Qufu, Shandong, China
孔林 · Kǒng Lín
Confucius was buried north of Qufu in 479 BC, and his family has buried its dead around him ever since: more than 100,000 graves under tens of thousands of old trees, inside a wall seven kilometres long. It is the oldest and largest family cemetery in the world, still in use after two and a half thousand years.
Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
When Confucius died his students buried him by the Si River north of the city and mourned him for three years; his disciple Zigong stayed for six, in a hut by the grave. The family plot grew as each generation was laid beside the last, and emperors gave land and planted trees. Today it covers about two square kilometres.
Graves of every period lie here, from Confucius's son and grandson to the dukes of the Qing (1644–1912) and Kong clansmen of the 20th century.
Part of Qufu: Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius. Also there: Temple of Confucius, Kong Family Mansion.
The cemetery has its own ticket of 10 yuan, or is part of the 140-yuan combined ticket. Electric carts inside cost extra.
| Part | Ticket |
|---|---|
| Cemetery of Confucius | 10 yuan, or in the 140-yuan combined ticket |
A low mound under trees, with a stone tablet inscribed "Great Accomplished Supreme Sage, King of Culture", a title given in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). To the east lies his son Kong Li, and in front his grandson Zisi: the arrangement is called "carrying the son and leading the grandson".
Beside it a small house marks where Zigong lived for six years in mourning. Then walk on into the forest, where cypress, oak and pistachio shade grave after grave as far as you can see.
"Only Confucius is buried here." The cemetery holds more than 100,000 graves of his descendants.
"It is a park." It is still a family cemetery, and Kong clan members are still buried here.
We searched Chinese sources first for this list, then English ones.
The cemetery is 1.5 km north of the mansion along a cypress avenue; inside, electric carts run on the 7-km ring road.
The way from the city gate is lined with old cypresses and passes the stone arch "Eternal Spring for Ten Thousand Ages", put up in the Ming (1368–1644).
The gate tower in the cemetery wall, beyond which the forest begins.
Before the tomb enclosure, stone animals and officials stand in pairs along the approach: leopards, griffins and civil and military officers.
The heart of the cemetery, with Zigong's mourning hut beside it.
Ride or walk the ring road to see graves of every age, among them the tombs of the dukes and that of the playwright Kong Shangren.
Confucius was buried in 479 BC, the year the Greeks beat the Persian army at Plataea.
| Year | Here | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| 479 BC | Confucius is buried north of Qufu | The Greeks defeat the Persians at Plataea |
| 1331 | The cemetery wall is built in the Yuan dynasty | The Ottomans take Nicaea |
| 1718 | Kong Shangren is buried here | New Orleans is founded |
One line to remember: one family's graveyard, around one teacher's grave, for two and a half thousand years.
These are stories people tell about this place. They are legends, not history, and each one says where it comes from.
Confucius's disciples came from many states, and each, it is said, brought a tree from home to plant by the grave; that is why the forest has so many kinds of trees and no thorns.
Source: Told in Qufu since the Han dynasty
Later, people who live here will be able to add the stories they grew up with, and say which of these they have heard.
Last checked 2026-11-12. Prices, hours and booking from 2025–2026 guides (Maigoo, Sohu, Dahe Piao, Ctrip).
Checked 2026-11-12
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