Day 1 Check in at designated hotel in Jinan★All day meeting day
All day
Travelers from all over the world can fly or train to Jinan and check into your designated hotel. If you have more time, you can freely explore the beauty of the Spring City. You can visit Quancheng Square to feel the dancing lights, visit the Shandong Provincial Museum to learn about the history we are about to delve into, and even comfort yourself with food to quickly immerse yourself in the city.
The world-famous Baotu Spring and the "Summer Rain Lotus" in Daming Lake will be left for us to experience together tomorrow. This old city, which is a gathering place of mountains, springs, rivers and lakes, can still be found in the richness described by Mr. Lao She.
During your free time, please be careful and stay safe! In the evening, your team leader will confirm the next day's itinerary and schedule with you.
Day 2 Jinan → Dai Temple → Mount Tai (Overnight on the summit)
·morning
After breakfast at 8:30, we'll travel by car to the Dai Temple (a 1.5-hour drive). This quintessential ancient architectural complex, combining imperial grandeur with a touch of folk charm, is considered one of China's four great ancient architectural complexes, along with the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Three Kongs in Qufu, Shandong, and the Mountain Resort in Chengde. Today, the majestic palaces are well-preserved, and visitors can admire massive Song Dynasty murals and numerous ancient inscriptions. Every brick and tile of the Dai Temple tells a story stretching back thousands of years.
·afternoon
After the tour, you will be arranged to take a bus from Tianwai Village to Mount Tai:
Tianwai Village - Zhongtianmen; about 30 minutes by scenic bus
Zhongtianmen-Nantianmen; choose by yourself:
1. Walk (about 2 hours), passing by: Yunbu Bridge, Wudafu Pine, Wangren Pine, Eighteen Bends, Shengxianfang
2. Or take the cable car (about 15 minutes) to enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Tai from above
Mountaintop tour: Nantianmen - Tianjie - Bixia Temple - Riguan Peak - Yuhuangding; walking tour with explanation for about 2 hours
·night
In order to fully enjoy the magnificent sunset and sunrise of Mount Tai, we specially arranged to stay at the hotel on the top of the mountain. In the evening, the sunset brought a large sunset glow, and golden, orange, purple and other colors were intertwined in the sky and clouds, forming an unparalleled color feast.
After dinner, you can also take photos of the stunning starry sky, where the majestic Five Mountains shine against the starry sky.
Day 3: Mount Tai → Yongquan Great Wall → Zibo
All day
Arrange a suitable camera position based on sunrise time and weather conditions to enjoy the sunrise: the sky is filled with rosy clouds, the peaks and forests are dyed with a breathtaking beauty. As you greet the sun breaking through the clouds from the mountaintop, your inner ambition will soar to the sky.
After breakfast at 8:30, we will go down to the foot of the mountain by the original route (cable car + scenic shuttle) and take a bus to the Yongquan Qi Great Wall (2.5 hours' drive). The Yongquan Qi Great Wall is surrounded by mountains on three sides and has the best-preserved ancient Qi Great Wall ruins in China. The ancient Qi Great Wall ruins, Pishan Pass, Beacon Tower, Yixiantian, Jiangnu Terrace, Lianxin Bridge and other historical relics here are a photo and miniature of the Qi Great Wall.
Walking along the majestic Pishan Pass, the narrow passage with huge rocks clinging to it, the abrupt and independent Dushan Village, and the cliff at the corner of the Great Wall, you can see the thousand-year-old stone gate, which can be blocked by one man and ten thousand men.
After finishing the hiking and shooting, take a bus to Zibo for dinner and overnight stay. In the evening, you can visit Wangfujing Night Market, check in Zibo barbecue, experience the "barbecue" craze, and feel the fireworks of this world.
Another way:
Red Leaf Persimmon Rock: At the China National Geographic Zibo Camp, feel the wonders of the Haidai Qi style and lush nature, climb the Qi Cultural Corridor, gaze at the scenery of Boshan city from the Dream Tower, and take in the colorful glazed plank road, the glass suspension bridge suspended sightseeing platform, and the cloud bridge to occupy the center of spring viewing and start a journey of dialogue with nature.
