济宁市

Why this place

Jining is the city next to Qufu, where Confucius was born and where his temple, mansion and tomb form the 'Three Confucian Sites' — one of the most important cultural sites in East Asia. The canal through Jining was the busiest stretch of the Grand Canal for six hundred years.

What to see

• Qufu: the Temple of Confucius, the Kong family mansion and the Forest of Confucius — allow a full day
• The Grand Canal boats through Jining's old town
• Zoucheng, the birthplace of Mencius, with his temple and tomb
• Weishan Lake, the largest lake in Shandong, south of the city

What to eat

• Shandong Confucian-court cuisine — refined and formal, served at banquets in Qufu
• Jining is known for its 'four big dishes' and its braised fish from Weishan Lake

How to plan

One full day for Qufu; half a day for the canal town.

Best time

April–May and September–October

Practical tips

• Qufu is 20 minutes from Jining by high-speed rail and also has its own station — go early, the temple fills up