Kong Forest
Kong Forest
4
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
88 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
38
Average
19
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Professor-Kunich
Charlotte, NC78 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
The Kong Forest includes hundreds of tombs and gravesites to the innumerable descendants of Confucius. The forest is relaxing, but the constant presence of memorials and tomb markers detracts from the pleasantness. Other than the gravesite of Confucius itself, a Westerner would have no idea as to the significance of any of them.
Written June 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jarko2015
Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,731 contributions
Sep 2016 • Solo
I thought this was the most interesting part of the Qufu "3 Kongs" tour, although it's a bit hard on the feet. You can take a bus or hitch a rickshaw (or even a horse & cart) from walled city out to the forest, which is about 1500m north. But it's a relatively straightforward walk, too. Just remember if you do go on foot, that the park itself is vast and there'll be two hours or more of walking once you get inside. However, motorized carts are available to whizz you around the forest, but they don't stop, so you won't get close up to anything. The smooth paths follows a large ring through the forest and there are maps and signs as you go to direct you to the most significant burial sites. I travelled on the loop from East to West and it does get more interesting, more spooky and more realistic as you reach the west. The east has clearly been tidied up quite a bit. When you get back to the main gate, there is the complex that houses Confucius' own tomb, which you will need to do on foot regardless. This was naturally the busiest part of the forest and has the most to see. Even though it was a very hot day, I found the stroll through the shaded park extremely cool and tranquil. Well worth doing on foot.
Written September 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LG_Kay
Singapore, Singapore7,512 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
This is a very huge cemetery complex. In fact, it is the largest family cemetery in the world according to a website. Many officials and commoners were buried here, but of course the Confucius cemetery on the eastern side is the most popular, which attracts tourists and locals alike. The rest of the complex is not worth exploring.
Confucius cemetery consists of 3 important cemeteries, ie Confucius himself, one son and one grandson, all located near to one another.
From the entrance, one needs to walk a long walkway lined with many mature trees, which are about 600 to 1000 years old. Many such trees are scattered throughout the entire complex.
We spent about 1 hour to leisurely walk around and explore the eastern side.
Confucius cemetery consists of 3 important cemeteries, ie Confucius himself, one son and one grandson, all located near to one another.
From the entrance, one needs to walk a long walkway lined with many mature trees, which are about 600 to 1000 years old. Many such trees are scattered throughout the entire complex.
We spent about 1 hour to leisurely walk around and explore the eastern side.
Written April 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tiputapu2015
Klaipeda County, Lithuania11 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
It is a beautiful and peaceful place with lots of trees. It has its own tranquil atmosphere. It is a perfect place for a leisurely walk and it is possible to spend there a few hours. The most interesting graves were with horses, sheep and lions guarding them at the front. I wish there was more English signage with explanations of what those statues symbolised and why they were there.
To get there we took a mini bus from the tourist information center. They claimed that none of the buses really go that direction and that it is too far to walk. In reality, it is not really that far and the walk would have been lovely too. A way leading to Kongli is surrounded by old trees - so it is beautiful. However, if you are not much of a walker or if you are on tight schedule - the mini bus is a good option.
To get there we took a mini bus from the tourist information center. They claimed that none of the buses really go that direction and that it is too far to walk. In reality, it is not really that far and the walk would have been lovely too. A way leading to Kongli is surrounded by old trees - so it is beautiful. However, if you are not much of a walker or if you are on tight schedule - the mini bus is a good option.
Written March 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Syed S Rashid
Sydney, Australia47 contributions
Aug 2015
I was excited as to visit the hometown of Confucius while traveling to China for the 1st time! After completing week-long official works we starts towards there at the last day in Qufu. I liked the local journey here. Riding on horse cart after years was special. That was a hot sunny day and the forest shade was charming like anything. Finally its an honor to pay tribute to a great philosopher of all times.
Written December 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris P
Shanghai, China6,042 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
A friend and I visited the Kong Forest on Friday 19 June. There were very few people and in spite of other TripAdvisor recommendations - we walked in. I really enjoyed the walk and we strolled down a track for an enjoyable walk through sporadic tombstones (stelae) - there are about 3600 in the Forest. Its just great walking in a forest of trees, littered with tombstones.
