Qufu: Confucius' birthplace and historic home
Arriving at my hotel, having a room facing toward the Old Town of Qufu, I went out onto the balcony to view a city at first so scenically different. Looking toward the Ming-era old city walls with their defensive gate towers, it was mostly low-rise. There felt a sense of harmony between the buildings and their surrounding area. Nothing obscured my view of the glazed yellow-tiled roofed Dachang Hall. Built in 1724, it sits prominently amid the Temple of Confucius, indeed helping create a skyline not dissimilar to historic Beijing, although on a smaller scale. That temple was along with the adjacent Confucius Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius sitting just beyond the walled city. Understandably they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and were within easy walking distance of where I would stay.
