Qufu Three Kongs Scenic Area Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, and it is a symbol of the Chinese commemoration of Confucius and the promotion of Confucianism throughout the ages.
The Confucius Temple is a temple dedicated to Confucius. It is the longest-used temple in China and a model of more than 2,000 Confucius Temples in the world; the Confucius Mansion is where the direct descendants of Confucius live. It is the largest, best-preserved and most typical existing official and mansion complex in China; the Confucius Forest is a special cemetery for Confucius and his family, and it is also the longest-lasting clan cemetery in the world.
In 1994, the "Three Kongs" were listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The Three Kongs Scenic Area has many ancient buildings, with more than 1,300 houses and a construction area of about 32,000 square meters. It is known as the "Three Major Ancient Buildings in China" together with the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Summer Resort in Chengde, Hebei. The Confucius Temple has nine courtyards, with the north-south axis as the central axis, divided into three roads: left, middle and right. It is 630 meters long and 140 meters wide. There are more than 460 halls, halls, altars and pavilions, 54 gatehouses, and 13 "Imperial Stele Pavilions". These ancient buildings reflect the architectural regulations and characteristics of various periods in China and have extremely high artistic value.
The Three Kongs Scenic Area has rich cultural activities: the scenic area will launch a series of lively cultural performances such as morning bells and evening drums, Confucius Mansion stage, and Confucius Mansion New Year. It also promotes the standardization of the national intangible cultural heritage Confucius sacrifice ceremony system, so that traditional Confucius sacrifice music and dance can go nationwide. In addition, there are more than 10 Confucian cultural exhibitions such as "Reciting the Analects and Free Tour of the Three Kongs", and "Confucius Mansion Fine Cultural Relics", which can allow tourists to have a deep understanding of Confucian culture.
So, if you travel to Shandong, you must go to the Three Kongs Scenic Area in Qufu, and you will feel a different world.