Hospitable Shandong | A guide to treasures in all of Shandong

| A guide to treasure hunting all over Qilu in one trip. My dears, Shandong is a major tourist province with not only a profound history and culture, but also super beautiful natural scenery. I have put together a Shandong travel guide that covers classic attractions and special foods to help you plan your itinerary easily!

🌈Must-see attractions

Jinan:

- Baotu Spring: "The best spring in the world", with clear water and three streams gushing out, creating a spectacular scene. The surrounding pavilions, towers and winding paths are full of the characteristics of Jiangnan gardens.
- Daming Lake: "Lotus flowers on four sides, willows on three sides, half of the city is mountain and half is lake." The lake is rippling with clear water. Strolling along the lake, you can enjoy many historical sites such as Lixia Pavilion and Tiegong Temple.

Taian:

- Mount Tai: The first of the Five Great Mountains, with the heroic spirit of "I will climb to the top and overlook all the other mountains". You can choose to hike up the mountain, starting from Hongmen, passing Zhongtianmen and Shibapan, and directly reaching Yuhuangding to watch the sunrise; you can also take the cable car, which saves energy and allows you to enjoy the scenery.

Qufu:

- Confucius Temple: A temple dedicated to Confucius, a famous ancient Chinese thinker and educator. It is large in scale, exquisitely built, and contains profound cultural heritage.
- Confucius Mansion: The residence of the descendants of Confucius, who inherited the title of Duke Yansheng, is known as the "No. 1 Family in the World" and showcases the perfect combination of traditional Chinese courtyards and government offices.

Qingdao:

- Pier: A landmark of Qingdao, it stretches deep into the sea. At the end, Huilan Pavilion has octagonal eaves and a beautiful shape, making it a great place to take photos.
- Badaguan: It is home to many Western-style villas of different styles and is known as the "International Architecture Expo". Enjoy the crabapple blossoms in spring and the ginkgo trees in autumn; the scenery is different in each season.
- May Fourth Square: Named after the May Fourth Movement, the red sculpture "May Wind" on the square has a unique shape. When it is lit up at night, it complements the surrounding modern buildings.

Weihai:

- Liugong Island: Witnessing the history of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, there are attractions such as the China Sino-Japanese War Museum on the island, where you can gain an in-depth understanding of that tragic history and enjoy the natural scenery of the island.
- Weihai International Bathing Beach: With fine sand and clear water, you can swim, play in the sand, and sunbathe here in summer to enjoy the comfort of a seaside holiday.

🚗Route planning

Classic 7-day tour: Jinan (2 days) - Tai'an (1 day) - Qufu (1 day) - Qingdao (2 days) - Weihai (1 day)

- Day 1 - 2 Jinan: Go to Baotu Spring in the morning on the first day, visit Daming Lake in the afternoon, and eat snacks on Furong Street in the evening; on the second day, visit Shandong Museum to experience history and culture.
- Day 3 Tai'an: Arrive at Mount Tai in the morning, hike or take the cable car to the top of the mountain, watch the sunset at the top of the mountain in the afternoon, and stay overnight on the mountain.
- Day 4 Qufu: Visit the Confucius Temple in the morning, visit the Confucius Mansion in the afternoon, and taste Confucius Mansion cuisine in the evening.
- Day5 - 6 Qingdao: On the first day, visit the Zhanqiao in the morning, Badaguan in the afternoon, and Taidong Pedestrian Street in the evening; on the second day, visit the May Fourth Square in the morning and watch the sunset at Xiaomaidao Park in the afternoon.
- Day 7 Weihai: Liugong Island in the morning and stroll at Weihai International Bathing Beach in the afternoon.

🍱Food recommendations

Jinan: Nine-turn large intestine, scallion-fried sea cucumber, and fried fried dough sticks.
Tai'an: The three beauties of Mount Tai (cabbage, tofu, and water), and pancakes wrapped with green onions.
Qufu: Confucius Mansion cuisine (Poetry and Etiquette with Ginkgo, Scallops Going to Court, etc.).
Qingdao: Spicy fried clams, scad dumplings, and Tsingtao beer.
Weihai: mackerel cakes, seaweed buns, and Weihai clear soup.

🚕Transportation Guide

External transportation: There are airports in many cities in Shandong, such as Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, etc. You can choose the arrival city according to your itinerary.
Internal transportation: High-speed rail and trains are convenient between cities; buses and subways are convenient within the city, and some tourist attractions are concentrated in areas where you can walk or ride shared bicycles.

💡Intimate tips

Check the weather in advance and bring warm clothes when climbing Mount Tai.
The ultraviolet rays at the Qingdao seaside are strong, so please pay attention to sun protection.
Shandong cuisine is served in large portions, so don’t order too much to avoid waste.

My dears, pack your bags and come to Shandong to start an unforgettable trip~ Remember to like and collect it in case you can’t find it💕