Yanshen Ancient Town: One of Shandong's three major ancient towns, Yanshen was renowned for its scattered kilns thousands of years ago. Now, under a brand-new renovation, Yanshen's rich historical heritage and distinct regional culture shine through. Here, the simple atmosphere of everyday life blends with a contemporary artistic ambiance. This unique northern ancient town blends ancient charm with modernity.
Day 4 Zibo → Laoshan Taiqing Scenic Area → Qingshan Village
·morning
After breakfast at 8:00, depart for Qingdao [Laoshan] (3.5 hours drive) and visit the Laoshan Taiqing Scenic Area.
Taiqing Palace (Taiqing Palace) at Laoshan, also known as Xiaqing Palace and the Palace of the Immortals, is located at the foot of Pantao Peak in Laoshan, Laoshan District, Qingdao. Flanked by mountains and facing the sea, it was first constructed in the first year of the Jianyuan Period of the Western Han Dynasty (140 BC), boasting a history of over 2,000 years. Most of the existing buildings date back to the 28th year of the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty, a period spanning over 400 years. With its rich history and grand scale, it enjoys the lofty status of "the ancestral home of Taoism in Laoshan, China" and "the second largest Taoist monastery in the world."
There are ancient and famous trees such as Han cypress, Tang cypress, Tang elm, and wintergreen here. There is also the screen wall where the Taoist priest of Laoshan passed through the wall in "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio", the Fengxian Bridge where you can walk on the snow without leaving any trace, the pavilion where Pu Songling wrote his books, the world's tallest bronze statue of Laozi, and the twelve scenic spots of Laoshan, "Dragon Pond Spraying Rain", "Bright Clouds Scattering Beauty", and "Taiqing Water Moon". There is plenty of fun and room for exploration.
·afternoon
After the tour, we'll drive to Qingshan Fishing Village, an ancient village with over 600 years of history. In 2012, it was selected as one of the first batch of "Traditional Chinese Ancient Villages." The village's traditional sweet-drying mackerel was featured in the seventh episode of CCTV's "A Bite of China 3," "Life." Backed by mountains and surrounded by the sea, the village's vast, staggered red-tiled houses create a picturesque scene. For centuries, residents have relied on farming, fishing, and tea cultivation, and they still maintain their traditional lifestyle.
The red tiles, green trees, blue sea and blue sky here are the romance unique to Qingdao, allowing you to experience the beautiful scenery without leaving China.
There is an entire coastline where you can check in and take photos and feel the romance of the sunset.
·night
Stay at Qingshan Fishing Village B&B at night, taste fresh seafood, and immerse yourself in a day of seaside life. At night, you can walk under the romantic starry sky on the beach and arrange relaxing games and interactions.
5. Tianqingshan Village → Penglai Pavilion → Changdao
·morning
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the morning light of Qingshan Village. Afterward, you may depart for Penglai (a 3.5-hour drive) to admire the Penglai Pavilion, one of China's "Four Great Towers." Along with the Yellow Crane Tower, Yueyang Tower, Tengwang Pavilion, and Penglai Pavilion, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the majestic mountains and stunning waters. Thanks to its unique geographical location, the scenery here changes not only throughout the year but also throughout the day.
After lunch, we arrived at the port and took a ferry to the northern island - Changdao.
·afternoon
After about an hour of disembarking, check into your hotel on the island. After a rest, travel light to Nanchang Island's Fengshan Forest. Climbing to the island's highest point, you'll admire the unique mountain and sea scenery, following the path of a large white windmill. At Changshanwei, you'll also witness the geographical wonder of the confluence of the Yellow River and the Bohai Sea. Walk down and touch it.
Walking on the wooden boardwalk along the coast, the rolling waves make the pebbles on the beach rustle, and the setting sun is so romantic!
·night
In the evening, you can freely explore nearby seafood restaurants and satisfy your appetite! Afterward, you can stroll along the coastal greenway or along the island streets, enjoying the sea breeze.
