Confucius Temple(Fuzimiao)

The temple suffered from damages and rebuilt several times. In 1937, it was burnt to ruin by the Japanese aggressors. In 1984 the temple was rebuilt under the support of the local government. During the long and repeated process of destruction and reconstruction, the temple has been expanded to a complex in architectural styles of Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) Dynasties. The temple itself, the

Jiangnan Gongyuan

  (the place of imperial examinations in ancient China) and the Xue Gong (the Imperial Academy) are called the Confucius Temple as a whole.

How ancient Chinese governments to choose officials can be known by visiting the Jiangnan Gongyuan. The development of academy began in the Southern Song Dynasty and expanded during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was the biggest examination school in China. The main building of it, is the three-storey Mingyuan Tower which has 20,644 examination rooms, called "hao she" in Chinese. A theme museum exhibiting the imperial civil examination system is here.

As the modern commercial atmosphere is getting stronger in Nanjing, today the area around the Confucius Temple has a series of souvenir shops, quality restaurants and tea cafes. There about 200 sorts of local snack available and some famous Western fast-food chains run their outlets here. Various kinds of folk performance can be seen in day and night. Traditional things mixed with modern, thus the Confucius Temple is one of big tourist attractions in Nanjing.