Nanjing Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River
南京夫子庙秦淮河 · Nánjīng Fūzǐmiào Qínhuái Hé
Quick answer
Foreign passport not required for the public temple area (¥0). The night boat is the same price for everyone (¥80). No booking required. The official Confucius Temple is a national heritage site with English signage.
Why visit
- 1 FREE entry to the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River area (the most popular free attraction in Nanjing)
- 2 Qinhuai River night cruise (¥80, 30 min) — the most iconic experience in Nanjing
- 3 Ming-Qing era architecture, originally built in 1034 AD and rebuilt in 1869
- 4 Confucius Temple complex — the largest Confucian temple in southern China
- 5 Food street with 100+ vendors — try the salted duck (盐水鸭), soup dumplings (小笼包), and duck blood vermicelli (鸭血粉丝汤)
- 6 Combine with Zhonghua Gate (¥50, 1 km away) and Xuanwu Lake park (free) for a half day
Essential tips for foreigners
- Arrive at sunset (5:00-6:00 PM depending on season) — the lights come on as the sun sets, and the reflection of red lanterns in the Qinhuai River is the most iconic view in Nanjing.
- Take the 30-min night boat cruise (¥80) — the boat glides past the lit-up buildings and bridges. It's the best way to see the area without walking in crowds.
- Try the salted duck (盐水鸭) — Nanjing is the duck capital of China. The food street has 20+ duck vendors; ¥30 for a quarter is a full meal.
- Don't miss the inner hall (¥30) — the Confucius Hall has a 4-meter-tall statue of Confucius and Ming-era stone steles. The outer area is free but the inner hall is the main temple.
- Combine with Zhonghua Gate (中华门) — the world's largest city gate, 1 km south of the temple. The combined ticket is ¥80 (Zhonghua Gate alone is ¥50).
- Cash ¥100 — many of the small food vendors and the night boat dock are cash-only. ATMs in the area dispense ¥100 notes.
Suggested route
- 17:00 20 min Hotel pickup, Didi to Confucius Temple main entrance
- 17:30 1.5 hours Arrive at the temple, walk the outer area (free) — visit the main hall, the stone steles, the Confucius statue (¥30 inner hall)
- 19:00 1 hour Dinner at the food street — try the salted duck, soup dumplings, duck blood vermicelli
- 20:00 30 min Take the 30-min night boat cruise on the Qinhuai River (¥80, dock next to the temple)
- 20:30 1 hour Walk the lit-up riverside promenade, photos
- 21:30 20 min Didi back to hotel (or walk 1 km to Zhonghua Gate for the night view)
- Day 2, 08:00 3 hours Visit Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on Purple Mountain (free, 4 km east)
- 11:00 2 hours Walk to Ming Xiaoling Tomb (¥70, adjacent to Sun Yat-sen)
- 13:00 1 hour Lunch at a local Nanjing restaurant — try the salted duck
- 14:00 2 hours Visit Nanjing City Wall at Zhonghua Gate (¥50, 1 km south of Confucius Temple)
- 16:00 2 hours Visit Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (free, 3 km west, closed Mondays)
The Confucian heartland of southern China
The Nanjing Confucius Temple (夫子庙, Fuzimiao) is the largest Confucian temple in southern China, originally built in 1034 AD during the Song dynasty and rebuilt in 1869 during the Qing dynasty. The temple sits on the north bank of the Qinhuai River, in the heart of old Nanjing. The river and temple together form the most iconic scene in Nanjing — the red-lantern-lit buildings, the stone bridges, and the night boat glide past them all.
The temple area has been a center of commerce and culture for 1,000 years; the surrounding food street has 100+ vendors and is one of the most popular evening destinations in Nanjing. The night boat cruise on the Qinhuai River (¥80, 30 min) is the highlight of any Nanjing visit.
The foreigner experience in 2026
The Confucius Temple is one of the most foreigner-friendly attractions in Nanjing. Entry to the public area is FREE, the night boat is the same price for everyone, and the temple has English signage. The main draw is the night scene — the red lanterns reflecting in the river, the lit-up temple buildings, the boat gliding past.
For first-timers, the recommended approach: arrive at sunset (5:00-6:00 PM depending on season), walk the temple area as the lights come on, have dinner at the food street, then take the 30-min night boat cruise. Combine with Zhonghua Gate (1 km south, the world’s largest city gate) for a half day, or with Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on Purple Mountain for a full day.
