Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu)

Since Confucius’ death, the Kong Family Mansion has been rebuilt many times over, most recently after a devastating fire in the late 19th century. It remains a stunning reminder of the opulence in which this influential family lived. Along with the Temple of Confucius (Kong Miao) and the Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin), the Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu) is one of Qufu’s “three Kongs”. The sites are close together and people usually visit on a combo ticket, though you can also buy individual tickets.

Qufu has high-speed rail links to cities including Beijing and Shanghai, and many guides collect travelers at the station for tours of the Confucian sites. Overnight trips generally include other Shandong province highlights, typically Mt. Tai (Tai Shan), a UNESCO-listed holy mountain, and Jinan, which Chinese locals call the City of Springs.

• The Kong Family Mansion is a great choice for history buffs, art lovers, and anyone with an interest in Confucianism.

• Many travelers will get through the site in an hour or so, but fans of Chinese art and architecture will want to spend much longer.

• Courtyards and gardens make up much of the mansion: dress for outdoors, not indoors, as you would at the Forbidden City.

• The Kong Family Mansion has a wheelchair-accessible rolling route, but not all areas of the complex are accessible.

The Kong Family Mansion lies in Qufu’s old city, east of the Qufu Temple of Confucius. 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: the K01 bus runs to the Confucius Temple. After touring the temple, follow the walking route to the Kong Family Mansion, then on to the Cemetery of Confucius.

The Kong Family Mansion is open morning until afternoon seven days a week. Qufu celebrates the sage’s birthday in late September with a huge festival, which brings colorful rituals but large crowds, so you’ll need to plan well ahead. As with most big-ticket Chinese attractions, time your visit to avoid weekends and the week-long holidays at the start of May and October.

Most Chinese heritage sites suffered during periods of political turmoil, but Confucius is so important to Chinese culture that the Kong Family Mansion remained untouched. With 150 separate buildings, most dating from the 14th-19th centuries, it’ll take a while to explore. Highlights include the ceremonial Chongguang Gate; the beautifully painted public halls where Confucius’ descendants governed and met suppliants; the family’s more private home, displaying gifts and calligraphy from emperors and the Empress Cixi; and the garden with its reflecting pool and artful stones.