Come here for a baptism of knowledge - Beijing Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum

The Confucius Temple and the Imperial College were established in the Yuan Dynasty, in accordance with the ancient system of 'left temple and right school', serving as the place for the emperor to worship Confucius and the highest central university respectively. Both groups of buildings are built along the central axis in a symmetrical traditional Chinese architectural style, forming a complete, magnificent, and splendid ancient architectural complex. 🌟Highlights: ——The Confucius Temple covers an area of 22,000 square meters and has three courtyards. The buildings on the central axis are the First Teacher's Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Shrine. The front yard has a stele pavilion, a divine kitchen, a provincial sacrificial pavilion, and a well pavilion on the east side; there is a stele pavilion and a Zhi Zhai on the west side, and there is a Jingjing Gate connected to the Imperial College. There are 198 steles of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, inscribed with the names, hometowns, and rankings of 51,624 scholars, which are precious physical materials for studying China's imperial examination system. Outside the Dacheng Gate, there are Qianlong Stone Drums and two related Qing Dynasty steles. The main buildings in the middle courtyard are the east and west porches and 13 imperial stele pavilions; the Chongsheng Shrine in the back courtyard is independent, forming a complete ancient architectural complex of the Beijing Confucius Temple. ——The Imperial College was the highest university and educational administrative institution established by the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, also known as 'Tai Xue' and 'Guo Xue'. It was established in the 24th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1287 AD), and was extensively renovated and expanded during the Yongle and Zhengtong periods of the Ming Dynasty. In the 48th year of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, a group of royal buildings called 'Bi Yong' was added, forming the current system. The overall architecture of the Imperial College faces south, with three courtyards, covering an area of more than 27,000 square meters. The buildings on the central axis are Jixian Gate (main gate), Taixue Gate (second gate), Liuli Archway, Biyong Hall, Yilun Hall, and Jingyi Pavilion. The main building of the Imperial College has been well preserved for more than 700 years and is the only completely preserved site of the ancient highest university. 👍Most recommended: ——The Qianlong Thirteen Classics Stele is a precious historical material for studying Confucianism, and it is now placed in the alley between the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College. Figures fourteen and fifteen. ——There are more than 40 ancient locust trees in the Imperial College, the most famous of which are the 'Auspicious Locust' on the west side of the Yilun Hall and the 'Luo Guo Locust' on the west side of Biyong. ——The Liuli Archway is located inside the Taixue Gate, with a structure of three bays and four pillars and seven floors, and is the only archway in Beijing dedicated to education. The front is inscribed with 'Huanqiao Jiaoye', and the back is inscribed with 'Xuehai Jieguan', both written by Emperor Qianlong. Figure one. ——The Biyong is square in plan, built on a square stone base, with a double-eave four-cornered spire roof covered with yellow glazed tiles, three bays wide and deep, with doors on all four sides. There is a corridor (auxiliary steps around) around it, and there is a pool of water outside the corridor. Figures seventeen and eighteen. 📍Detailed address: No. 15 Guozijian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Ticket price: 30 yuan/person for adults. 🚉Transportation strategy: Bus: Take bus No. 13 or 84 in Beijing, get off at Guozijian Station and go there; take bus No. 116 or 117 in Beijing, get off at Yonghegong Station and go there. Subway: Take subway line 2 or 5 in Beijing, get off at Yonghegong Station and go there. 📝Note tips: The first 200 people are free every Wednesday (reservation required), and there are volunteers for free explanation.