Stand on Yashengfu Street on the south side of Zoucheng and the grey tiled roofs of the Temple and Mansion of Mencius rise ahead of you, a mile's walk from the downtown core. Fewer visitors pass through these courtyards than the equivalent complex in nearby Qufu, which means you can take your time over the steles and the old cypresses without queuing for a view.
Zoucheng suits travellers who are already in the Qufu or Jining area and want the Mencius story without the crowds, plus a mountain and a stone village within a short bus ride of town. It also works for anyone tracing a family name, since the philosopher's descendants lived here for generations.
1. Temple and Mansion of Mencius
The temple and mansion of the philosopher Mencius, known as China's "Second Sage" after Confucius, stand adjacent to each other on the south side of the city, roughly a mile's walk from downtown. The two sites are similar in architecture, sculpture and landscaping to the Confucius facilities in Qufu but are much less crowded, and a single ticket covers both.
You will often hear that admission is free if your family name is Meng, on the theory that you may be a descendant of the sage; this is not the case, and the standard entry fee is ¥35. The complex is served by bus no. 17 (western route and outer circle route) and bus L1, and the address is 44 Yashengfu Street.
2. Mount Yi
Mount Yi is a scenic mountain about 10 km south of downtown Zoucheng. In ancient times it was one of the most famous mountains in China, and Mencius climbed it, as did Confucius, Qin Shihuang, Sima Qian, Li Bai, Du Fu and Su Dongpo.
Take bus no. 2 from either Zoucheng Bus Station or Zoucheng Railway Station and get off at the final stop. The site is open 08:00–17:00 and admission is ¥55; the address is Yishan Village, Yishan Town.
3. Shangjiushan Ancient Village
This is a traditional stone village with many buildings dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, in Shiqiang Town. Tickets normally cost ¥80, but you can buy them more cheaply through the Shangjiushan Ancient Village WeChat account.
Reach it by taking bus no. 223 from Zoucheng Bus Station and getting off at the last stop. Opening hours are 08:00–18:00.
4. Tomb of the Ming Prince of Lu
This is the final resting place of Zhu Tan, a prince of Lu during the Ming dynasty, who is buried here with his two wives. The tomb has been fully excavated and is open to the public, though the artefacts on display are all replicas; the originals are kept at the Shandong Provincial Museum in Jinan.
It sits in Shangzhai Village, Zhongxindian Town, immediately to the north of Zoucheng. Take bus no. 213, 217 or L1 and get off at Shangzhai. Entry is free and the hours are 08:30–16:30, so plan this one earlier in the day than the temple.
5. Zoucheng Museum
The city's main museum includes a permanent exhibition about Mencius and his descendants, and it sits about 600 metres east of the Temple and Mansion of Mencius, making it an easy pairing with the temple visit.
Entry is free, hours are 09:00–17:00 with no entry after 16:30, and it is closed on Mondays. Visitor numbers are limited to 2000 per day. It is at 56 Shunhe Road, served by bus nos. 16, 17 (outer circle route) and C609.
6. Zoucheng cultural square
This square on Taiping East Road is a good place to take a walk after a meal, and its architectural style is distinctive: modern garden design sits alongside references to ancient traditional culture. The whole square is laid out with reference to the word "spring" in ancient seal script, a symbol of local people's yearning for a better life.
During the day, many older residents play mahjong here. At night it becomes a gathering place for square dancing, with various stalls. It is free and open 24 hours.
7. Mencius Theater
Built in 2016, the Mencius Theater is a comprehensive public service venue for large-scale literary and artistic performances, with a theater, multi-purpose hall, VIP hall, rehearsal hall and conference room across five floors.
It is at No. 2669 Taiping East Road and open 9:00–17:00. Check what is on before you go, since the building is primarily a performance venue rather than a walk-in sight.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Temple and Mansion of Mencius on Yashengfu Street when it opens at 08:30, while the courtyards are quiet. Walk the roughly 600 metres east afterwards to the Zoucheng Museum on Shunhe Road, keeping in mind that it is closed on Mondays and stops admitting visitors at 16:30.
Afternoon: Take bus no. 213, 217 or L1 to Shangzhai for the Tomb of the Ming Prince of Lu. Its 16:30 closing time makes it the tighter of the two fixed-hour sites, so do not leave it until late. If you would rather spend the afternoon outdoors, take bus no. 2 from Zoucheng Bus Station or Zoucheng Railway Station to the final stop for Mount Yi instead, which stays open until 17:00.
Evening: Return to town and finish at Zoucheng cultural square on Taiping East Road, which is open around the clock. Come after your meal for the walk, the square dancing and the stalls.
Is admission really free if my family name is Meng?
No. It is often said that visitors named Meng, as possible descendants of the sage, enter the Temple and Mansion of Mencius free of charge, but this is not the case. The standard entry fee is ¥35.
How do I get to Mount Yi without a car?
Take bus no. 2 from either Zoucheng Bus Station or Zoucheng Railway Station and get off at the final stop.
Can I see the original artefacts from the Tomb of the Ming Prince of Lu?
Not at the tomb. The objects on display there are all replicas; the originals are kept at the Shandong Provincial Museum in Jinan.
Which day should I avoid for the museum?
Zoucheng Museum is closed on Mondays. On other days it opens 09:00–17:00, with no entry after 16:30.
Work out which of the four Mencius sites and outlying stops matter most to you, check the bus routes from Zoucheng Bus Station, and start building your itinerary around the opening hours above.