Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal

The cruise ship terminal on the Qinhuai River is very close to the Confucius Temple.
There are two types of cruise ships. One is an electric modern boat with glass windows that looks like a pleasure boat. The other is a manually rowed boat.
You can enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Qinhuai River by taking a cruise. There will be explanations on the boat at each corresponding scenic spot.
The scenery is even better when the lights on both sides of the Qinhuai River are turned on at night.

Attractions Location: 50 meters southeast of the intersection of Xishi and Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province

Tickets:
Daytime: RMB 80; Nighttime: RMB 100

Opening hours:
09:00-18:30 (daytime), 18:30-22:00 (nighttime) (Monday to Sunday, January 1st to December 31st)

Contact Details: 025-52300870

Transportation:
Take bus No. 2, No. 4, No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, No. 7, No. 16, No. 31, No. 33, No. 40 and get off at Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Belt.
Take Nanjing Metro Line 1 and get off at Sanshan Street Station
Take Nanjing Metro Line 3 and get off at Confucius Temple Station.

Time reference: 1-3 hours


Recommended itinerary for Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal tours

1-Day Itinerary: Explore Jiangsu Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal and Qinhuai River

Experience the beauty of the Qinhuai River starting from the Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal, enjoy a scenic boat cruise, and visit the historic Confucius Temple area.

  • Morning: Arrive at Nanjing Railway Station or Nanjing South Station
  • Take Metro Line 1 or 3 to Fuzimiao Station, then walk (~10 minutes) to Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal
  • Board a boat cruise on the Qinhuai River (1 hour scenic ride)
  • After the cruise, visit the Confucius Temple complex and surrounding markets
  • Evening: Stroll along Qinhuai River and enjoy local snacks

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Fuzimiao, such as Jinling Hotel or Holiday Inn Nanjing Qinhuai; try Nanjing salted duck, steamed buns, and river snacks.

Souvenirs: Qinhuai lanterns, embroidered silk items, traditional teas, handcrafted fans.


2-Day Itinerary: Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal + Chaotian Palace & Nanjing Old Town

Combine the scenic river cruise experience with Taoist culture at Chaotian Palace and explore Nanjing’s Old Town streets.

  • Day 1: Same as 1-day itinerary (Qinhuai River cruise and Confucius Temple)
  • Day 2 Morning: Take Metro Line 1 or 2 to Chaotian Palace Station
  • Visit Chaotian Palace, Taoist temple with rich history
  • Afternoon: Walk or taxi (~10min) to Nanjing Old Town for shopping and cultural immersion
  • Evening: Dine at local Jiangsu cuisine restaurants in Old Town

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Fuzimiao or Chaotian Palace; enjoy Jiangsu duck dishes and traditional snacks.

Souvenirs: Taoist incense, paper talismans, silk scarves, local teas.


3-Day Itinerary: Add Nanjing’s Imperial Mausoleums and Museums

Explore the river and temple areas, then visit Nanjing’s imperial history sites for a well-rounded cultural trip.

  • Days 1–2: Same as 2-day itinerary
  • Day 3 Morning: Take Metro Line 2 to Olympic Stadium East Station, taxi (~15min) to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Tomb
  • Afternoon: Visit Presidential Palace (Metro Line 1 to Xiaolingwei Station, then walk)
  • Evening: Return downtown for dinner

Accommodation/Food: Stay downtown Nanjing; try salted duck, duck blood soup, and local Jiangsu cuisine.

Souvenirs: Yunjin brocade, historical books, calligraphy brushes.


4-Day Itinerary: Nanjing + Yangzhou Cultural and Garden Tour

After exploring Nanjing, head to Yangzhou to enjoy its famous gardens and lakeside charm.

  • Days 1–3: Same as 3-day itinerary
  • Day 4 Morning: High-speed train from Nanjing to Yangzhou (~1.5h)
  • Visit Ge Garden and Slender West Lake (Taxi or Bus 26 between sites)
  • Evening: Explore Dongguan Street for shopping and dining

Accommodation/Food: Stay at Yangzhou Centre & Residence; enjoy lion’s head meatballs and local sweets.

