Thanks to an absence of crowds, one can engage in quiet contemplation amid the fantastically gnarled trees and stately pavilions in front of the temple's Dacheng Dian main hall. Each individual pavilion commemorates different historical events and a small but good museum with interesting displays on the life of Confucius is now housed in the building off to the side of this hall and courtyard.

The Confucian Temple is also home to the Imperial College, where students prepared for civil service examinations and governmental careers. I especially love three things about this place. The first are the steles just behind the Confucian Temple's entrance gate listing the names of every Imperial College scholar who endured the "examination hell". The second is the single-eaved decorative archway with its three white marble fringed gates and fantastic green and gold tiles. The third is the twin-roofed, gold knob topped Biyong Hall. Visitors can gaze at the impressive throne from which the Emperor delivered his annual address to the scholars and admire the huge roof with elaborately painted beams.

The Dacheng Dian, in front of which the memorial ceremony for the anniversary of the birth of Confucius is hold. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]