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Beijing’s Confucius Temple, which is quite beautiful, lies on the north side of the city, near the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Each day there are people paying homage to the man who had altered the course of Chinese culture and history. And no place can be better than here for you to get to know China.

The moment you step in this ancient shrine, you will be impressed by the lush, green trees. Many of them have been there since the time the temple was built, testifying to the reverence the Chinese hold to Confucius.

There you will find 198 large stone tablets on each side of the path which will lead you to the main courtyard. The tablets bear the names of all 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial exams throughout Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Running the world’s oldest civil service system, these scholars had successfully joined ancient China’s social elite . Before one became a Jingshi scholar and was rewarded a government post, first he had to pass various Confucian exams held at different levels in their home provinces. A success in these exams will allow them to enter the final and most important one – the exam supervised by the emperor himself.

The promise of success was dim: Only one thousandth of scholar would succeed in passing the imperial exam, and to win the chance to enter this exam, he would have spent ten years getting himself ready. Still, many tried their luck, and if they succeeded, wealth and honor would come with it.

Past the tablets, and you are met with a huge gate at the entrance to the main courtyard. There you will find a Chinese drum and a bell under the gate. Throughout his life, Confucius had been a great advocate of harmony among people. But what was the best means to do that? He said music, which nurtures one’s mind and makes them lovers of peace and harmony.

Step in the main courtyard, and your interest will be immediately arose by a large and old well. This well is like no other; it was named Yanshui by a Qing dynasty emperor. According to a legend, anyone who drinks water from this well will succeed in his exams. Come here and you seem to be able to feel the crowd when thousands of Jingshi-scholar wannabes came for the ‘miraculous’ water.

The dominant architecture in the courtyard is Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment, or as the Chinese calls it, Da Cheng Dian. This is the hall where people offer their reverence to Confucius. Hanging from the beams of the roof are tablets written by various Chinese emperors. One with the seal of Emperor Kangxi reads: the Eternal Mentor.

Following a thousand-year-old imperial tradition, Emperor Kangxi offer sacrifices to Confucius every year. The emperor would chair a series of imperial rites with the height being a grand dance performed by 64 dancers. The dance was only enjoyed by the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, Confucius was probably the person who most frequently enjoyed such an honor.

Also, you will find shrines of famous disciples of Confucius who had disseminated the knowledge of Confucius throughout China.

You will find a host of prime hotels in Beijing close tothe Confucian temple, some only a few minutes away by walk. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.  

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