Souvenirs: Bamboo crafts, lacquerware, calligraphy brushes, Fuchun tea.


5-Day Itinerary: Add Suzhou Classical Gardens and Canals

Extend your trip to Suzhou for its world-famous gardens and picturesque canals.

  • Days 1–4: Same as 4-day itinerary
  • Day 5 Morning: Train from Yangzhou to Suzhou (~2h via Nanjing transfer)
  • Visit Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lion Grove Garden, and Pingjiang Road

Accommodation/Food: Stay at Suzhou Garden Hotel or Pan Pacific; sample Suzhou mooncakes and glutinous rice dumplings.

Souvenirs: Silk embroidery, painted fans, hand-painted umbrellas, Suzhou pastries.


6-Day Itinerary: Nanjing + Wuxi Lingshan Buddha and Taihu Lake

Experience the spiritual atmosphere of Lingshan Giant Buddha and scenic Taihu Lake after exploring Jiangsu’s cities.

  • Days 1–5: Same as 5-day itinerary
  • Day 6 Morning: Train from Suzhou to Wuxi (~30min)
  • Visit Lingshan Giant Buddha and Taihu Lake Scenic Area

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Taihu Lake or downtown Wuxi; enjoy freshwater fish and vegetarian temple meals.

Souvenirs: Taihu pearls, Buddhist crafts, Wuxi clay figurines.


7-Day Itinerary: Complete Jiangsu Cultural and Natural Exploration

This full itinerary offers a comprehensive journey through Jiangsu’s cultural landmarks, gardens, and natural scenery anchored by the Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal.

  • Day 1: Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal + Qinhuai River, Nanjing
  • Day 2: Chaotian Palace and Nanjing Old Town
  • Day 3: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling Tomb, Presidential Palace
  • Day 4: Yangzhou – Ge Garden and Slender West Lake
  • Day 5: Suzhou – Classical Gardens and Pingjiang Road
  • Day 6: Wuxi – Lingshan Giant Buddha and Taihu Lake
  • Day 7: Departure or return to Nanjing/Suzhou/Wuxi

Accommodation/Food: Stay near major scenic spots; enjoy Jiangsu’s rich cuisine including duck dishes, vegetarian meals, freshwater fish, and local snacks.

Souvenirs: Qinhuai lanterns, silk embroidery, bamboo crafts, pearls, Taoist and Confucian themed artworks, local teas.


User Reviews

By enthusiasm. |

The night view of Nanjing is very beautiful, especially the Confucius Temple. Especially during the Qinhuai Lantern Festival, the entire Qinhuai River is full of golden splendor and colorful. It is recommended to take a boat at night. Although the price is 60 yuan during the day and 80 yuan at night, the night view is really beautiful! There are also explanations on the boat. The whole journey takes about 40 to 50 minutes. We visited many places and it is worth it.

By China-TravelNote users |

Here are some tips for you guys, especially those who are traveling with girlfriends or female friends:

1. About buying tickets: You must buy tickets in advance for boat trips, and it is recommended to buy them before 18:00 (otherwise you have to queue for half an hour to buy tickets or buy a package ticket, and ticket sales may be suspended due to excessive number of tourists.

2. About taking the boat: Everyone wants to wait until dark before taking the boat, so it is recommended to check the ticket in advance and sit inside. As for the time, it depends on the situation on site. It is recommended to be around 18:30) All the queues are crowded and it is especially hot in summer.

3: Single friends, couples, and friends of the opposite sex are all advised not to take a boat with children. Of course, it is best to have no children. As for why: I tell you, it is a headache, scum, scum, scum, I have experienced it myself.

By Good Grass |

There are more than 30 people on a boat, and it takes about 40 minutes. Tour route: Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal - Bailuzhou Park - Colorful Water Street - Dongshuiguan - Zhonghua Gate - Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal. The scenery along the way is good, and the charming buildings are more gorgeous under the light. There are recordings on the boat, which introduce the history and landscape anecdotes of Qinhuai River in detail. Before I came to Nanjing, I heard that the summer here is very hot, but it is very cool at night. It is so comfortable to sit on the boat with a breeze!

