More city walls and the Confucius temple
23.04.2024 - 23.04.2024
Another day off, another jaunt to Nanjing. First stop was a stroll along the northern edge of the city wall:
There was an exhibit inside the wall that had some pottery they found and also an old opium pipe with, I guess, an explanation:
After the short stroll along the wall, I went to the Confucius Temple. I was expecting peace and quiet but it was very loud with techno music blaring and crazy amounts of consumerism.
This is an imprint of my butt, I don't know why they had this at the imperial examination museum, but it was hilarious anyway:
A giant wall of bamboo slips, which were used as paper in the olden days:
Some famous scholars in Chinese history:
Wax sculptures of people taking the imperial examination in the presence of the emperor, the last step, only the smartest people were invited to do this
Cheat sheets and cheat socks!
A reflecting pool outside the museum:
Explanation:
There were a few things I really liked at this underrated museum, Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall. My favourite was this enormous wall with fish scale roof tiles. Taking the imperial examination transformed you from "a fish into a dragon", so the wall is symbolic of that transformation. All visitors to the museum are also transformed from a fish into a dragon by walking down this long hallway, four floors underground as a symbolic entrance into the museum. Interesting experience!
Just the impressive interior of the museum:
The uniform at a school:
Largest bronze statue of Confucius in the world
A press conference of some sort:
Fake flowers:
The street leading to the Confucius temple
Examination cells, people would have to sit in here and take the test for nine days!
Some more famous scholars:
I sent a few postcards before going home.
Art deco architecture from an old abandoned bank I noticed:
