Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin)

The Cemetery of Confucius is the world’s oldest operating family cemetery. Most people visit on a joint ticket that covers all “three Kongs”: the Temple of Confucius (Kong Miao), the Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu), and the Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin).

Qufu has high-speed rail links to cities including Beijing and Shanghai, and some guides collect travelers at the station to cover the three sites in a day or even half a day. Overnight trips generally visit other Shandong province highlights such as the UNESCO-listed Mt. Tai (Tai Shan) and Jinan, Shandong’s capital, known as the City of Springs.

• The Cemetery of Confucius will fascinate history buffs, culture vultures, photographers, and anyone with an interest in Confucianism.

• All genders should dress to cover thighs and shoulders: short-shorts and spaghetti straps are a no.

• Parts of the Cemetery of Confucius are wheelchair-accessible, while there are electric sightseeing carts for people with mobility issues.

The Cemetery of Confucius is a 2-mile (3-kilometer) walk north of the Temple of Confucius, outside Qufu’s old city wall. Most travelers arrive by high-speed train, which comes into the modern Qufu East Railway Station, about a 7-mile (12-kilometer) drive from the Kongs: Qufu Railway Station, although closer, is rarely used. Most travelers take the K01 bus to the Confucius Temple and follow the walking route to the Kong Family Mansion, then the cemetery.

The Cemetery of Confucius is open from morning until afternoon seven days a week. Qufu celebrates Confucius’ birthday (September 28) with a huge festival, which brings colorful rituals but vast crowds—plan well ahead. As with most big-ticket Chinese attractions, plan your visit to avoid weekends and the holiday weeks at the beginning of May and October.

Still a working family cemetery more than 2,500 years after Confucius’ death, the Cemetery of Confucius showcases the wealth and influence the sage’s descendants accrued, with impressive gateways, pavilions, bridges, and tombs. Highlights include the Tomb of Confucius, Xiangdian Hall, where offerings are made to Confucius, the Tomb of Kong Ji (Confucius’ grandson), and the 18th-century Tomb of Kong Shangren.