Suzhou Confucian Temple
苏州文庙（碑刻博物馆）
A Confucian temple and school founded by Fan Zhongyan in the Northern Song dynasty, home to the Hall of Great Perfection and four famous Song stone steles, including the Pingjiang Map.
The Suzhou Confucian Temple is on Renmin Road in Gusu District. During the Jingyou era of the Northern Song dynasty, Fan Zhongyan founded a prefectural school and temple here, making it one of the largest Confucian temples in the Jiangnan region. Today it houses the Suzhou Stele Museum. Its treasures are four Southern Song stone steles: the Astronomical Chart, the Geographical Chart, the Imperial Lineage Chart, and the Pingjiang Map. The Pingjiang Map is one of the oldest surviving city plans, and you can match it with the streets and lanes of today's Suzhou old city. The Hall of Great Perfection dates from the Ming dynasty. On weekends, an antique market is held in the courtyard. Admission is free or charges a token fee, and it is closed on Mondays. It can be combined with Canglang Pavilion and the Ke Garden.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00 (closed Mon)
Nearby sights
- Canglang Pavilion
- Master of the Nets Garden
- Pan Gate
- Suzhou Ancient Canal Night Cruise
- Garden of Pleasance
- Twin Pagodas of Luohan Temple
- Quyuan Garden
- Guanqian Street & Xuanmiao Temple