By A Tu |

At the Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal, you can buy a ticket to take a boat tour of the Qinhuai River. It is highly recommended to see the night view. Nanjing's famous painted boat cruises along the Qinhuai River at night, which takes about 20 minutes.

By Yuyu |

The scenery is great, but the explanation is pre-recorded. Sometimes the boat has already passed the introduced scenic spot and the explanation is not available.

Ticket price for night tour is 80 for adults and 40 for children

By Horses trample on Donghu |

Qinhuai River is the cradle of Nanjing's ancient civilization and the mother river of Nanjing. Cruise tickets for different ship types and routes are 60/80/120 yuan per day and night respectively. Purchase tickets at the ticket booth in the southwest corner of Confucius Temple Square to board the ship.



Night cruise route of Wai Qinhuai River: Painted boat cruise: Dinghuaimen Bridge - Shuimu Qinhuai - Shitoucheng Wharf - Qingliangmen Bridge - Fenghuang Bridge. The painted boat cruise takes about 45 minutes (the cruise runs every 60 minutes and you cannot get off the boat during the cruise). The boarding and disembarking location is Shitoucheng Wharf of Wai Qinhuai River Cruise (No. 1 Shitoucheng Road, Caochangmen, Gulou District, Nanjing, inside Shitoucheng Ruins Park). The night cruise starts at 19:00.

By Twinkle, twinkle, bright |

The Confucius Temple is more commercialized and is more suitable for night tours. You can eat, shop and take photos of the night view. The night tour ticket for the painting boat is 60 yuan, and there is no student ticket. The tour time is about 30 minutes, and there is an audio guide on the boat. If you have time and are interested, you can also go to the nearby Confucius Temple, Zhanyuan, Jiangnan Gongyuan and other attractions.

By Chilli |

There is a boat every 20 minutes, the journey takes 40 minutes, and the scenery is really beautiful when the lights come on.

By The falling little crab |

Every night, it is crowded with people.

By Light Flying |

The Nine Dragon Wall at the Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal is very cool, and there are boats everywhere in Jiangnan.

By UNCLE |

There are day and night tours, the scenery on both sides is nice, a good experience

By zhm_jinan |

It's at the pier in front of Confucius Temple, but I've never taken a Qinhuai River cruise.

By MIKA |

The scenery is beautiful at night. If you take a cruise, it is better to go at night.

By valley |

It is just opposite the Confucius Temple. There are many people taking the boat, especially at night, so it is worth a ride.

By Bad Wife |

It was cloudy and rainy when we went there. The boat trip was useless. I missed it if I didn't take it, but it was boring after I took it.

By Big Bad Wolf |

The boat trip is worth taking, but there are too many people waiting to get on board.

By March light rain |

It costs 45 yuan per person to take a boat tour of the Qinhuai River. It takes about half an hour to complete a circle. It is very worthwhile. The scenery is more beautiful at night.

By Big Hae Walking |

The Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal is opposite the Confucius Temple, on a relatively wide stretch of the Qinhuai River. You can take a boat here to enjoy the river view along the Qinhuai River. The night view here is also quite beautiful.

By Popular |

After leaving the Imperial Examination Hall, we once again wandered along the thousand-year-old Qinhuai River. The Qinhuai River was particularly enchanting under the lights at night, and had its own unique charm. Just as Mr. Zhu Ziqing said, "The dim light of the water is like a dream; the occasional flash of light is the eyes of the dream."

By Crazy little stone |

The Confucius Temple is much quieter during the day. You can sit in a small boat, pass by small bridges, flowing water and houses along the way, listen to the explanations and take a break.

By DrZou |

It is quite interesting to take a boat tour of Confucius Temple at night.

By Celadon Amber |

I went to school in Nanjing for four years and never took a Qinhuai River cruise. Three years after graduation, I went there with my friends to experience it.

By Yes, indeed. |

Highly recommend! 80 yuan for a boat ticket, you can't lose or be cheated, the boat ride is 50 minutes, it's a good deal, because the scenery is really great! You must sit at night when the lights are on, the breeze is gentle, and I feel that life will be complete with a pot of tea.

