Plan at a glance
Location, entrance and time needed
Cemetery of Confucius is on Lin Road in Qufu. The usual entrance is Zhisheng Gate. It is a separate scenic area of burial grounds, sacred paths and old trees, about 2 km from the core area of the Temple of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion. Include the return transfer when planning the visit.
The shuttle route to the central area takes about 30–60 minutes. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the full route along the sacred path on foot. Usual opening hours are 08:30–17:00; confirm the reservation and entry time in the ticket information for your day.
Tickets and booking
The Three Confucian Sites ticket costs CNY 140 and is valid for two days. If you visit all three sites, it costs less overall than buying separate tickets of CNY 80 for the Temple of Confucius, CNY 60 for Kong Family Mansion and CNY 10 for Cemetery of Confucius. Cemetery of Confucius also has individual and combined options, so confirm the ticket type, eligibility and entry arrangement on the booking page.
Reservations can be made through the “Wenyou Qufu” WeChat account or an online ticketing platform. The two-day ticket makes it practical to place the cemetery on the second day instead of searching for city transport after finishing the temple and mansion.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Sacred path, stone figures and the cemetery layout
The main sights are the Wangu Changchun Archway, Zhisheng Gate, Shushui Bridge, the stone figures along the sacred path, the tomb of Confucius and the remains of the cypress planted by Zigong. The visit focuses on the spatial order of the cemetery, the sacred path and the family-tomb layout, with a quieter pace than the Temple of Confucius or Kong Family Mansion.
Visitors interested in historic remains, old trees and longer walks can take the full sacred-path route. With limited time, prioritise the tomb of Confucius, the stone figures and the Zigong cypress remains, then leave according to the return arrangement.
Who it suits
Cemetery of Confucius suits visitors interested in Confucian culture, burial traditions, ancient stone carving and long walks among trees and sacred paths. It has its own entrance, shuttle section and central burial area, so the Temple of Confucius central-axis rhythm cannot replace this visit.
The Wangu Changchun Archway and the stone figures along the sacred path work well for wide photographs. The old cypresses and the remains of the Zigong cypress are better for close observation. Keep the cemetery quiet and follow on-site photography rules.
Build your day
About 30–60 minutes: shuttle route
Enter through Zhisheng Gate and take the scenic-area shuttle to the central section. Visit the tomb of Confucius, the Zigong cypress remains and the stone figures along the approach, then return according to the shuttle arrangement. The round-trip shuttle is usually about CNY 20–30 per person; confirm the price and boarding arrangement on site.
This route suits the second day of a Three Confucian Sites ticket or visitors continuing to another suburban destination. The cemetery is large, and the shuttle leaves more of the available time for the central burial area and sacred-path landmarks.
About 1.5–2 hours: sacred-path walking route
Enter through Zhisheng Gate, pass the Wangu Changchun Archway and Shushui Bridge, follow the sacred path past the stone figures, then continue to the tomb of Confucius and the Zigong cypress remains. Return by the same route or through an open exit according to the on-site arrangement. Shoes, weather and walking ability all affect the pace.
To return to the core area of the Temple of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion, use a taxi, local tricycle or another confirmed transport option. Agree on the price before taking a tricycle or horse carriage, and arrange the return vehicle in advance.
Get there
Navigate directly to Cemetery of Confucius
When driving or taking a taxi, navigate directly to “Cemetery of Confucius” and use Zhisheng Gate as the entrance. Navigating only to “Three Kong Tourist Area” may take you to a visitor centre where you then need to change to a shuttle; the cemetery gate and the Three Kong visitor centre are different arrival points.
From Qufu East Station, take a taxi or bus. From the Temple of Confucius or Kong Family Mansion, the cemetery is about 2 km away. A scenic-area shuttle, tricycle, horse carriage or taxi may be available; confirm the price and waiting time for the day.
Know before you go
Walking, weather and timing
The full Cemetery of Confucius route includes substantial outdoor walking. Summer sun and wet-weather surfaces affect the time needed. Visitors who want to walk the sacred path should include the shuttle, walking and return journey in the Three Confucian Sites plan; Cemetery of Confucius requires its own city transfer of about 2 km.
The tomb of Confucius, sacred path and stone figures are best visited during a quieter period. The entrance, shuttle and last-entry time may affect the return, so confirm the vehicle or shuttle arrangement before leaving.
Guides and optional spending
People may offer guides or other services around the scenic area. Choose only what you need. Flowers, guiding and souvenirs are optional, and services you do not want can be refused directly.