The Confucian Six Arts City in Qufu, Jining

Confucius Six Arts City (孔子六艺城) is located at No. 15 Chunqiu Road (春秋路), Qufu (曲阜), Jining (济宁), Shandong Province (山东省). It is a National 4A Tourist Attraction and is collectively known with the Temple of Confucius (孔庙), Kong Family Mansion (孔府) and Cemetery of Confucius (孔林) as the “Three Confucian Sites and One City.”

Covering 13 hectares, or approximately 200 mu, the attraction has a total building area of 60,000 square meters. Construction began in 1992, and the park officially opened in September 1993. Its architectural plan follows the traditional Chinese cosmological concept of “a round heaven and a square earth.”

The park is generally open from 09:00 to 16:00, with admission ending at 16:00. Most visitors should allow two to three and a half hours for a complete visit.

Unlike Qufu’s Three Confucian Sites, which preserve authentic historical monuments, Confucius Six Arts City is an interactive Confucian cultural theme park. Through reconstructed settings, mechanical effects, lighting, sound, performances and hands-on activities, it presents the six classical arts of ritual, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy and mathematics in a form that visitors can see, understand and experience. It is particularly suitable for educational trips and families with children.

Historical Background and Cultural Significance

Confucius Six Arts City was one of Qufu’s major cultural tourism projects during the 1990s. After opening, it was recognized as one of China’s notable cultural and scenic tourism attractions.

The park has welcomed prominent Chinese leaders, diplomatic representatives stationed in China and well-known cultural figures from China and overseas. While Qufu’s ancient Confucian sites focus on preserved architecture and cultural relics, Six Arts City uses miniature models, sculptural scenes, tracked vehicles, mazes and theatrical performances to bring the institutions of the Zhou Dynasty and the life of Confucius into a physical, easy-to-understand setting.

Facilities include Six Arts Resort (六艺山庄), Yanyue Palace (燕乐宫), a visitor center, first-aid station, large parking areas and a cultural souvenir center. Together, these services provide accommodation, dining, sightseeing, shopping and entertainment within the same complex.

The attraction consists of the original main park, which contains the six principal exhibition halls and a theater, as well as the later Confucius Six Arts Garden (孔子六艺苑) leisure and service area.

Understanding the Six Arts

The Six Arts were the principal subjects associated with classical Confucian education:

• Ritual — Li (礼): etiquette, ceremonial practices and social institutions
• Music — Yue (乐): music, dance and moral cultivation
• Archery — She (射): archery, physical discipline and martial training
• Chariot Driving — Yu (御): driving and controlling horse-drawn vehicles
• Calligraphy and Literature — Shu (书): writing, documents and classical texts
• Mathematics — Shu (数): arithmetic, astronomy and calendar calculation

Main Entrance and the Bronze Sculpture of Confucius Traveling Through the States

After passing through the ceremonial entrance gate, visitors immediately see the park’s landmark sculpture: Confucius Traveling Through the States (孔子列国行).

The bronze sculpture is six meters high and weighs approximately 300 tons. Confucius stands at the center, surrounded by his disciples, recreating the scene of the philosopher leading his followers on their long journey among the ancient states.

Behind the sculpture, the six main halls are arranged along the park’s central axis in the order of ritual, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy and mathematics. The most convenient sightseeing route follows this axis through the park.

The Six Arts Exhibition Halls

Ritual Hall: Ceremonial Institutions of the Zhou Dynasty

The Ritual Hall (礼厅) covers 2,500 square meters. Its displays recreate the Zhou capital of Haojing (镐京) at a scale of 1:10, focusing on two important forms of Zhou ceremonial life: auspicious court rituals and grand military inspections.

Traditional Zhou ceremonial systems included auspicious, mourning, military, festive and diplomatic rites. The hall concentrates on two of the most visually impressive ceremonies: the formal court audience of the Son of Heaven and the royal review of military forces.

The exhibition follows a strict three-part axial layout. The central route represents the royal palace and residential quarters, while the areas on either side depict military inspection grounds.

