Confucius Forest

Around 2km north of town on Lindao Lu is the peaceful Confucius Forest, the largest artificial park and best-preserved cemetery in China.

The pine and cypress forest of over 100,000 trees covers 200 hectares and is bounded by a wall 10km long. Confucius and his descendants have been buried here over the past 2000 years, a tradition that continues today. In summer, wild flowers add a burst of colour amid the sea of green grass which threatens to envelop the haphazard arrangement of tombs and burial mounds.

Flanking the approach to the Tomb of Confucius (孔子墓; Kǒngzǐ Mù) are pairs of stone panthers, griffins and larger-than-life guardians. The tomb itself is a simple grass mound enclosed by a low wall and faced with a Ming-dynasty stele. Visitors always seem unsure if they should adopt respectful postures or do the whole 'Look at me! I'm at Confucius' tomb!' poses.

The sage's son and grandson are buried nearby, and scattered through the forest are dozens of temples and pavilions. A slow circuit through the peaceful gardenlike cemetery should take two to three hours. For those in a hurry, small minibuses do a circuit (one way/return Y10/20).

Electric carts run to the temple from the corner of Houzuo Jie and Gulou Beijie, near the exit of the Confucius Mansions. Otherwise take a pedicab (Y3 to Y5) or bus 1 (Y2) from along Gulou Beijie. To reach the forest on foot takes about 30 minutes.