Confucius Temple (in Chinese, Fuzimiao) is situated on the north bank of the Qinhuai River, consisting of 3 architectural complexes, the Confucius Temple was originally built in 1034. It has been the center of culture, commerce and life for the citizens of the city since then. Today, the entire area around the temple consists of a series of tourist shops, snack bars, restaurants and entertainment arcades all done up in "Ming" and "Qing" style architecture.

The temple here is considered to be one of the best preserved of its type in China. During the Ming Dynasty the temple was expanded and became a school for children of the imperial court. The buildings on both sides of the Temple which are now small tourist shops were once individual study rooms for Confucian scholars.

The area is great fun and a very pleasant part of the city to walk around (the only pedestrian area in the city). It is particularly interesting in the evenings when a lively street market sets up in the district, and locals and tourists take part in the bargain hunting.

Fuzimiao Festival
Beginning in late April, the Fuzi Miao Culture Festival makes Nanjing's historic district even more lively with many traditional performances.

Held in the public square in front of the Fuzi Miao Confucian Temple, the festival offers tourists a chance to see a wide variety of traditional dances and also demonstrations of folk crafts. In addition to the dragon and lion dances, which have become a symbol of China around the world, there are also less well known but equally fascinating Jiangsu folk dances such as the lantern dance and the river oyster dance.

In addition to being a great show, these performances are a fascinating window into traditional Chinese culture. The dancers' costumes are a riot of color, especially in the lion dance, where the huge lion heads are festooned with spangles and sequins. Performed outdoors in the bustling Fuzi Miao, in front of an ancient temple, the setting of the festival truly recreates the mood of the temple fairs and festivals where these dances were originally held. In addition to the dances, the festival also showcases many of Jiangsu's folk arts. While traditional arts like paper cutting and wood carving are beautiful to see and make great souvenirs, it's even more fascinating to see the process by which they are made.

During the festival you can see craftsmen working on traditional paper cuttings, carving tree roots, making kites, doing miniature carving, and even making "iron pictures", a unique craft which is the result of an argument between a blacksmith and a painter over the merits of their respective crafts. The festival begins on the last weekend in April and lasts for 15 days.

Foods in Fuzimiao
Fuzi Miao is famous throughout China for its snacks and appetizers, a legacy of the district's centuries old role as an entertainment and tourism center. The festival's scope extends to include the special foods and culinary techniques of other cities around China, and even features visits by overseas chefs and cooking masters.

The festival is a great chance to try some classic Nanjing food, and taste the food of other places you might have missed on your trip to China. And great food is the best way to relax after shopping at Fuzi Miao's shops and bazaars! The festival begins on September 15, and runs for two weeks.