The walk to the grave of Confucius is not too far and I found it interesting. We then walked back to the start and spent RMB 20 each to ride on the electric cart around the ground, which was money well spent. The main areas are far apart and I wished that they would stop and let you walk around each site (it does stop for a few seconds at about 3 of the more famous sites) - maybe a hop-on, hop-off system would work? The negative was a guide on a microphone blaring forth the whole time we were driving around!
If you take the electric cart first, then you can get a good overview (maps are pretty scarce and not very clear) and decide how far you want to walk and where the points of interest are. The second good thing, is that they DO drop you off at the grave of Confucius, so that you can walk around the area.
It was an enjoyable visit and we will return on a future trip
The walk to the grave of Confucius is not too far and I found it interesting. We then walked back to the start and spent RMB 20 each to ride on the electric cart around the ground, which was money well spent. The main areas are far apart and I wished that they would stop and let you walk around each site (it does stop for a few seconds at about 3 of the more famous sites) - maybe a hop-on, hop-off system would work? The negative was a guide on a microphone blaring forth the whole time we were driving around!
If you take the electric cart first, then you can get a good overview (maps are pretty scarce and not very clear) and decide how far you want to walk and where the points of interest are. The second good thing, is that they DO drop you off at the grave of Confucius, so that you can walk around the area.
It was an enjoyable visit and we will return on a future trip
Written June 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FRANK O
Belfast, UK196 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Travelled by Fast Train from Taishan with Friends and was again pleasantly surprised by the Size and Lay Out of everything.
Written June 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D13O
The Hague, The Netherlands248 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
Probably Confucius isn't really buried here, but there is a grave with his name on it. Total tourist trap, dozens of stalls lined up before the entrance. Nothing to see really unless you're into headstones, some arches and statues. A gazillion tourists everywhere, you have to dodge electric cars and again not really much to see. Further in the forest there are other graves and it gets quieter. Skip Qufu cause it is one big money grab for the locals.
Written April 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IDTVL
Sydney, Australia17 contributions
May 2018 • Family
When in Qufu, this is a pilgrimage I imagine most locals would make given how revered Confucius was. Though I saw very few foreigners, this was an interesting stop as this place had so much history you could feel it in the air. For a cemetery, it wasn't that creepy in the day time. We saw the map of the cemetery and was simply overwhelmed by the size, thinking that we couldn't come here without seeing something we continued walking until we stumbled across the Kong Forest. The entrance way has buggy tours for hire to explore the whole cemetery, but given the little knowledge we possessed we walked on with pram in tow. It probably took us 15 mins of walking before arriving at the Kong Forest.
It's a pretty relaxing and very impressive dedication to the Kong family. There were a few signs in english, but given our lack of time we had a quick look and found large stone grave markers, statues and neatly placed trees.
Don't prioritise this in your Qufu trip, but if you have a a spare hour you should walk through the cemetery.
It's a pretty relaxing and very impressive dedication to the Kong family. There were a few signs in english, but given our lack of time we had a quick look and found large stone grave markers, statues and neatly placed trees.
Don't prioritise this in your Qufu trip, but if you have a a spare hour you should walk through the cemetery.
Written July 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emma S
Darwin, Australia49 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
It was very easy to get to as I was staying as a small family guest house near the southern gate of Qufu, and I was able to walk. The weather was ideal - not too hot, and the sun was warm, so I spent about an hour walking around the cemetery. The approach to the cemetery was impressive with the faded red buildings of the Supreme Sage Cemetery Archway and the Tomb Gate, while the path to the tombs was lined with paired statues and trees. Apart from the tombs that were marked - those of Confucius, Kong Li (his son) and Kong Ji (his grandson) - I didn't have a clue what I was looking at really. However, the paths were nice and clean, the weather was beautiful, the spring flowers were out, and I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet and the atmosphere.
Written August 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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