The central palace route proceeds through the Gaomen Gate (皋门), Yingmen Gate (应门), formal court and royal residential chambers. It contains four groups of Zhou-style palace buildings and 48 miniature pavilions, towers and halls. More than 36,000 miniature figures, horses, chariots, weapons and ceremonial objects form an extensive representation of the ancient capital.

The first courtyard contains rows of porcelain figures representing feudal lords arriving to meet the king. The second courtyard presents the Eight-Row Dance (八佾舞), a ceremonial formation reserved for the ruler. Its 64 dancers are arranged in eight rows of eight. By comparison, feudal lords were entitled to six rows and senior officials to four, clearly illustrating the strict hierarchy of Zhou society.

The third courtyard leads to the royal residential hall, where the ruler rested, held banquets and enjoyed musical performances. On the two side routes, miniature military formations recreate the grand royal inspection. Other displays include the Altar of Soil and Grain (社稷坛), associated with enfeoffment and rewards for meritorious officials, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple (太庙), where rulers honored their ancestors.

The hall’s large-scale miniature city and extensive ceremonial formations make it one of the best places in the park for understanding the Zhou ritual system described in Chinese history books.

Music Hall: Shao Music and Classical Dance

The Music Hall (乐厅) has a total building area of 5,800 square meters and consists of Yanyue Palace, a multipurpose hall and the Confucius Six Arts Grand Theater (孔子六艺大剧院).

Confucius Six Arts Grand Theater

The grand theater is the most important part of the Music Hall. Covering 1,800 square meters, it features a wide-span spiral space-frame structure. Inside are one-third-scale recreations of the Dacheng Hall (大成殿), Apricot Altar (杏坛) and the eastern and western side halls of the Temple of Confucius.

The resident performance company generally presents two complimentary classical music and dance shows each day. Programs may include ceremonial music and dance honoring Confucius as well as performances inspired by ancient Shao Music (韶乐).

Performance schedules may change with the season. Visitors should check the day’s timetable outside the theater immediately after entering the park. A typical performance lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

Yanyue Palace

Yanyue Palace (燕乐宫) is modeled after Ming- and Qing-dynasty imperial halls and can accommodate approximately 300 diners. Visitors may experience traditional Kong Family cuisine (孔府菜), including family banquets, wedding banquets and birthday banquets, accompanied by live classical music. Dining and banquet programs are optional experiences.

Multipurpose Hall

The multipurpose hall is a large entertainment and event venue decorated with three-dimensional murals depicting rural landscapes, grasslands and forests. It is used primarily for singing, group activities and organized tour events.

Archery Hall: Martial Culture Before the Qin Dynasty

The Archery Hall (射厅) draws inspiration from historical accounts of Confucius observing a public archery gathering at Juexiang Garden (矍相圃).

In Zhou society, archery was not simply a military skill. It was also considered an important form of physical discipline and moral cultivation for a cultivated gentleman.

The hall combines static historical displays with interactive activities. Depending on current operations, experiences may include traditional-style archery, pitch-pot games (投壶), laser-mounted hunting simulations, dart challenges, aerial hunting games and simulated street combat.

The laser forest riding activity allows visitors to sit in an electric carriage and use a laser device to simulate hunting. The hall once included an underground live-fire shooting range, but facilities have since been adjusted. Visitors should refer to the activities available on the day of their visit.

Archery, riding and similar games are generally not included in standard admission. The Archery Hall is especially popular with children, so families should allow additional time if they plan to join the interactive activities.

Chariot Hall: Confucius Traveling Through the Ancient States

Covering 4,000 square meters, the Chariot Hall (御厅) contains the park’s signature immersive attraction. The difference between its highest and lowest interior levels reaches 12 meters, allowing the designers to create one of the most dramatic indoor environments in Six Arts City.

Visitors board an electric tracked ox cart designed in an ancient style and travel through a continuous series of reconstructed scenes. The ride follows the difficult 14 years Confucius spent traveling through the states with his disciples.

