Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao)

A nice half-day outing if you’re in Nanjing. The scenery along the river is lovely and the temple grounds are well maintained. However, some of the halls were under renovation and the audio guide was hard to follow. Also, the restrooms could be cleaner. Still, I enjoyed learning about Confucian culture and the architecture is stunning.

Hands down the best food street I’ve been to in China! The Confucius Temple itself is beautiful and peaceful, but the real highlight for me was the Qinhuai snack street nearby. I tried duck blood vermicelli, salted duck, and stinky tofu that was surprisingly delicious. Perfect place to spend an evening eating and people watching.

Honestly a bit disappointed. The whole area feels way too commercialized — it’s basically a giant shopping mall with a temple attached. Entrance fee wasn’t cheap, and most of the “historical” atmosphere gets drowned out by blaring pop music from clothing stores. The temple part itself is okay, but I expected more serenity and authenticity.

Really impressive historical site with lots to see, but be prepared for crowds. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed. The temple itself is well preserved and the exhibition on Confucius’s life is informative. I just wish the souvenir shops inside weren’t so loud and aggressive. Still, worth a visit for the culture.

Absolutely loved wandering through the Confucius Temple area at night. The lanterns reflecting on the Qinhuai River were magical, and the blend of traditional architecture with the lively street food stalls gave it such a vibrant energy. We grabbed some tangyuan and watched the boats drift by — felt like stepping back in time. Definitely a must-see in Nanjing!