EASTERN CHINA
Qufu
China
A quiet town situated in eastern China would have been forgotten if not for one man born here 2,500 years ago - Confucius.
Qufu, located in China's eastern Shandong province, is the birthplace of Confucius , one of the most influential figures in Chinese history. His life spanned from 551to 479 BC, and thus establishing this city as an important cultural center on the eastern end of the Silk Road. The Temple of Confucius, built in 478 BC, has been expanded over 2,000 years to become the largest Confucian temple complex in China, covering 16,000 square meters with 466 rooms. The Confucius Family Mansion next door housed his direct descendants who maintained his legacy for over 77 generations – the longest documented family line in history.
While not as prominently featured in Silk Road histories as Xi'an or Luoyang, Qufu's significance comes from how Confucian philosophy shaped the Chinese culture that indirectly played a major role in the eastern portions of the Silk Road. The Kong family (Confucius's descendants) held high positions in imperial governments for centuries, directly influencing Chinese trade policies. The Cemetery of Confucius contains over 100,000 graves of his descendants, including many who served as officials overseeing commerce along the eastern Silk Road. Qufu remains largely unchanged from its Ming and Qing dynasty appearance, offering a rare glimpse into the cultural heartland that produced many of the goods and ideas that traveled westward along the ancient trade routes.
THE SILK ROAD JOURNAL
How We Got Here
Qufu is a moderately sized town situated between China's two largest cities - Shanghai and Beijing. Thus, numerous daily trains pass by, making it easy to visit - which is how we did.
The Highlight
Seeing the Confucius Temple was grand, but even more intriguing was watching the line of Chinese children paying their respects to ancient philosopher, all under the watchful eye of their parents (in hopes to achieve better grades).
Our Treasure
The food was incredible here, with night markets and countless stalls of delicious snacks. Food somehow ties a site together to create a memorable visit, and Qufu checks those boxes.
S N A P S H O T S O N T H E R O A D
W H E R E W I L L Y O U R J O U R N E Y T A K E Y O U N E X T ?
Qufu, what a place to sit and contemplate what this journey along the Silk Roads has brought you through. Mountains, seas, ancient villages and opulent cities. You've seen it all... or have you?
Do you know that Hangzhou lies nearby, the end of this journey, yet also, what many travelers have been saying, the most beautiful city in the world.