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

The Shanghai Confucian Temple was built in the Yuan Dynasty (1294), and after several relocations, the Confucian Temple was built in the fifth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1855). You can also see the exhibition of strange stones, root carvings and teapots, as well as the display of ancient Shanghai literati inscriptions. The Confucian Temple is a three-entry courtyard. The first entrance is divided into upper and lower courtyards. The second entrance is the Lingxing Gate. There are Kuiwen Pavilion and Zunjing Pavilion at both ends of the courtyard. Siheyuan. In front of the Dacheng Hall, there are East and West Halls, which together with the Dacheng Gate and the surrounding walls form a closed courtyard. There are also statues of Confucius and the Dacheng bell in front of the Dacheng Hall. Every year before the exam, many students come here to make wishes and ring the bell, and tie red ribbons on the trees in front of the hall for good luck. The Dacheng Hall is the main hall for offering sacrifices to Confucius. The full text of the Analects of Confucius written in regular script by Shanghai calligrapher Liu Xiaoqing is displayed in the hall. It is engraved on 52 bluestone slabs and inlaid around the inner wall of the Dacheng Hall. The carvings are quite fine. Go east to the Zunjing Pavilion. It was built in the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. It is an earlier official library in Shanghai. There is a Lingbi stone in front of the pavilion, which is shaped like a unicorn. Minglun Hall, located in the south of Zunjing Pavilion, used to be the place where Confucian scholars gave lectures, and you can see neatly arranged study cases inside. In front of the hall, there is a bronze square tripod, which is inscribed with the words "Learn in literature, make appointments in etiquette" and "Be tireless in learning and tireless in teaching." At the east end of the Confucian Temple, there is a three-storey Kuixing Pavilion, built in 1855, which is the main building of the Academy. Kuixing Pavilion is a rare pavilion and historic site in downtown Shanghai. The appearance of flying eaves and spires is very historical. It is said that once you climbed this pavilion, you can overlook the whole picture of the old city of Shanghai. There is a pond in front of the pavilion, where the vegetation is lush, like a pocket garden, and the "Dragon Yinhu Xiao" Lingbi stone standing in the pond is very vivid. Around the Confucian Temple, along Laodaoqian Street, Menghua Street, and Xuegong Street, there are shops with strong cultural colors, such as antiques, calligraphy and painting halls, ancient coins, and stamps, and sometimes there are elderly stalls selling antiques. There are also many street food and doll stores, stationery stores, and small commodity stores in this area, which have become popular places for students and young people to visit. It is worth mentioning that there is a book market trading area in the northeast corner of the Confucian Temple, which sells discounted books. There is a used book market in the Confucian Temple every Sunday (no rainy days). You can enter it for a dollar. There are ancient books, second-hand books, new books, comics, and foreign books. You will get something for an hour of patience. You are a book lover A must go place.