Zoucheng - county-level city

Zoucheng (邹城 Zōuchéng) is a city in Shandong. It is best known as the birth place of Mencius, who is widely regarded as the second most revered Confucian after Confucius himself.

Get in

Zoucheng has a station on the Beijing-Shanghai mainline, although far from all trains plying this route stop here. Still, service to Beijing, Nanjing, or Shanghai is quite frequent.

During daytime (until around 6PM) there is a frequent bus service to the nearby Qufu.

Get around

See

• Mount Yi (峄山), Yishan Village, Yishan Town (峄山镇峄山村) (take bus no. 2 from either Zoucheng Bus Station or Zoucheng Railway Station and get off at the final stop), 35.38927040946908°, 116.9744087643758°, +86 537 5670091, +86 537 5670498, ys5678813@163.com. 08:00-17:00. A scenic mountain about 10km south of downtown Zoucheng. In ancient times, this was one of the most famous mountains in China. Mencius once climbed the mountain, as did Confucius, Qin Shihuang, Sima Qian, Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Dongpo and many other notable historical figures. ¥55 2022-03-24
• Shangjiushan Ancient Village (上九山古村), Shiqiang Town (石墙镇) (take bus no. 223 from Zoucheng Bus Station and get off at the last stop), 35.193487°, 116.876422°, +86 537 5610319, shangiiushangucun@126.com. . A traditional stone village with many buildings dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Tickets normally cost ¥80 but can be purchased more cheaply on the Shangjiushan Ancient Village WeChat account 2022-03-24
• Temple and Mansion of Mencius (孟庙孟府), 44 Yashengfu Street (亚圣府街44号) (bus no. 17 (western route and outer circle route) and bus L1), 35.389367°, 116.968433°, +86 537 5252098, +86 537 5221377. 08:30-17:30. The temple and mansion of the ancient philosopher Mencius, perennially known as China's "Second Sage" (after Confucius) can be found on the south side of the city, perhaps a mile's walk from downtown. The two sites (adjacent to each other, and visitable on a single ticket) are similar in their architecture, sculpture and landscaping to the "First Sage's" facilities in Qufu, but are much less crowded. It is often said that if your family name is Meng (i.e., you are the sage's possible descendant), admission is free; however, this is not the case. The standard entry fee is ¥35 2022-03-24
• Tomb of the Ming Prince of Lu (明鲁王陵, 明鲁王墓), Shangzhai Village, Zhongxindian Town (中心店镇尚寨村) (take bus no. 213, 217 or L1 and get off at Shangzhai), 35.47500391429007°, 117.00570126082899°, +86 537 5527866. 08:30-16:30. The final resting place of Zhang Tan, a prince of Lu during the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Tan is buried here with his two wives. The tomb has been fully excavated and is open to the public. However, the artefacts on display are all replicas. The originals are kept at the Shandong Provincial Museum in Jinan. Free 2022-03-24
• Zoucheng Museum (邹城博物馆), 56 Shunhe Road (顺河路56号) (about 600 meters east of the Temple and Mansion of Mencius; bus nos. 16, 17 (outer circle route) and C609), 35.38927°, 116.974409°, +86 537 5212027, +86 537 5253301, zcswwj@126.com. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. The city's main museum. It includes a permanent exhibition about Mencius and his descendents. Visitor numbers are limited to 2000 per day. Free 2022-03-24

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Go next

One can continue north to Qufu, with its Confucius-related sites, and on to Tai'an (for Mount Taishan).