This ancient Confucius Temple (Fuzi Miao) is located in the south of the city in a pedestrian zone. This was a center of Confucian study for more than 1500 years. Fuzi Miao has been damaged and rebuilt  repeatedly; what you see here today are newly restored late Qing Dynasty structures or wholly new buildings reconstructed in traditional style. The main temple is behind the small square in front of the canal.
Across from the temple complex to the east is the Imperial Examinations History museum. This is a recent reconstruction of the building where scholars once spent months - or years - in tiny cells studying Confucian classics in preparation for civil service examinations.
Today, the area surrounding Fuzi Miao has become Nanjing's main amusement quarter and is a particularly lively and crowded place on weekends and public holidays with restaurants and rows upon rows of souvenir shops. The whole area is lit up at night, adding to the kitsch ambience. |