By Da Da |

We took a boat tour of the Qinhuai River at the Confucius Temple Pier. We took a painted boat for 80 yuan per person. In fact, I think if you don't get seasick, you can take a rowing boat for 60 yuan per person, and you can enjoy the night view better.

By Lady Ying |

There are a lot of people queuing at the pier, so it is best to buy tickets one day in advance. Even so, you still have to wait for a long time, but the scenery by the pier is very beautiful, and the buildings on both sides are brightly lit. It is also a kind of enjoyment to slowly enjoy the night view while queuing~

By Qianchen Meow |

The painted boat departs from the Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal, passing Bailuzhou Park, Qicai Water Street, Dongshuiguan, Zhonghua Gate, and finally returns to the Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal. The evening painted boat ticket is 80 yuan per person, and there is a boat every 20 minutes, and the journey takes about 45 minutes. There are no charming and passionate Qinhuai Eight Beauties on the boat, just rows of stereotyped booths. But sitting in the painted boat, the ancient buildings with white walls and black tiles on both sides of the river constantly come into view, and the lights on the buildings and the strings of red lanterns under the eaves are reflected in the Qinhuai River. If you can recall Zhu Ziqing's "Qinhuai River in the Sound of Paddles and the Shadow of Lanterns", your mood will naturally be different.

By Pudding Milk Tea |

Next to a large open space, the night tour is 80 per person, and the day tour is 60 per person, and only cash is allowed. There are two dragons on the wall opposite the pier. When the lights are on at night, they look like fake artificial decorations, but during the day, they are actually carved on the wall... Opposite is the Confucius Temple

By ww |

The pleasure boat returned to the Confucius Temple Pier. The shore was brightly lit and crowded with tourists. From the Qinhuai River to the Confucius Temple, it has become a world of light and shadow. Ending today's journey in the colorful sea of ​​lights is a very satisfying experience.

By 張旭震 |

完全商業化..人山人海.商店林立.

By littleyu |

As the saying goes, "mooring at Qinhuai overnight", the scenery along the Qinhuai River is at its best only after nightfall.

For many tourists, it would be a pity not to take a cruise here, but everyone needs to be reminded that there are really a lot of people buying tickets for the party, especially those who start buying tickets for the night cruise after 7 pm.

The cruise fare is 60 per person during the day, but it becomes 80 per person at night, and there are a lot of people queuing up. It is recommended that you book your tickets online first, and then pick them up at the ticket machine on site. This will be much more convenient and save the time of queuing up to buy tickets.

By ζ Hidden. |

It's beautiful at night, but I don't think it's necessary to take a boat. Confucius Temple is just a snack street, and the food there is very expensive.

By Yang Chenfu |

The night view of Confucius Temple is very beautiful, but it’s a pity that we didn’t take a cruise because it was too late and the cruise would take too long.

By 🌻 Jiang Xiaoya🌻 |

I have never taken a cruise ship in the two times I came here. I took my mother with me on this trip! So I took a cruise ship to visit! And the Jiangnan water town is really great! There are many talented people, each of them is a person with rich emotions, playing the piano, reciting poems, painting and calligraphy... I don’t have much ink, so I can only roughly follow the explanation and feel it! 😂

By lights |

Qinhuai Tears

Colorful neon lights call old guests back.

The young master in brocade clothes competes for the new title;

The flowers in the back garden are blooming, and you are happy.

The Qinhuai River is silent at night and tears turn into a river.

By Angel Jie |

There were so many people that I just looked at the shore but didn't do anything.

By Mu Yichangxi |

The pier for the painted boat cruise in the Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Area at night, next to the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall

By Yanggujun |

Generally speaking, it is on the waterway, you can see the scenery during the day and the lights at night. There are also performances arranged along the coast. Uh, I don't recommend it.

By Jingzai 🍉 |

It's better to take a boat trip during the day. You can't see the phone at night and can't take pictures well. There is a smell in the river. The water is also dirty.

By Persimmon Jam |

Cruise is a better way to travel the Qinhuai River, especially at night, the night view on both sides is very beautiful.

