Facing a branch of the Qinhuai River (Qínhuái Hé, 秦淮河), Nanjing's eponymous Confucius Temple (Fūzǐ Miào, 夫子庙) sits amid the restaurants, shops and tourists of Fuzi Miao Pedestrian Street.

Originally built in 1034 during the Song Dynasty, when China's homegrown philosophy saw a revival, the current structure—largely rebuilt, though some structures date from the Qing Dynasty—still serves as a temple venerating Confucius. Statues of Confucius and his followers line the central courtyard and colored stone friezes tell Confucian tales along the wall of one of the structure's halls. A building opposite the temple's back door is included in the ticket price and details parts of Nanjing's "intangible cultural heritage."

To the right of the temple's entrance sits Taiping Heavenly Kingdom History Museum, which was once a Ming Dynasty general's garden where students taking the imperial exam could study. At night, the history museum takes a backseat to tour of the lighted gardens.

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