Nanjing Confucius Temple hosted a play on 6 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 06:15 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Nanjing Confucius Temple hosted the history play Ten Dynasties and the City of Nanjing from 1 to 6 October 2026.
- The play was staged in the Zunjing Pavilion courtyard as part of the 2026 Confucius Culture Month programme.
- The temple complex beside the Qinhuai River was originally built in 1034 and rebuilt in 1984 after repeated destruction.
- The programme also included cultural exhibitions and performances in the wider Nanjing Confucius Temple area during October 2026.
Nanjing Confucius Temple hosted the history play Ten Dynasties and the City of Nanjing from 1 to 6 October 2026 in Nanjing, China. The production formed part of the 2026 Confucius Culture Month programme and used the temple grounds to present episodes from the city's long history.
History play ran at the temple until 6 October
The play was staged in the courtyard of the Zunjing Pavilion during the National Day holiday period. Its scheduled run covered 1 to 6 October 2026, placing the performance directly inside the current travel window for visitors to Nanjing.
The programme presented the history of Nanjing through music, poetry, images and dance. Its title refers to the city's history across ten dynasties, while the published description places the performance at the temple rather than treating the site only as a backdrop. The programme listing for 1 to 6 October identifies both the venue and the dates.
A report carried by the Jiangsu Communist Party news network also listed the play among the cultural activities taking place at the Nanjing Confucius Temple area during the holiday. It described the production as part of a wider programme alongside exhibitions, lectures and other performances. The holiday programme report was published on 3 October 2026.
The Qinhuai River temple turns city history into theatre
The complex stands beside the Qinhuai River in Nanjing's Qinhuai District. It includes the Confucius Temple, the Jiangnan examination compound and the former Imperial Academy, creating a setting where the play's historical subject was connected to the site's educational and ceremonial past.
The temple was originally constructed in 1034 during the Song Dynasty. It suffered repeated damage and was rebuilt several times, including after its destruction in 1937. The local government supported a reconstruction in 1984, which expanded the site into a complex in the architectural styles associated with the Ming and Qing dynasties. These historical anchors are recorded by the Ministry of Culture site history.
The performance therefore linked a temporary October 2026 event with a permanent feature of the landmark: its role as a place associated with learning, examinations and Confucian worship. The nearby Dacheng Hall is 16.22 metres high and 28.1 metres wide, while the complex also includes the historic examination grounds and a 110-metre screen wall along the river.
Visiting Nanjing Confucius Temple: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The history play was scheduled at the Zunjing Pavilion courtyard from 1 to 6 October 2026. The listed performance period has ended, so it should not be treated as a continuing event after 6 October.
- The programme also named exhibitions and other cultural activities in the wider complex, including events connected with Dacheng Hall and the Jiangnan examination museum. The dated play itself was assigned to the Zunjing Pavilion courtyard.
- The landmark is beside the Qinhuai River in Qinhuai District, Nanjing. Its principal historical elements include Dacheng Hall, the former Imperial Academy and the Jiangnan examination compound.
- The site combines reconstructed Ming and Qing architectural forms with buildings and institutions connected to the history of Confucian education and imperial examinations.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Nanjing Confucius Temple
When did the history play take place at Nanjing Confucius Temple?
Ten Dynasties and the City of Nanjing was scheduled from 1 to 6 October 2026 in the Zunjing Pavilion courtyard.
What is Nanjing Confucius Temple?
It is a historic complex beside the Qinhuai River that includes the Confucius Temple, the former Imperial Academy and the Jiangnan examination compound.
Where is Nanjing Confucius Temple?
The complex is in Qinhuai District beside the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, China.
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