Zoucheng is located about 20 km south of the city of Qufu, and like Qufu, is administratively under the prefecture-level city of Jining. Its population was 1,116,692 at the 2010 census even though its built-up (or metro) area is much smaller.
The Mencius Temple, which covers an area of more than 4 hectares (9.9 acres) on the south side of town, has five courtyards and sixty-four halls and rooms. Its history dates back to the year 1037 in the Northern Song dynasty.[5] The Mencius Mansion, where his descendants lived, is adjacent to the temple, and has 116 halls and rooms.[6]
According to the management of the Mencius Temple, the temple grounds house over 270 stone steles and sculptures, some of which dating from as early as the Song dynasty.[7] Among them are some Yuan dynasty stelae with inscriptions in 'Phags-pa script.[8]
Immediately to the north of Zoucheng lies the tomb of the King of Lu of the Ming dynasty (明鲁王墓). It is the tomb of Zhu Tan (1370-1389), the tenth son of the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty. There is also a royal tomb from the Han dynasty (汉鲁王墓).
Mencius Temple
Chongxing Pagoda
Inscriptions on precipices of Tieshan
Climate
Climate data for Zoucheng (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Frequent bus service to the nearby Qufu and Yanzhou.
Monorail
A 12 km (7.5 mi), 12 station monorail to connect Qufu and Zoucheng began construction in the first half of 2017, however construction was halted. A 6.3 km (3.9 mi) section was due to be completed in January 2018 to allow for testing to commence. The complete line was originally due to open in 2018.[11] As of July 2021 the local government hopes to complete the line.[12]
References
^Legge, James (1867). Confucius and the Chinese classics. A. Roman. pp. 379–384. - Rev. A. Williamson's account of his visit to Zoucheng (Tsou-hien, or Tsiu-hien, in his transcription) and the Temple of Mencius in 1865
^邹城市历史沿革 [Zoucheng City Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2018. 2008年，撤销平阳寺镇，并入太平镇。调整后，全市辖3个街道、13个镇：钢山街道、千泉街道、凫山街道、香城镇、城前镇、大束镇、北宿镇、中心店镇、唐村镇、太平镇、石墙镇、峄山镇、看庄镇、张庄镇、田黄镇、郭里镇。
^2016年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：邹城市 [2016 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Zoucheng City]. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2018. 统计用区划代码 名称 370883001000 钢山街道办事处 370883002000 千泉街道办事处 370883003000 凫山街道办事处 370883101000 香城镇 370883102000 城前镇 370883103000 大束镇 370883104000 北宿镇 370883105000 中心店镇 370883106000 唐村镇 370883107000 太平镇 370883109000 石墙镇 370883110000 峄山镇 370883111000 看庄镇 370883112000 张庄镇 370883113000 田黄镇 370883114000 郭里镇
Mencius Temple
Chongxing Pagoda
Inscriptions on precipices of Tieshan
