Things to do in Ningyang

I visited twenty years ago. In those twenty years, scenic spots across the country have undergone tremendous changes, but the Three Confucian Sites seem to have made little progress. The Confucius Cemetery looks like a mountain in the suburbs; besides Confucius's tomb, there's not much to see. The Confucius Mansion is basically a Republican-era style; everything is new. Compared to other grand sites like the Qiao Family Compound and the Zhu Family Garden, it's nothing. The Confucius Temple is alright, with history and artifacts. The entire scenic area reeks of horse urine, and the roads are covered in tree sap that sticks to your shoes. This was supposed to be one of the earliest 5A-level scenic areas!

The official guide, Mr. Li, was excellent and definitely a plus for our experience at the Confucius Temple! Because it was past the summer holidays, there weren't many tourists, which made it a really pleasant experience. Mr. Li spoke softly and gently, making the explanations very comfortable, and the content was rich and interactive. Highly recommended!

They're all imitation ancient buildings, one large courtyard, overly commercialized. The back garden is alright, but the Confucius Mansion in the Three Confucius Sites area isn't good value for money. It's not as nice as the Confucius Temple.

The Confucius Cemetery, originally called the Sacred Forest, is located 1.5 kilometers north of Qufu City, Jining, Shandong Province. It is the family cemetery of Confucius and his descendants. Construction began in the 16th year of Duke Ai of Lu during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (479 BC). After more than 2,500 years of development, it has now become a vast garden covering approximately 2 square kilometers, making it the world's longest-lasting, largest, and best-preserved clan cemetery. The Confucius Cemetery is not only a solemn mausoleum but also a "natural museum" rich in cultural connotations and a "chronicle of the Confucius family."

How could I possibly miss a trip to Mount Tai in my lifetime? And since I was there, how could I not challenge myself at night? I climbed to the top in over four hours, then huddled around like a beggar, finding places to sleep, hahaha, what an amazing experience!

The visitor center's parking lot is very large and well-planned, allowing for quick entry and exit even during the National Day holiday. A short bus ride of about ten minutes from the visitor center takes you to the scenic area, which is very beautiful. Located right next to the reservoir, it features a lake, architecture, and stunning scenery. Inside the Nishan Academy, you can watch exciting acrobatic performances. The five halls representing benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness within the academy are enormous and impressive, each with its own unique design. The visit concluded with a spectacular fountain and fireworks show in the evening, making it a very satisfying experience for visitors.

The hotel is located within the scenic area and has its own parking lot. On our first day, they gave us snacks and drinks, and when we left, they gave us a souvenir—a copy of the Analects of Confucius. The hotel was very clean and tidy, and they upgraded our room for free. Overall, it exceeded our expectations and is a great place to stay when visiting the Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, and Confucius Cemetery.

A single ticket to Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden grants access for three days, which is very convenient! 👍 There are so many attractions inside! We spent two days there, enjoying all the attractions and watching performances like "Yue Fei's Spear Against Little Liang Wang" and "The Defense of Bianjing (Kaifeng) in the Northern Song Dynasty." It made me deeply appreciate the happiness of living in the present moment! Cherish and be grateful! 🙏🙏🙏

The Yan Temple was built to commemorate Yan Hui and is a free attraction. It's a ten-minute walk from the east gate of the Confucius Temple. The archway at the entrance dates back to the Ming Dynasty, while the Louxiang Well is even older. Although the Leting Pavilion and Fusheng Hall are reconstructions, they are very well-preserved. My middle school student had just studied a classical Chinese essay about Yan Hui last semester, so the experience was excellent. Overall, it's worth a visit.

The light show at night is a highlight. The colorful lights decorate the bridge and the river bank so beautifully that people can't help but stop and admire them. The boat trip is very interesting, and the water curtain show and micro performances are very good.