[2025 Ningyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Ningyuan Confucian Temple (Updated May)

Ningyuan Confucian Temple, located in Ningyuan County at the foot of Jiuyi Mountain, was originally built during the Tang Dynasty. The existing structure was reconstructed during the Tongzhi to Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty, making it one of the most well-preserved and largest Confucian temples in the six provinces of South Central China. Stepping into the temple, the symmetrical layout along the central axis exudes solemnity. The Pan Pond symbolizes official education, the Lingxing Gate represents respect for Confucius, and the Dacheng Hall houses a statue of Confucius. The dragon and phoenix stone pillars are considered national treasures, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The East and West wings feature halls dedicated to famous figures and exhibition rooms displaying cultural relics, narrating the brilliance of Ningyuan's talents. Visitors are welcome year-round, with blooming flowers in spring and lush greenery in summer. You can dress in traditional attire for photos, immerse yourself in the Confucian cultural atmosphere, and even attend lectures on classical Chinese studies at Minglun Hall. Come to Ningyuan Confucian Temple and embark on a cultural journey through time!

Yongzhou is not a well-known tourist destination. I discovered this hidden gem with its unknown history and beautiful scenery by chance during a two-day stopover on my way to Guilin. Yongzhou is a place where history, culture, and natural landscapes blend together, as depicted in Liu Zongyuan's "Record of the Little Stone Pond." It boasts well-preserved ancient cities and temples, rustic traditional villages, and picturesque karst geological landscapes. If you're curious about this place, you can follow my two-day one-night Yongzhou travel guide. Itinerary Day 1: Lingling Ancient City—Liuzi Temple—Little Stone Pond—Wumiao Temple—Wenmiao Temple—Xiangling Mountain—Yongzhou Museum—Pingzhou Academy—Huilong Tower Day 2: Zhou Family Courtyard—Ningyuan Wenmiao Temple—Jiuyi Mountain—Yunlongfang—Shanggan Tang Ancient Village Attraction Highlights Pingzhou Academy: Known for the "Spring Flood at Pingzhou," one of Yongzhou's eight scenic spots, featuring numerous famous poets' inscriptions. Huilong Tower: A unique and photogenic tower with blue and white colors. Wenmiao Temple + Wumiao Temple: Although under renovation, these sites record the traces of Yongzhou's history. Lingling Ancient City + Liuzi Temple: A temple built to commemorate the Tang Dynasty writer Liu Zongyuan, featuring ancient architecture and cultural relics. Jiuyi Mountain: The burial site of Emperor Shun, with a rich historical and cultural background. You can visit Emperor Shun's Mausoleum to learn about his legends and history. Zhou Family Courtyard: A well-preserved ancient village from the Ming and Qing Dynasties with unique architectural styles. Stroll through the village to experience the charm of ancient architecture and the lifestyle of the past. Shanggan Tang Ancient Village: A tranquil and beautiful ancient village with a long history. The ancient buildings and stone-paved roads reveal the passage of time. Local Food Recommendations: 1. Yongzhou Blood Duck: Tender duck meat with duck blood, spicy and flavorful, perfect with rice. 2. Dong'an Chicken: Tender chicken with a sweet and sour taste, offering a unique flavor. 3. Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu: Tofu filled with meat, pan-fried until golden, then cooked, offering a rich texture and delicious broth. 4. Yongzhou Braised Rice Noodles: Smooth and chewy rice noodles with a savory broth and various seasonings, very tempting. Practical Information 🚄 Transportation: Yongzhou has an airport for direct flights, or you can first reach Guilin and then take a train to Yongzhou. Once in Yongzhou, you can rent a car on the Trip.com platform to complete your two-day tour. 🏨 Accommodation: Yongzhou city is not large, offering a variety of accommodation options to suit different budgets.

Hunan Province Yongzhou City Ningyuan County Ningyuan Confucian Temple Ningyuan Confucian Temple is ranked as a national level four site. In the category of ancient architecture, it holds the third place in Hunan (tied with others), and it is often referred to as the largest Confucian temple in Hunan, with special emphasis on the praise of its stone-carved dragon pillars. The existing temple has three sections, starting from the shadow wall (where small shops have been built on the street-facing side) and ending at the Dacheng Gate, containing a Pan Pool (without a bridge), Lingxing Gate, and on each side, a clay sculpture archway-style gate, namely 'Virtue Matches Heaven and Earth' and 'The Way Crowns the Ages'. There are also many stone components piled up. The proportion of buildings in this section is not large, but the scale is significant, with many trees planted, lush and jungle-like. The archways are of good quality, with a light blue color, very attractive. The three buildings on the central axis, the Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Shrine, all use stone-carved dragon pillars, but they feel less lively, and the shapes are just average, not considered fine works. Personally, I find the wood-carved dragon pillars of the Yongzhou Confucian Temple more exciting. The Dacheng Hall, in particular, only uses a rolled shed roof instead of dougong brackets, offering fewer points of interest. A distinctive feature of Hunan Confucian temples is that the Dacheng Hall and the two side halls are relatively close together, and then a small corridor (some even build a pavilion) is connected to the side halls at a forward position on the mountain side. This temple follows the same pattern. Overall, Ningyuan Confucian Temple did not live up to my high expectations. Behind the temple is a street called West Zheng Street, which is very narrow and contains a blue stone archway dedicated to chaste and filial women. The archway's plaque lists the names of 350 virtuous women, a sad testament to the lives of more than three hundred women in feudal society confined within such an archway. But on the other hand, the level of craftsmanship of this archway is higher than that of the Lingxing Gate in the temple. The carvings are delicate, with vivid depictions of people and architectural features, and it also has a gate tower.