Scenes include a market in the State of Lu, the gardens of the Lu palace, a market in the State of Wei, the siege at Kuang (匡城被围), falling leaves along the Pu River, morning mist over a mountain settlement, the chamber of Nanzi (南子), flooding along the Yellow River, the felling of trees by people from the State of Song, a dark forest, conflict in Puxiang, political disorder in the State of Jin, flash floods, the food crisis between Chen and Cai (陈蔡绝粮) and Confucius’s eventual return to Lu.

Sculptures, lighting and sound effects bring each episode to life. Because visitors remain seated in the cart, the attraction is accessible to those who prefer not to walk continuously. It turns familiar episodes from Confucius’s biography into a sequence of visible, immersive scenes.

Ox-cart operations may end before the park officially closes. Visitors should therefore experience the Chariot Hall earlier rather than leaving it until the end of the day.

Calligraphy Hall: Teaching at the Apricot Altar

The three-story Calligraphy Hall (书厅) covers 2,000 square meters and explores reading, teaching, writing and classical texts.

The first floor contains a calligraphy and painting gallery. Its four side rooms are named Huiyou Residence (会友居), Hanmo Yuan (翰墨缘), Shigui Studio (识贵斋) and Xue’er Pavilion (学而轩).

Two large artificial ginkgo trees stand in the central courtyard, recreating the setting of Confucius teaching at the Apricot Altar (杏坛). A large sculptural group portrays Confucius lecturing while his 72 disciples listen.

The hall’s most important exhibit is a monumental wooden carving of the Analects of Confucius (论语). Covering 200 square meters, it contains 41 selected passages and 999 Chinese characters. Specialists from the Central Academy of Drama (中央戏剧学院) completed the carving in 1993, and its scale and craftsmanship give it considerable artistic value.

Along the second-floor corridor is the Illustrated Life of Confucius (孔子圣迹图). Twenty-four scenes were selected from a set of 120 images dating from the Ming Dynasty. The stories are integrated into a single extended landscape scroll using a distinctive artistic composition.

The third floor contains sculptures of the Seventy-Two Sages (七十二贤), representing the best-known disciples of Confucius. The quieter atmosphere of the hall makes it suitable for studying Confucian stories and photographing its traditional architectural details.

Mathematics Hall: Bagua Maze and Landmark Architecture

In the classical Six Arts, mathematics included arithmetic, ancient astronomy, calendar systems, counting rods and knowledge related to yin-yang cosmology and the Eight Trigrams (八卦).

The Mathematics Hall (数厅) has the park’s most recognizable exterior. A huge blue glass sphere appears to float above a cylindrical base. The building is 23.5 meters high, while the sphere measures 20 meters in diameter and covers an area of 314 square meters. Inside, two spiral staircases wind in opposite directions through seven levels.

The main attraction is a large three-dimensional maze based on the principles of the Eight Trigrams. There is no single obvious route. Visitors must move between levels, judge their direction and work out how to reach the exit.

The maze is entertaining for both adults and children and tests logic, memory and spatial awareness. Many visitors find themselves circling through the structure several times, so it is sensible to reserve approximately 15 to 25 minutes.

Visitor Facilities

Six Arts Resort

Six Arts Resort (六艺山庄) provides accommodation inside the attraction. Guests can stay in well-equipped rooms and begin sightseeing without traveling back and forth between the park and central Qufu.

Yanyue Palace Restaurant

The Yanyue Palace Restaurant (燕乐宫餐厅) specializes in Kong Family cuisine. Representative dishes and menus include Kong Family tofu (孔府豆腐), Kong Family pastries (孔府糕点) and the traditional Three-Set Kong Family Banquet (孔府三套宴). The restaurant also serves standard group meals.

Shopping and Visitor Services

The shopping center sells Confucian-themed cultural products, editions of the Analects and local specialties from Qufu. Other facilities include two large parking areas covering approximately 4,000 square meters, a visitor center, medical assistance point and VIP reception hall.

