Things to do in  Qufu

Qufu’s claim to fame is the philosopher Confucius, who was born here more than 2,500 years ago. One of the city’s three Confucian sites that share a UNESCO World Heritage listing, the 35-acre (14-hectare) Qufu Temple of Confucius is one of China’s biggest and most important historical complexes: it comprises hundreds of buildings.

The philosopher Confucius was born into Qufu’s Kong family in 551 BC: his most common Chinese name is Kongfuzi. The Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu), also known as the Confucius Mansion, is one of three Confucian sites in Qufu to share a UNESCO World Heritage listing: the sprawling, 17-acre (7-hectare) complex comprises more than 480 rooms.

One of a triptych of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Confucian sites in Qufu, the sage’s home city, the Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin) hosts Confucius’ 2,500-year-old tomb, as well as more than 100,000 of his descendants. Tree-filled and tranquil, the 452-acre (183-hectare) park contains pavilions, tombs, and carvings.

The Kong Forest, or the Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin), is just north of Qufu. The thousands of gravestones and tombs here honor Confucius, his disciples, and his descendants—the Kongs. Their gravestones span the length of several dynasties. Confucius, the philosopher, educator, and politician, is revered by many as a profound thought leader bringing China into modern times.