3-Day Tour in Dongying | Classic Combination of Yellow River Estuary and Sun Wu’s Hometown・All-Age Friendly Guide

Dongying is where the Yellow River flows into the sea, featuring the spectacular "river and sea convergence" of the Yellow River Delta, vast wetlands covered with a red carpet of Suaeda salsa, and the military wisdom from the hometown of Sun Wu. Bring your elders to birdwatch in the wetlands, accompany your kids to explore the tidal flats, and here, every day you can encounter the grandeur of nature and the depth of history.

🗓️ Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Dongying → Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area → Yellow River Estuary Wetland Park
Day 2: Sun Wu’s Hometown Tourist Area (Sun Tzu’s Art of War City + Sun Wu Temple) → Dongying Botanical Garden
Day 3: Gudong Sea Dyke → Dongying History Museum → Return

🌊 Day 1: Yellow River Meets the Sea · Wetland Exploration
📍 Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area (5A, ticket 60 RMB + sightseeing bus 25 RMB)
Highlights: Known as "China’s youngest land," the confluence of the Yellow River and Bohai Sea creates a striking "yellow and blue contrast." In autumn, the Suaeda salsa turns the tidal flats into a "vast red carpet." Elders can take the sightseeing bus to the Sea Viewing Pavilion to watch the river and sea meet; kids can feed red-crowned cranes on "Bird Island" (10 RMB/portion). In winter, you can also see swans overwintering. The wetland boardwalk is perfect for strolling.
🕙 Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM, recommended visiting time 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
💰 Cost: Adults 85 RMB (includes ticket + sightseeing bus), seniors 60+ free admission (bus not free), children under 1.4 meters free
📸 Photo spot: Red carpet wetland wooden boardwalk (stand among the red Suaeda salsa, best in autumn)
💡 Tips: The area is large, sightseeing bus is a must; it’s windy, bring a windbreaker and elders should wear hats.

📍 Yellow River Estuary Wetland Park (included within the scenic area)
Highlights: Endless reed marshes, take a boat tour (100 RMB/person) through the reeds to see flocks of wild ducks and egrets. Elders can enjoy the swaying reeds from the boat deck, kids can use binoculars to spot bird nests. At sunset, the reeds glow like a golden ocean.
🕙 Recommended time: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
🍜 Nearby dining: "Yellow River Estuary Fisherman’s Restaurant," must-try Yellow River Estuary hairy crabs (80 RMB each, plump in autumn), steamed bass (58 RMB per serving), average 60 RMB per person, authentic river seafood.
🏨 Nearby accommodation: "Blue Ocean International Hotel" in Dongying city (family rooms available, 1-hour drive from the scenic area), prices 400-550 RMB/night, comfortable stay.

📜 Day 2: Military Wisdom Exploration · Botanical Garden Spring Visit
📍 Sun Wu’s Hometown Tourist Area (Sun Tzu’s Art of War City 40 RMB + Sun Wu Temple 20 RMB)
Highlights: A site commemorating the "Military Sage" Sun Wu. The Art of War City has 15 grand halls recreating scenes from the 13 chapters of "The Art of War"; the Sun Wu Temple houses a bronze statue of Sun Wu and bamboo slips of military strategy. Elders can listen to stories about "Sun Wu training troops," kids can play with sand table war simulations in the "Military Strategy Interactive Zone" (free), experiencing the wisdom of "winning without fighting."
🕙 Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, recommended visiting time 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📸 Photo spot: Main gate of Art of War City (take photos of the "Hometown of the Military Sage" archway, wearing Hanfu makes for great pictures)

📍 Dongying Botanical Garden (free)
Highlights: Covering 1,000 acres, featuring peony gardens, rose gardens, and wetland aquatic zones with flowers blooming year-round. Elders can practice Tai Chi in the Pine and Cypress Garden, kids can play on slides in the Children’s Playground. Rent bicycles (30 RMB/hour) for a delightful family ride. The spring tulip exhibition is stunning.
🕙 Recommended time: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
💡 Tips: There are rest pavilions inside, convenient for elders to take breaks; bring mosquito repellent in summer.

🌉 Day 3: Sea Dyke Wave Watching · Museum History Appreciation
📍 Gudong Sea Dyke (free)
Highlights: Known as the "Great Wall at Sea," this 12-kilometer-long dyke resists sea tides, with the Bohai Sea on one side and salt fields on the other. Elders can watch waves crash from the sea viewing platform, kids can dig for clams in the tidal flats (bring a small shovel, free). The winter sea ice scenery is unique and perfect for dramatic photos.
🕙 Recommended time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
💡 Tips: It’s windy, wear windproof clothing; tidal flats are muddy, wear non-slip shoes and bring wet wipes to clean feet.

📍 Dongying History Museum (free, reservation required)
Highlights: Collections include "Warring States bronze artifacts" and "Han Dynasty pottery buildings," with exhibitions on "Yellow River Culture" and "Salt Industry Development History." Elders can reminisce with "Old Photos of Dongying," kids can piece together pottery fragments in the interactive zone (free), learning about Dongying’s transformation from saline-alkali land to an ecological city.
🕙 Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (closed Mondays)
🍜 Nearby dining: "Dongying Old Restaurant" in the city, must-try Lijin pan-fried buns (8 RMB/portion) and Guangrao marinated donkey meat (40 RMB/portion), average 35 RMB per person, distinctive flavors.

✨ Dongying Survival Guide
1️⃣ Transportation: From the city to Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area take the tourist shuttle (20 RMB/person, 1.5 hours), taxi about 150 RMB; to Sun Wu’s Hometown take bus No. 12 (2 RMB); taxis between attractions start at 8 RMB, convenient for short trips.
2️⃣ Clothing: Wear windbreakers in spring and autumn (wetlands and sea dyke are very windy), short sleeves + sun protection clothing in summer (strong UV), down jackets + hats and scarves in winter (biting cold wind), bring non-slip shoes (essential for tidal flats and wetlands).
3️⃣ Taboos: Do not pick Suaeda salsa in the Yellow River Estuary Wetlands; keep quiet and do not feed birds non-designated food when birdwatching; do not touch exhibits in museums.
4️⃣ Accommodation: Stay in the city throughout (Dongying District is best), choose hotels with elevators, families with kids should pick those with electric kettles, elders should choose places with good heating (in winter).

🛍️ Must-Buy Souvenirs
① Yellow River Estuary hairy crabs (vacuum gift box 150 RMB/box, autumn limited, fresh and delicious without fishy smell)
② Guangrao marinated donkey meat (vacuum packed 50 RMB/bag, tender meat loved by elders and kids)
③ Sun Wu’s Art of War cultural products (bamboo slips of "The Art of War" 60 RMB/roll, bookmarks 20 RMB/each)
④ Dongying reed weaving crafts (reed baskets 30 RMB/each, eco-friendly and practical, wetland specialty)

Dongying’s grandeur is the embrace of yellow and blue where the Yellow River rushes into the sea, the passionate vast red carpet; its heritage is the wisdom of Sun Wu’s Art of War and the profound Yellow River culture. Whether you bring your parents to see the river and sea meet in the wetlands, accompany your kids to dig clams in the tidal flats, or listen to the waves with friends on the sea dyke, here you will find nature and stories that will amaze you. If you come to Dongying, would you want to see the Yellow River flowing into the sea first, or explore Sun Wu’s military wisdom?