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Kong Family Mansion孔府
Adjacent to the temple, the Kong Family Mansion was the residence of Confucius's direct heirs — the Yansheng Dukes, ennobled by imperial decree for 2,000 years. It is China's largest and longest-inhabited noble residence: 463 halls and rooms in a office-forward/rear-quarters layout, with the family's archive of 300,000 documents.
Qufu (Jining) · Visitor Guide2026-10-19
Quick Answer
Is Kong Family Mansion worth visiting?
The 2,000-year residence of Confucius's heirs — 463 rooms arranged as an official front office and private rear quarters, plus the family archive and ancestral shrine.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Included in ¥140 combined ticket |
|---|---|
| Hours | 08:00-17:30 |
| Recommended duration | 1-2 hours |
| Best time to visit | Apr-May and Sep-Oct |
| How to get there | Adjacent to the Confucius Temple in Qufu old town |
| English signage | moderate |
| Wheelchair accessible | Partial |
What to expect
The mansion functioned as a semi-official dukedom: the front halls hosted imperial messengers, weddings and lawsuits, while the rear quarters were strictly family space — separated by an inner gate that even the duke's steward crossed on his knees. Furnishings and scrolls show how the family lived into the 20th century.
The archive of 300,000 Ming-Qing documents — tax records, court cases, household accounts — was inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World register, and a display room rotates selections.
How to get there
Walk east from the Confucius Temple's exit — the mansion entrance is 300 meters along the same old-town street.
Best photo spots
- The inner-residence gate (Neizhai Men) courtyard
- The long back garden with lotus pond
Tips
- Follow the temple → mansion → cemetery order; the mansion exits toward the garden and the cemetery road
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the temple and the mansion?
The temple is a place of worship rebuilt by emperors; the mansion was the family home of Confucius's descendants, furnished as a working noble residence.
Read next
Other things to do in Qufu (Jining)
Confucius Temple Qufu
The original Confucius temple, founded 478 BCE in Qufu — nine courtyards deep with the dragon-columned Dacheng Hall and 2,000-plus stelae, visited with the Kong Family Mansion on a combined ticket.
Temple of Confucius
China's largest Confucian temple complex, founded in 478 BC on the sage's former home, with 460+ halls and 1,000+ stone steles.