Wenmiao Temple [Kunming]

The Wenmiao Temple is the only extant Confucian Temple in kunming. It originated during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1271-1368) as the Zitong Clan Temple, but was reconstructed in its current form in 1855. Like the Yuyuan, it housed the Small Swords Society when they took over the city during the Taiping Uprising. The Kuixing Tower, standing 20 meters high, once offered a panoramic view of the Old City. The temple was targeted by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution, so many of its buildings and most of their contents are reproductions. The front courtyard of the temple houses another book market, this one a sprawling used book market; the pedantic Master Kong would be pleased. The offerings include many antique English books, as well as bargain copies of coffee tables on kunming and on China. Blow your book budget, then head into the quiet sanctuary of the ponds and gardens of the inner temple for a good read.