"Summer Vacation in Confucian Temple" is a cultural activity to enrich students' summer holidays in Datong, Northern China's Shanxi province. Starting from July 1 and lasting until August 31, the temple offers free entrance for students who have received their junior or senior high school diplomas.
Those who are still studying in middle school can also enjoy a discount on their entrance ticket. Students' parents can enter the temple at half price. A multimedia center in the temple will continuously broadcast a series of lectures, documentaries, and cartoons on ancient Chinese literature, from 9:00am to 11:30am, and 2:30pm to 5:30pm each day.
The temple is quite a popular tourist spot among Datong students. Since its opening to the public in 2010, there has been a series of preferential offerings and themed activities for students to enjoy during each summer or winter vacation. It is a great place for contemporary students to study traditional cultures.
The history of Confucian temples in Datong dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534). At that time, they were used as the central educational institutions of the kingdom. For thousands of years, the temples have been destroyed by wars, followed by being reconstructed or expanded many times.