"Nishan Sacred Realm Seeking Confucian Charm, Two Days Leisure at the Three Confucius Sites and Liao River"
【Introduction】:
· Spectacular performances and dialogues between ancient and modern times: Watch ancient ritual music performances during the day and experience modern light and shadow technology at night, achieving a cross-time communication with Confucian culture.
🕘【Opening Hours】:
♥ Nishan Sacred Realm Daytime: approximately 09:30-17:00
Nighttime: approximately 09:30-21:00 (nighttime hours may vary)
Night sessions are not available every day, and end times may be adjusted. It is recommended to verify before traveling.
Recommended visit duration: 3 hours (immersive viewing of performances at irregular times daily)
♥ Three Confucius Sites 08:00/08:30 - 17:00 or around 16:30, information is relatively fixed, generally open all day.
Recommended visit duration: 3.5 hours
♥ Liao River Ancient Street Free open scenic area, shops usually close after 22:00
💴【Ticket Prices】:
● Nishan Sacred Realm ticket price is 110 RMB/person; Jinsheng Yuzhen 140 RMB/person
● Three Confucius Sites ticket price is 140 RMB/person
● Liao River Ancient Street is a free attraction, boat rides available to view the holy city nightscape
⛺【Itinerary】
Visit the Three Confucius Sites, recommended as a one-day tour, visiting in the order of Confucius Temple → Confucius Mansion → Confucius Forest.
· Morning: Start at the Confucius Temple, visit the main buildings along the central axis, watch the city opening ceremony and Confucius worship performance.
· Noon: Exit the Confucius Temple, pass through a commercial street, then head to the Confucius Mansion for a visit. Have lunch around the scenic area.
· Afternoon: Visit Confucius Forest to experience the tranquil and solemn atmosphere.
👉【Attractions】1. Confucius Temple
A temple dedicated to Confucius, one of China's four great ancient architectural complexes alongside the Palace Museum, Summer Resort, and Dai Temple.
· Main highlights: Wanren Palace Wall, Jinsheng Yuzhen Archway, Dacheng Hall, Apricot Altar.
2. Confucius Mansion
Adjacent to the Confucius Temple, it was the residence of Confucius’s direct descendants.
· Main highlights: Main Hall, Second Hall, Third Hall, Inner Residence, Back Garden.
3. Confucius Forest
Located north of the city, it is the cemetery garden for Confucius and his family, with ancient towering trees and a serene environment.
· Main highlights: Confucius’s tomb, Zigong’s hand-planted Chinese scholar tree.
4. Performances
· Ming Ancient City Opening Ceremony: 08:00, Location: Confucius Temple Shili Hall.
· Confucius Worship Performance: 11:00, Location: Confucius Temple Dacheng Hall.
· Evening Drum and City Gate Ceremony: 17:30 (May to September), 17:00 (October to April), Location: South Gate of Confucius Temple, Wanren Palace Wall.
· Confucius Mansion Shadow Puppet Show: 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 (paid), Location: Confucius Mansion Fushou Hall.
🚶 Recommended visiting order
· Evening: Arrive at the ancient street → Rent Hanfu at the Hanfu Experience Hall → Stroll along the ancient street, enjoy the ancient buildings under the lights → Taste various specialty snacks.
· Night: Take a boat at Liao River Pier for a night tour → Watch the "Long Admired Qufu" performance → Experience intangible cultural heritage projects.
🎯 Core attractions and features
1. Night boat tour
· Feature: Walk along the ancient street to Liao River Pier, buy tickets for a boat ride to enjoy the dazzling night lights on both sides of Liao River, passing under a bridge with ancient architectural style and brilliant lighting. You can also watch the performance "Long Admired Qufu" on both riverbanks.
· Boat operating hours:
· Daytime: 10:00-11:00, 14:30-16:30
· Nighttime: 19:00-21:30 (boats every 15 minutes)
2. Hanfu Experience
There is a Hanfu Experience Hall in the ancient street where you can rent clothes and take great photos!
3. Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience
Visit the ancient style market to immerse yourself in intangible cultural heritage projects such as children's painting, lacquer fan making, and hair braiding.
4. Specialty Food
Various popular snacks line both sides of the street, such as Shizhuang grilled skewers, Bobo chicken, cloud soufflé, grape chicken cubes, cumin crispy pork, etc. Highly recommend the crispy and tender cumin crispy pork and local specialty grape chicken cubes!
【Day Two】
Nishan Sacred Show (Night Scene Highlight)
· Location: Zhisheng Square, around Confucius Lake.
· Feature: Nightly drone show, light show, music fountain, and water screen movie. Hundreds of drones form patterns like phoenixes, Analects scrolls, and world tours in the night sky, blending spectacularly with fountains, lasers, and flames on the lake surface.
· Tips: Check the performance time for the day (varies by season) and find a good viewing spot in advance.
One-day highlight tour (focus on night scene)
★ Afternoon: Arrive at the scenic area around 13:00 → Visit Zhisheng Square, pay respects to the Confucius statue → Enter the University Hall, carefully visit various halls and the Seventy-two Worthies Corridor (about 2-3 hours) → Participate in some free handcraft experiences inside the University Hall (such as reading the Analects by hand).
· Evening: Have dinner inside the University Hall or at the scenic area restaurant.
· Night: Watch the "Jinsheng Yuzhen" performance (if tickets purchased) → Wait for and watch the Nishan Sacred Show (drone + water screen light show) → Return after the show.
🎯 Core attractions and features
1. Confucius Statue
A huge 72-meter tall bronze statue symbolizing Confucius’s "Seventy-two Worthy Disciples." The statue faces the lake, solemn and dignified, a must-visit spot for photos.
2. University Hall
A comprehensive cultural tourism building integrating museum, ceremony, lecture hall, conference, and performance. Luxuriously decorated inside, blending wood carving, clay sculpture, lacquer painting, and other traditional Chinese art forms.
· Must-see halls:
· Stair Hall: The giant staircase itself is a work of art, with scroll-style screens on both sides carved with famous quotes from the Analects.
· Seventy-two Worthies Corridor: Vivid clay sculpture scenes recreate stories of Confucius discussing learning with his seventy-two disciples.
· Five Halls of Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust: Five uniquely styled and splendid halls themed on the Confucian "Five Constants."
3. "Jinsheng Yuzhen" Grand Ritual Music Ceremony
· Location: Ritual Music Hall inside the University Hall.
· Feature: A very impressive large indoor performance, centered on "Confucius of the World" and "The World of Confucius," using modern sound, light, and electric technology to combine poetry, music, dance, and other Chinese classical art forms with modern stage technology, portraying Confucius’s life from mortal to sage.
· Tips: Tickets are in high demand, especially on holidays. It is recommended to book in advance through official channels.
🚌【Transportation Tips】:
★ Within Qufu city, Didi taxi is a convenient option.
★ Direct shuttle buses are available to Nishan Sacred Realm.
🧡【Preparation】:
■ Bring your ID card; student ID, veteran discount card, and in-service teacher certificates are also accepted.
■ Comfortable shoes
■ Note: Lighters and controlled knives are not allowed inside the scenic area.
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