Hangzhou Confucian Temple

The Hangzhou Confucian Temple is defined by its extensive collection of over five hundred stone steles, earning it the local name of the Forest of Steles. This site, located near Wushan Mountain, stands on grounds that have supported a prefectural school for over thirteen hundred years, dating back to the Tang Dynasty. It became a primary center for learning during the Southern Song period, when it served as the Lin'an Prefectural School and an imperial academy for students preparing for the highest civil service exams.