Hexi Confucius Temple in Tonghai County, Yuxi
Attraction Overview
Located in Hexi Town of Tonghai County in Yuxi, Yunnan, Hexi Confucius Temple was built in Yuan Dynasty, rebuilt in Ming Dynasty and overhauled in Qing dynasty. With a long history and precious cultural relics, it was listed as provincial key cultural relics protection unit in 2003.
Chinese Name: 通海县河西文庙
English Name: Hexi Confucius Temple in Tonghai County, Yuxi
Attraction Type: Temples and Historical Relics
Best Time to Visit: All Year
Recommended Visiting Time: 1-3 hours
Open Hours: 9:00-18:00
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Hexi Village, Hexi Town, Tonghai County, Yuxi, Yunnan云南省玉溪市通海县河西镇河西村
Why is Hexi Confucius Temple So Special?
Hexi Confucius Temple was rebuilt in 1471 and overhauled by Guang Xu in the Qing Dynasty in 1890, covering an area of more than 9000 square meters. The main existing architectures of the temple are the Dacheng Hall大成殿, Wenmingfang文明坊, the Dacheng Gate大成门, the East-West Corridor veranda东西廊庑 and the Minglun Hall明伦堂. Hexi Confucius Temple is grand and spectacular. On April 30, 2001, it was listed as the first batch of municiple key cultural relics protection units, and in 2003 was listed as provincial key cultural relics protection units.
Where is Hexi Confucius Temple?
Hexi Village河西村 belongs to the Hexi Village Committee of Hexi Town, Tonghai County. It is a market town area of Hexi Town. In Hexi Village Committee, the road is cement road, and the traffic is convenient. In 2013, Hexi Village was listed in the second batch of traditional Chinese villages with important protective value. Hexi Confucius Temple is located in the southeast of Hexi Town, inside Hexi Village. There are many valuable cultural relics and monuments, among them, “official inscription of the Ministry of Rites礼部批文碑”, “Confucianism Exhort Stele儒学箴碑”, the stone couplet in front of Xianshi Palace先师殿 and the Tang Cypress are the most popular ones. On April 30, 2001, Yuxi City as the first batch of municiple key cultural relics protection units, in 2003 was listed as provincial key cultural relics protection units.
Nearby Attractions
1. Xiushan Mountain Park秀山公园
Xiushan Mountain Park, located in the south of Tonghai county, is one of the important scenic spots in Yuxi and is also the national AAAA level scenic spot. On Xiushan mountain, there are numerous ancient buildings and couplets, with a thick cultural atmosphere.
2. Bailong Temple白龙寺
Bailong temple, located in the deep forest on the west of Yongjin temple, was founded in 1486. In recent years, part of galleries and service facilities have been expanded, leading water up the mountain, digging the pool to cultivate lotus and various flowers and plants, which has become a new tourist attraction of Xiushan mountain park. The new attraction architecture complex, located in front of the Bailong temple, was built in 1988. It contains Bbaiyun dock白云坞, Sizhu pavillion丝竹馆, painting and calligraphy exhibition room, pool gallery, wealth temple, orchid garden and tea garden.
3. Yuanming Temple圆明寺
Located in the northwest of Tonghai County, Puying foothill is 15 kilometers away from the county seat, and only 1 kilometers from the government seat of Hexi Town. Yuanming Temple is there. The temple has been a Buddhist shrine for more than 600 years since it was rebuilt. In the Qing Dynasty, it has become a tourist attraction in central and southern Yunnan. After the founding of the people’s Republic of China, it was one of the most famous scenic spots in the former Hexi County, known as the “Yuanming Temple Park.” It is still one of the tourist attractions in southern Yunnan. In 1964, it was designated as a tourist attraction open to the outside world, and it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in November 1988.
How to Get There
Tourists have two ways to get to Hexi Confucius Temple in Tonghai County, long-distance bus and train.
1. By Long-distance Bus
There are long-distance buses from Kunming to Tonghai County. After arriving in Tonghai County, you can take a taxi to Hexi Village. It takes about 30 minutes. Confucius temple is at Hexi Village.
Kunming East Bus Station-Tonghai Bus Terminal
Departure Time: 6:58-18:00
Ticket Price: 42 CNY
Distance: 138 Kilometers
Consume Time: About 2.5 hours
2. By Train
Kunming Station-Tonghai Station
Departure Time: 7:45, 11:02, 12:30, 15:41
Ticket Price: 21.5 CNY
Distance: 139 Kilometers
Consume Time: About 2 hours
Best Time to Visit
Hexi Confucius Temple visit is mainly indoor activities, therefore tour is possible all the year round.
Accommodation at Hexi Confucius Temple
Since Hexi Confucius Temple is not far from Tonghai County, you can stay in Tonghai County for overnight. Of course, there are some hotels around Hexi Confucius Temple. Accommodation is convenient there.
1. Tonghai Landun Hotel通海兰顿酒店
Address: No.72, Liyue West Road, Xiushan Subdistrict, Tonghai County, Yuxi玉溪市通海县秀山街道礼乐西路72号
Tel: 0877-3098888
Starting Price: 114 CNY
2. Tonghai Mingbang Hotel通海名邦大酒店
Address: No.219, Xiushan West Road, Sangyuan Industrial Zone, Tonghai County, Yuxi玉溪市通海县桑园工业区秀山西路219号
Tel: 0877-3058999
Starting Price: 145 CNY
3. Pai Hotel派酒店
Address: No.21, Yixiu Road, Xiushan Subdistrict, Tonghai County, Yuxi玉溪市通海县秀山街道挹秀路21号
Tel: 0877-3010098
Starting Price: 97 CNY
Useful Travel Tips
1. Learn something about Confucius in advance;
2. Do not make noise when visiting;
3. You can participate in some cultural activities during festivals.
