Devoted to the memory of Confucius and philosophers of Confucianism, the Confucius temple is the second largest and oldest temple in present Beijing. Established in 1302, the shrine was built to worship and offer sacrifices to Confucius. The original temple was not as big as the current complex. After two expansions during the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, it currently occupies an area of around 20,000 square metres.
Built in prefectural county schools throughout the empire, these temples contain a front gate called the Xianshi and four beautiful courtyards. The main building is referred to as the Dacheng and is often called the Hall of Great Achievement or the Hall of Great Perfection. These temples generally do not have images. It is said that back in the day Confucius and his disciples have received paintings, clay and wooden statues as sacrifices. An interesting set of stone drums with intricate carvings, done between 1736–1795 within the Qianlong period are held within this temple.
Two flying dragons and a pearl among the clouds are popular images seen even in other Confucius temples in China or the East. The site also contains many old trees such as the Cypress tree referred to as the Touch Evil Cypress. This site offers a truly unique insight into the rich cultural heritage of the city and lets you learn more about Confucius whose teachings are followed the world over.
Beautiful temples to visit and marvel at and tradition that still wraps around lives of the locals is what you will see at this ancient city in China. If you are on the lookout for a Beijing luxury hotel to reside in while you explore the hidden treasures of this city, Regent Beijing is a much talked about luxury hotel in Beijing worth staying at. Designed to contain a Traditional Chinese Aura, while also being equipped with all contemporary conveniences this hotel is an ideal place to reside when you travel to the city on business or leisure. Conveniently located close to all of Beijing’s historically significant places as well as the ultra-modern business areas, this hotel promises a relaxing experience as you explore one of the most dazzlingly and beautiful cities.