Day 6: Long Island Full Day
·morning
After breakfast, we will head to the Jiuzhang Cliff on Beichang Island to see the magnificent and precipitous sea erosion landforms.
A barefoot stroll on the pebble beach at Crescent Bay is a delightful experience. Young tourists, accompanied by their parents, can also pet and feed baby seals, offering a chance to interact with the adorable creatures.
·afternoon
After lunch, we will take a boat out to sea in the afternoon for a half-day island hopping tour.
The boat departs from the pier and heads to Wanniao Island. Every May, seagulls flock to Changdao Island to breed their chicks. As the boat sails across the sea, thousands of seagulls follow, soaring side by side or swooping down to feed visitors, their free and unfettered presence resembling spirits.
Special arrangements are made to upgrade to the top cabin of the cruise ship, allowing you to enjoy the sea view and feed the seagulls from a better perspective
After September, the cruise ship will change its route to Daheishan Island to see geological wonders such as the sea erosion plank road!
Return to the island in time for dinner and rest.
Another way:
If you have enough time, you can have more options when you go on a Changdao Island hopping tour.
Route A (including Temple Island, Pagoda Reef, Seal Reef, and Dragon Claw Mountain)
Route B (Temple Island, Pagoda Reef, Seal Reef, Monkey Island, and Ten Thousand Birds Island)
Day 7 Changdao Pier → Penglai → Yellow River Estuary Wetland → Dongying
·morning
Leave the island at 8:00 and take a bus to Dongying City for lunch and rest.
·afternoon
Around 2:30 PM, we'll arrive at the Yellow River Estuary Wetlands, where the Yellow River meets the sea, to witness its pristine beauty. Here, you can witness the Chinese nation's mother river as it flows into the sea. If the weather cooperates, you can also admire the confluence of the river and the sea, as well as the vast expanse of marvelous wetland scenery.
This area is rich in bird resources, with many rare and endangered species. Currently, there are 371 bird species, including 25 species under national first-class protection and 65 species under national second-class protection. The population of 38 bird species exceeds 1% of the global total, making it one of the world's largest breeding grounds for Oriental White Storks, the second largest breeding ground for Black-headed Gulls, and the second largest wintering ground for Siberian Cranes. (Depending on the specific travel schedule, the habitat times vary depending on the species.)
We will watch the sparkling water at sunset and record the beauty of our trip (sunset time is approximately 17:10-17:30).
After finishing the photo shoot and viewing, we will go to Dongying city for overnight stay and dinner.
Another way:
Yellow River Estuary International Birdwatching Season: Participating in autumn and winter birdwatching activities allows participants to gain a deeper understanding of the ecological environment of the Yellow River Estuary Wetland and promote the protection and inheritance of Yellow River culture.
Day 8 Dongying → Qianfoshan → Jinan
·morning
Arrive in Jinan at 8:00 AM. After tasting Jinan cuisine, we begin our trip to Thousand Buddha Mountain.
Thousand Buddha Mountain, formerly known as Lishan and also known as Shungeng Mountain, is one of Jinan's three major scenic spots (the others being Baotu Spring and Daming Lake). Its rolling peaks and dense forests serve as a natural barrier for Jinan. Representative attractions include Xingguo Zen Temple, Thousand Buddha Cliff, Qianlou Cave, and Guanyin Garden. The natural beauty of Lishan Mountain is also evident, and from the mountain, one can overlook Jinan and take in the boundless scenery of the City of Springs.
Particularly admirable: The Ten Thousand Buddha Caves, which combines the essence of the four major grottoes of Dunhuang, Longmen, Maijishan and Yungang, has nearly 30,000 Buddha statues of various types, the 28-meter reclining Buddha and the more than 10,000 square meters of murals in the caves are breathtaking.
·afternoon
After the tour, we will reluctantly send you off to the Jinan High-speed Railway Station (please purchase tickets after 17:00) and Jinan Airport (please purchase tickets after 19:00).
