should not miss a great chance to snap up bargains. Even if you buy nothing, strolling here is great fun. ## Where to stay - **Quli Hotel** — The best four-star hotel in Qufu. The location is excellent: it sits just across a wall from the Confucius Temple and Kong Family Mansion. The lobby and courtyard are very pleasant, service is good, and guests can enjoy traditional song and dance performances. The only drawback is that the facilities are rather old. Still, the hotel's antique architecture complements the Confucius Temple and Kong Family Mansion beautifully, and staying here lets you feel their profound cultural atmosphere. (No. 1 Quli Street, Qufu City, 0537-4866400) ## Things to see - **Confucius Temple** (★★★★): Admission ¥80; ¥140 for the Three Confucian Sites combined ticket; Opening hours 08:30-16:30 (all year round in 2026); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/confucius-temple - **Confucius Mansion** (★★★★): Admission ¥60 in peak season; Opening hours 8：30—16：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/confucius-mansion - **Confucius Forest** (★★★★): Admission ¥10; ¥50; combined ticket for Shouqiu and Shaohao Mausoleum: ¥50; Opening hours 8：30—16：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/confucius-forest ## Day trips & beyond - **Mencius' Hometown** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 08:00-18:00 (all year 2026); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mencius-hometown - **Weishan Lake Tourist Area** (★★★): Admission Weishan Lake entry ticket ¥100; Weishan Lake National Wetland Park entry ticket ¥40; Opening hours Summer 08:30-17:30 (last entry 17:00); winter 08:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30); Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/weishan-lake-tourist-area - **Shuibo Liangshan (Liangshan Marsh)** (★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 08:00-18:00 (all year 2026); Time needed 4–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shuibo-liangshan-liangshan-marsh - **Mount Ni** (★★★): Admission Three Confucian Sites combined ticket at 20% off; ¥50 if purchased separately; Opening hours 9：00—17：00; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-ni --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1355–1370. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.