Fuzimiao
Confucius Temple district on the Qinhuai River
No. 128 Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple) is Nanjing's most famous historic district, a sprawling complex of temple halls, traditional-style commercial buildings, and riverside promenades centered on a Confucian temple that has stood beside the Qinhuai River since 1034 AD. For centuries this area was the intellectual heart of Nanjing — home to the imperial examination halls where scholars tested for government positions — and it retains a festive, culturally rich atmosphere today, with lantern-lit riverbanks, teahouses, street food vendors, and souvenir shops filling the traditional streetscape, particularly in the evenings.
Details
The Confucius Temple
The temple complex contains the main worship halls dedicated to Confucius, with statues, memorial tablets, and traditional scholarly decorations. Adjacent is the Jiangnan Gongyuan (Imperial Examination Museum), occupying the site of the largest imperial examination center in China, where up to 20,000 scholars could sit examinations simultaneously. The museum recreates examination cells and documents the grueling process that shaped Chinese governance for centuries.
Qinhuai River
The section of the Qinhuai River flowing through the Fuzimiao district is the most scenic urban waterway in Nanjing. Traditional-style buildings with upturned eaves line both banks, and ornate stone bridges cross the narrow channel at intervals. Evening boat rides along the illuminated river are enormously popular — small wooden boats carry passengers past the glowing facades while recorded commentary explains the area's history. The boats depart from several points along the riverbank.
Street Food and Shopping
The lanes surrounding the temple are packed with vendors selling Nanjing's signature snacks: duck blood and vermicelli soup (yaxue fensitang), salted duck, tang bao (soup-filled buns), and osmanthus-flavored pastries. Traditional craft shops, calligraphy supply stores, and silk vendors line the upper floors. The atmosphere is most vibrant on weekend evenings when the lanterns are lit and the riverbanks fill with crowds.
Getting There
Address: No. 128 Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
**Fuzimiao Station** on Line 3 exits near the district. **Sanshanjie Station** on Line 1 is also within walking distance. The district connects naturally to Zhonghua Gate to the south and Laomendong to the southeast.
Fuzimiao
Confucius Temple district on the Qinhuai River