By Look around |

Want to feel like a millionaire and cruise along the Qinhuai River at night? Go take a cruise. Money? You can spend it. A beautiful lady? No.

By Big Dream |

It's a good place to go for a stroll at night. There are also some small bars nearby where you can sit.

By candy |

You are sitting on the boat taking pictures of people on the shore, and she on the shore records you and the boat together in the video. Who is whose scenery?

By Martian User |

The cruise ships and pleasure boats described in the legend of the Golden and Romantic Six Dynasties make the Qinhuai River even more charming with its lights and oars. Although they have become history, you can still go and experience them.

By Pond bottom |

There are many people at the pier, and it is very pleasant to go boating in the Qinhuai River.

By Monarch |

It feels good, there are many people, and there are all kinds of special snacks! ! ! The environment is good and the Qinhuai River is beautiful

By Ray |

I can see the cruise ship of Confucius Temple next to where I live. The cruise ship is average.

By wasabi |

The night view is beautiful, the river is dirty, and there are many tourists

By Young |

After eating, we took a short break and prepared to start the last project of the day, which is also an activity not to be missed when visiting Nanjing - a night cruise on the Qinhuai River!

Qinhuai River is the cradle of Nanjing's ancient civilization and the mother river of Nanjing. It is extremely famous in history. It has always been known as "the place of smoke and moon in the Six Dynasties and the place where gold and powder gather", and it has been a prosperous place for ten generations. It is known as "China's first historical and cultural river". From the East Water Gate to the West Water Gate along the river, it has been a prosperous commercial district since the Eastern Wu Dynasty. The Ming and Qing Dynasties, especially the Ming Dynasty, were the heyday of the Ten-Li Qinhuai River. In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, the deeds of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai were even more popular.

Therefore, there are still some former residences of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai" preserved on both sides of the Qinhuai River, which is also unique~~~

By Riding a horse |

You can take a boat to enjoy the night view of Confucius Temple!

By Jumping Rabbit_ |

I stayed in a youth hostel near Confucius Temple. I would come back every night to eat and hang out. Although it rained on the first night, I still went on a boat trip as planned. I don't know if it was because of the rain that the river water smelled bad. The night view was still good. The weather was clear on the second day of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon was really round.

By Ashley Mortal's Thread |

If there were no legends about the Six Dynasties, the scenery of Qinhuai River would probably be no different from other ancient water towns built along the water in the south of the Yangtze River. But it is precisely because of this rosy history that the Qinhuai River, with its lights and oars, becomes even more charming.

By Tears |

The night view is great. There are too many people queuing for the boat, and there are even opera singers.

By Yueer Cici |

The Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Area refers to the Qinhuai River area centered on the Confucius Temple, including the streets and lanes on both sides, residential houses and nearby... There are cruise ships floating back and forth in the river. Friends who like it can go and take a ride. The night tour is 80 per person.

By Drifting bottle |

Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal, where tourists can take a cruise to tour the Qinhuai River, with ancient buildings on both sides of the river.

By Woodworm |

The Confucius Temple Cruise Terminal is always bustling with people and boats.

By cherry |

The ticket price is not cheap, 60 per person. A boat can hold 16 people. There is a commentary. The scenery is good at night, but the water is smelly.

By Go your own way |

There is a dragon wall in the highlight section, and in case you can’t see it, there are also colorful lanterns in the shape of two dragons.

By Stone Mommy |

Opposite the Confucius Temple is the cruise ship pier. It must be a unique experience to wait for the lanterns on both sides of the river to light up at night and sit on a cruise ship to sightsee, imagining the decadence and glamour of old Nanjing!

By Hahaha |

The night tour is still very beautiful, with a unique flavor. It is not the night view of a modern city, but the small bridges and flowing water of Jiangnan.

By justine |

It is recommended to tour the Qinhuai River from Zimiao Wharf. We arrived at the wharf at around 4 o'clock. The tour tickets are divided into daytime and evening tours, starting at 6 o'clock in the evening. We bought the daytime ticket.

