The Confucian Temple

Confucian Temple is located in the urban Urumqi. It is the only existing Qing-style architectural complex of temples that have been well preserved in Urumqi.The complex covers an area of 1,000 square meters. The temple was first built during Qing Dynasty when the city of Dihua (now Urumqi City) was mapped out for expansion. In 1884, a matrtyry by the name of Zhaozhong Temple was built in memory of soldiers killed in the battles for recovering Xinjiang. Later in the period of the Republic of China, it was renamed as Shangdi Temple. Later, the wooden memorial tablet of Confucius placed in the old Confucian Temple was moved to the martyry and the Zhonglie Temple became the Confucian Temple today.

The Confucian Temple is a Qing-style architectural complex of temples. It has front and rear main hall and a side hall on the east and west side of the main halls. And there are two symmetrical bell and drum towers. The front main hall has cornices and dougong (brackets). Grey bricks and arched tiles were used in the building. And it is richly ornamented and it has carved beams and painted rafters. The whole building looks sturdy and majestic and has an air of great antiquity and elegance.

In 1979, the temple as listed as a cultural site under provincial protection. In 1988, the government had it significantly renovated and established the Urumqi City Museum on the base of the Confucian Temple.

Location: No.231 Qianjin Road, Tianshan District, Urumqi 
Transportation: Take Bus No.917 or 919