Confucius Temple and Guozijian
8.8Friend Score / 10#1 of 9 Museums in Beijing
Known forconfucius templeguozijianimperial academyconfucianism
China's second-largest Confucius temple and the imperial academy next door, joined by one 30 CNY ticket — ancient cypresses, stone tablets naming 51,624 exam graduates, and a fraction of the Lama Temple's crowds despite being a five-minute walk away. The quiet, scholarly counterpoint every Beijing itinerary needs.
Key facts
| Hours | Tue–Sun 08:30–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Yonghegong Lama Temple station (Lines 2/5), then a 5-minute walk down Guozijian Street |
| Time needed | 1.5-2 hours for both sites |
| Best time to go | Weekday afternoons, when tour groups are elsewhere; gingko season in late October is stunning |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.8/10- Value8.5
- iconic6.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level8.5
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility9.5
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Biyong hall in Guozijian?
- A square pavilion in a perfectly circular moat — the ceremonial lecture hall where emperors personally expounded the classics to kneeling students. It's architecturally unique in China and the visual centerpiece of the academy.
- Is it worth it if I'm already seeing the Lama Temple?
- That's exactly when to see it — five minutes' walk down one of Beijing's prettiest old streets, and the contrast is the point: incense and crowds at Yonghegong, then cypress shade and near-silence here. It's the easiest great pairing in the city.
- What's the old tree with the legend?
- The 'Chujian Bai' (Touch-Evil Cypress), 700 years old, which supposedly knocked the hat off a notoriously corrupt Ming minister as he passed — locals decided the tree could detect crooks. The courtyard cypresses are among the oldest living things in Beijing.
- How much does the Confucius Temple cost?
- 30 CNY covers both the temple and Guozijian; half price for students, free for over-60s and under-18s with ID. Book via the Beijing museums WeChat channel or buy at the gate — availability is rarely a problem.
- What's on Guozijian Street itself?
- One of Beijing's last streets with its original pailou archways, lined with gingkos, bookshops, and small cafes. In late October the yellow gingko canopy over the grey walls is one of the city's best photographs — no ticket required.
- What's the difference between the Confucius Temple and Guozijian?
- The temple honored Confucius with imperial ceremonies; Guozijian next door was the actual imperial university where emperors lectured students, from 1306 onward. One 30 CNY ticket covers both — they connect through a side passage, so do the temple first, then the academy.
- What are the stone tablets everyone mentions?
- 198 steles recording the names of all 51,624 scholars who passed the highest imperial examination across the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties — six centuries of China's academic elite carved in stone. Students still visit before the gaokao for luck.
- Is the temple closed on Mondays?
- It generally follows Beijing's museum pattern of closing Mondays outside national holidays, though hours have varied by season. If a Monday is your only option, verify that week — otherwise just slot it any other day.
Nearby in Ask Beijing
- Voyage Coffee (Wudaoying Hutong)Café0.22 km · 3 min walk
- Wudaoying HutongNeighborhood0.29 km · 4 min walk
- Lama Temple (Yonghegong)Attraction0.32 km · 4 min walk
- Metal Hands CoffeeCafé0.48 km · 6 min walk
- Dali CourtyardRestaurant0.55 km · 7 min walk
Where to stay near Confucius Temple and Guozijian
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