By Good |

The scenery is beautiful. When you get here, you have to take a boat to cruise the Qinhuai River. I waited on the boat for about 30 minutes until a full boat was ready. It didn't take long. We got off at Zhonghuamen and walked to Laomendong.

By Murong Yu |

Go to see the Confucius Temple Pier. The pier is just opposite the Confucius Temple, under the "World Literature Center" memorial archway. The line of people waiting for the boat is very long. No wonder everyone wants to experience the "night mooring at Qinhuai" here. Opposite the pier is a lantern wall with two dragons playing with a pearl, which is really eye-catching in the night, but it is not in line with the graceful Jiangnan style; and the four characters "Qinhuai Family" written by Su Dongpo on the gable next to it show some romance.

By Changxian Scholar |

The cruise ship pier is also a tourist attraction in Confucius Temple.

By Quiet |

Every day after get off work, I pass by, watch the cruise ship, see the night view of Qinhuai River, listen to the ditty, as if I were traveling through time.

By The Call of the Wolf |

Qinhuai River Scenic Belt is a place that tourists must visit.

By William Kidd |

The night tour of Qinhuai River is just like this. The battery boat goes around the river. It is so famous and crowded. It is a bit annoying. I don’t recommend it.

By SissiK |

When I went there, the weather was not good. It was quite cold and I was freezing cold on the rowing boat. But the night view was still very good. It should be the business card of Nanjing. You can go and try it.

By seven |

Because it was too cold, we gave up the idea of ​​taking a night cruise on the Qinhuai River. The night boat ticket is 80 per person, and the daytime ticket is 60 per person. On the cruise, you will probably think of Du Mu's "Anchored at Qinhuai" - "Smoke shrouds the cold water, the moon shrouds the sand, and I anchor at Qinhuai near the tavern at night. The merchant women do not know the hatred of the fallen country, and they still sing the song of the back garden across the river." It is this poem that made the Qinhuai River famous and attracted so many foreign tourists. I still recommend that if you choose to cruise, the night is the best time

By Martian User |

The cruise ship pier on the Qinhuai River is very close to the Confucius Temple

By Close yet distant |

The pier at night has a unique flavor, dear, you can't miss it.

By Yi Xiaoxi |

Night tour of Qinhuai and Colorful Water Street. I went there at night and spent 80 yuan. I think it is worth it. The boat trip took nearly an hour. It was very comfortable to sit and listen to the interesting explanations on the speakers! It made me feel the local customs. It was really good.

By cherrymora |

I brought some clients here for the trip, and we took a boat ride and toured the Qinhuai River sightseeing belt around Confucius Temple.

1. The price-performance ratio is slightly low. The cruise price is 80 per person, which is not proportional to the scenery of the journey;

2. The main night lighting effect is good;

3. During the cruise, there will be explanations and descriptions of famous people and attractions on the shore, as well as some actors in ancient costumes performing the scenes of the ancients at that time.

By Sara |

The daytime cruise is cheaper than the night cruise, it is worth a seat, and there are explanations

By Meow meow meow bunny |

This is a feature. If you come here without taking a boat, it feels like something is missing! ~ But!! I recommend taking a small boat!! I was stupid enough to take a big boat~ but it was not open-air... The small boat was open-air and lit with lanterns~~ It felt great.

By Small zinc |

There is a "Cruise Boat Terminal" sign in the central square of Confucius Temple. After buying a ticket from the ticket office, you can go to the terminal and wait to board the ship. The boat ticket is 60 yuan per person during the day and 80 yuan per person after 6 pm.

The boat departs from Confucius Temple and sails to Dongshuiguan, where there are the former residences of Li Bai, Wu Jingzi, and Taoye Ferry. It returns to Bailuzhou Park at Huaiqiao in Dongshuiguan. Bailuzhou Park has a water stage that interprets the thousand-year changes of the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties. After the performance, the boat passes Confucius Temple, passes Wende Bridge, Meixiang Tower, and heads to Xishuiguan to Zhonghua Gate. After Zhonghua Gate, it returns to Wende Bridge and Confucius Temple to dock. If you want to take a boat to enjoy the Qinhuai River, it is best to go at night, as the scenery is much better than during the day.