What to actually see
Three things stand out. The night boat cruise is the most iconic experience — a 30-min ride that glides past the lit-up buildings and bridges on the Qinhuai River. The boat is small (8-10 people) and the views are spectacular. The Confucius Hall (大成殿) has a 4-meter-tall statue of Confucius and Ming-era stone steles. The hall is ¥30 entry; the outer temple area is free. The food street is one of the most authentic food experiences in Nanjing — 100+ vendors selling salted duck, soup dumplings, and duck blood vermicelli. Budget ¥50-100 for a full meal.
Final tip
The biggest mistake first-timers make: coming in the daytime. The temple is functional in the day but unremarkable; the magic is at night when the red lanterns come on and the buildings are lit up. Arrive 30 min before sunset, walk the temple area in the fading light, have dinner at the food street, then take the night boat. The second mistake: skipping the inner Confucius Hall (¥30). The outer area is free but the inner hall has the main temple, the Confucius statue, and the Ming-era stone steles.
Best photo spots
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Qinhuai River boat dock at sunset · 17:30-18:30 (sunset)
The single most iconic view in Nanjing — red lanterns reflecting in the river with the temple buildings behind. Use a tripod and a wide-angle lens.
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Confucius Temple main hall · 17:00-18:00 (evening, side-lit)
The temple's main hall (大成殿) with a 4-meter Confucius statue. The architecture is Ming-Qing era, with painted beams and traditional Chinese roof decorations.
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Qinhuai River bridge · 19:00-20:00 (full darkness)
Looking across the river at the lit-up buildings. Use a 50mm lens at f/2.8 for shallow depth of field with the lanterns in the foreground.
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Zhonghua Gate (中华门) at night · 20:00-21:00 (full darkness)
The world's largest city gate, lit up at night with the Yangtze River bridge in the background.
Where to eat nearby
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Confucius Temple food street
Nanjing signature — salted duck (盐水鸭), soup dumplings (小笼包), duck blood vermicelli (鸭血粉丝汤), sweet osmanthus cake · ¥30-80/person · Throughout the temple area, 100+ vendors
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Duck blood and vermicelli specialty shops
Nanjing's most famous snack — duck blood (鸭血) in spicy broth with vermicelli and tofu · ¥20-40/person · Multiple locations on the food street
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Jiangsu cuisine restaurants
Refined Yangtze Delta cuisine — sweet, light flavors, fresh ingredients, less spicy than Sichuan · ¥80-150/person · Multiple mid-range restaurants in the temple area
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Nanjing salted duck specialty shops
The signature dish — brined duck, served cold, slightly salty and aromatic · ¥30-60/person (a quarter of a duck) · Multiple shops on the food street and surrounding alleys
Frequently asked questions
Is the Confucius Temple free?
Yes — entry to the public Confucius Temple area and the Qinhuai River is FREE. The inner Confucius Hall (大成殿) is ¥30. The night boat cruise on the Qinhuai River is ¥80 for a 30-min ride. Most visitors spend 2-3 hours and pay ¥0-110 total.
When is the best time to visit?
Sunset to 1 hour after dark is the magic hour — the red lanterns come on, the buildings are lit up, and the reflections in the river are at their best. Arrive 30 min before sunset, walk the temple area in the fading light, then take the night boat. Most visitors stay 2-3 hours.
How do I combine with other Nanjing sights?
The temple is centrally located and easy to combine. 1 km south: Zhonghua Gate (the world's largest city gate, ¥50). 3 km north: Xuanwu Lake park (free, 5-sq-km urban park). 4 km east: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Tomb on Purple Mountain. The 1912 Block (1 km north) is a pedestrian shopping street with cafes and restaurants.
Is the night boat worth it?
Yes — the night boat (¥80, 30 min) is the most iconic experience in Nanjing. The boat glides past the lit-up buildings and bridges on the Qinhuai River. Most travelers say it's the highlight of their Nanjing visit. Buy tickets at the dock (no advance booking needed).
What food should I try?
Nanjing's signature dish is 'salted duck' (盐水鸭) — the city is the duck capital of China. Also try the soup dumplings (小笼包), duck blood and vermicelli soup (鸭血粉丝汤), and the sweet osmanthus rice cake (桂花糕). The Confucius Temple food street has 100+ vendors; budget ¥50-100 for a full meal.