29 - 9. THE CONFUCIUS TEMPLE

The famous philosopher lived here 2500 years ago. People came from afar to hear his words and down the times Chinese emperors have built a vast temple-complex to his honor. The houses and pavilions are all relatively low set in a park of thousand years-old cedar trees. Giant turtles carry his words of wisdom on their backs. The place is not shining newly painted as the famous temples in Beijing and we see not a single foreigner. It is all very low-key and honorable. I bought a small red-painted wooden plate and Serena wrote my wish on it in Chinese.

Nina