Admission Policies

Complimentary admission may be available to children below the height specified by the attraction and to active-duty military personnel presenting valid identification. Reduced admission may be offered to children within the designated height range and to visitors aged 60 or above with valid identification.

These policies apply only to general admission. Optional activities in the Archery Hall, riding experiences and banquet programs in Yanyue Palace are separate services and are not covered by admission concessions. Current requirements should be confirmed with the attraction on the day of the visit.

How to Reach Confucius Six Arts City

By Car

Drivers can navigate directly to Confucius Six Arts City, No. 15 Chunqiu Road (春秋路15号). Parking is available at the attraction.

The park is approximately two kilometers from the Temple of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion, usually a five- to eight-minute drive. It is approximately 14 kilometers from Qufu East Railway Station (曲阜东站).

By Taxi

A taxi from the southern entrance of the Temple of Confucius normally takes less than ten minutes, depending on traffic. This is the most convenient option for visitors combining Six Arts City with Qufu’s historic center.

By Public Bus

Urban buses in Qufu serve stops near Confucius Six Arts City. Public transportation is suitable for independent travelers staying in central Qufu, although routes and operating times should be checked locally.

Recommended Sightseeing Routes

Efficient Route Through Six Arts City

For a visit without unnecessary backtracking, follow this order:

Entrance Gate → Confucius Traveling Through the States Bronze Sculpture → Ritual Hall → Music Hall → Archery Hall → Chariot Hall → Calligraphy Hall → Mathematics Hall → Cultural Souvenir Center or Six Arts Resort

Upon reaching the Music Hall, check the grand theater’s performance schedule before continuing. Plan the remaining halls around the showtime. The Chariot Hall and Mathematics Hall should not be left until immediately before closing.

Qufu One-Day Cultural Route

Compact Route for First-Time Visitors

In the morning, visit the Temple of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion, allowing approximately two and a half hours. Have lunch in central Qufu and sample Kong Family cuisine.

Spend the afternoon at Confucius Six Arts City, prioritizing the classical music and dance performance and the ox-cart experience in the Chariot Hall. If the schedule is tight, the Cemetery of Confucius can be omitted or visited the following day.

Educational Family Route

Spend approximately three hours at Confucius Six Arts City in the morning. Join the Six Arts activities, watch a classical music and dance performance, ride through the Chariot Hall and explore the Eight Trigrams maze.

Lunch can be arranged at Six Arts Resort or Yanyue Palace. In the afternoon, continue to the Temple of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion. This route allows children and students to compare interactive reconstructions with authentic historical architecture and cultural remains.

Practical Travel Tips

Check Performance Times First

The first task after entering the park should be checking the performance schedule at the Confucius Six Arts Grand Theater. Arrange the other exhibition halls around the show, as missed performances may not be repeated later in the day.

Visit the Chariot and Mathematics Halls Early

The ox-cart experience and the Eight Trigrams maze generally require the most time. Avoid entering them too close to closing, as attractions may stop operating before the park begins clearing visitors.

Expect Separate Charges for Interactive Activities

Archery, riding simulations and other recreational projects in the Archery Hall are optional activities. Families traveling with children should confirm which experiences are operating and whether separate payment is required.

Suitable for Rainy Days

Most of the major attractions are indoors, making Six Arts City a practical choice during rainy weather. Indoor areas may feel cool in winter because heating is limited, so warm outerwear is recommended.

Choosing Between Six Arts City and the Three Confucian Sites

The Three Confucian Sites are the better choice for authentic monuments, ancient architecture and preserved cultural relics. Confucius Six Arts City focuses on storytelling, reconstructed historical scenes and interactive experiences.

Students and families will benefit from visiting both. If only half a day is available, choose the Three Confucian Sites for historical heritage or Six Arts City for performances, activities and immersive learning.

Local Food After the Visit

Dining inside the attraction is convenient, but visitors can also return to Qufu’s old town for local snacks. Popular choices include smoked tofu (熏豆腐) and Shandong pancakes rolled with spring onions (煎饼卷大葱).