Jiangnan Examination Hall (China Imperial Examination Museum)
江南贡院
The former site of the largest imperial examination hall in the Ming and Qing dynasties, now the underground China Imperial Examination Museum. Tang Yin and Wu Cheng'en both sat exams here.
Jiangnan Examination Hall was first built in the Southern Song dynasty. During the Ming and Qing, it was the provincial examination hall for Jiangnan, and at its peak it had more than 20,000 examination cells. It produced many top scholars. The surviving Mingyuan Tower, Feihong Bridge and reconstructed examination cells show candidates sealed in their cubicles for three days and two nights. The China Imperial Examination Museum, opened in 2017, is largely built underground and displays historical examination papers, garments used for cheating and gold lists. Admission is about CNY 50. It is closed on Mondays and is located within the Confucius Temple scenic area.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–22:00 (closed Mon)
Nearby sights
- Confucius Temple & Qinhuai River
- Zhan Garden
- Bailuzhou Park
- Xiaoxihu Historic Block
- Ganxi Mansion
- Laomendong Historic District
- Zhonghua Gate
- Porcelain Tower & Da Bao'en Temple Heritage Park