Morning view over historic Qufu [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

Since 2011 high-speed services have linked the new Qufu East station with Beijing in just over 2 hours and Shanghai in 3 hours 30 minutes. While exiting the station I noticed its external appearance quite different to the norms of other terminals along the line. It resembled more a style of grand, almost templelike construction. Indeed a large statue of Confucius rose above its forecourt. Interestingly, on the drive toward downtown, many recent residential and commercial properties conformed to design standards that helped toward creating a local identity.

Arriving at my hotel, having a room facing toward the Old Town of Qufu, I went out onto the balcony to view a city at first so scenically different. Looking toward the Ming-era old city walls with their defensive gate towers, it was mostly low-rise. There felt a sense of harmony between the buildings and their surrounding area. Nothing obscured my view of the glazed yellow-tiled roofed Dachang Hall. Built in 1724, it sits prominently amid the Temple of Confucius, indeed helping create a skyline not dissimilar to historic Beijing, although on a smaller scale. That temple was along with the adjacent Confucius Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius sitting just beyond the walled city. Understandably they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and were within easy walking distance of where I would stay.

I looked down to the gardens and pavilions bordering the Yi River across which lay a park that caught my attention. Presenting a mixture of classical Chinese gardens, as seen for example in Suzhou, it combined small temples, traditional gateways and rock sculpting above pools. Indeed I assumed correctly that it looked like an excellent location for photography. Nearby stood inspiring modern architecture, constructed in the Qufu style, enclosing both a theater and an art museum.