Wen Miao, Shanghai, Confucian temple in Huangpu District, China.

Wen Miao is a Confucian temple arranged around several courtyards connected by covered walkways and traditional buildings. The grounds contain stone steles with inscriptions, main halls for worship and study, and follow the classical layout centered on the Dacheng Hall.

The temple was founded in 1294, when magistrate Zhou Ruji began building it east of the county office; it was completed the next year with funding from Wanhu Zhang Fei Gongchen. After repeated relocations, it was rebuilt at its present site in 1855 following destruction during the Small Swords Society uprising, when the temple had served as the rebels' headquarters.

The temple served as a gathering place where scholars studied classical texts and prepared for important examinations. The Dacheng Hall still reflects the connection between learning and worship that shaped life here.

The temple is easily accessible by subway or bus and sits in a walkable neighborhood with other sites nearby. Plan a few hours to explore the different halls and courtyards at a relaxed pace.

The bronze statue of Confucius before the Dacheng Hall, 1.8 m tall, was donated in 1987 by Hong Kong donor Chen Chun for the 2540th anniversary of Confucius's birth. Its marble base bears an inscription by Zhou Gucheng calling it a bronze statue of the great educator. The hall's walls are inlaid with the full text of the Analects on bluestone tablets.