Shimenfang Tourist Guide in Linqu, Shandong, Best for October Travel

I spent 5980 yuan for 3 days and 2 nights in Shimenfang Gorge, experiencing the real-life "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains"｜Stayed in an ancient-style courtyard by the Red Leaf Cliff, hiked the thousand-year-old cliff carving secret path, checked in at Qilu’s No.1 Red Cliff, and for two people, spending 6000 yuan actually saved 1700 yuan compared to self-driving, while enjoying the quiet time of the entire autumn-colored valley!

— I’m travel blogger A Jie. This time, no hype about Zhangjiajie’s mist, no praise for Jiuzhaigou’s colorful pools,
I’ll take you into a northern mountain and water secret spot overlooked by everyone: Shimenfang Scenic Area, Linqu, Weifang, Shandong.

It’s not a Jiangnan water town, but a hidden gorge with thousand-year-old cliff carvings between blue stone cliffs;
It’s not Beijing Xiangshan, but has the “Qilu red leaves that top the world” with mountains covered in layers of colorful forests;
Even more amazing—2 people for 3 days and 2 nights, including food, lodging, transportation, tickets, and photography, only cost 5980 yuan, less than 3000 yuan per person. You can stay in a Tang-style courtyard rebuilt on a cliff, hike the untouched cliff carving ancient path, and have the viewing platform all to yourself at dawn to capture the awakening of the entire Red Cliff Gorge!

✅ No internet celebrity price premiums, no bundled consumption, no sky-high parking fees
✅ Suitable for couples/photographers/fans of traditional Chinese style/light hikers
✅ Smooth arrival by high-speed rail + bus + shuttle, clear transportation!

📍 Itinerary Overview｜Walk the autumn red cliffs like ancient poets inscribing poems
Time: Recommended 3 days 2 nights (best from mid-October to early November, peak red leaf season)
Number of people: 2
Transportation: High-speed rail + county bus + homestay shuttle
Core activities: Stay in Tang-style cliff courtyard × hike cliff carving secret path × climb high to enjoy panoramic Red Cliff view × listen to mountain wind chanting at night
Total budget: 5980 yuan ✅ (keep 20 yuan for emergencies)

🚄 Day 1: From various places → High-speed rail to Weifang → Bus shuttle into the mountains → Check in to cliffside Tang-style courtyard

Morning: Take high-speed rail to [Weifang Station]
🚄 Average price for second-class seat: ¥600×2×round trip = 1200 yuan
(Direct within 2 hours from Beijing/Jinan/Qingdao/Xuzhou, etc.)

🚌 After exiting, take [Bus No. 69] to [Linqu Bus Station] (¥12×2=24 yuan)
Then transfer to [Urban-Rural Bus Line C9] directly to [Shimenfang Scenic Area Entrance] (¥10×2=20 yuan, about 1 hour)

🏡 Check in at [Qiyan·Shimen Courtyard] — limited Tang-style cliff residence rooms
✨ Not a chain hotel! A cultural homestay rebuilt based on Tang dynasty “mountain residence” style
Located halfway up the gorge, with windows opening to red cliffs and the winding Yi River
Each room is built with local bluestone and old wooden beams, equipped with floor heating + humidifier + tea set

💰 ¥880/night × 2 nights = 1760 yuan (includes double breakfast + free Hanfu experience + hiking poles provided + double tickets included)

🌙 In the evening, sit on the terrace sipping Laoshan green tea, watching the sunset dye the entire red leaf forest golden red
I said: “This is not tourism, this is stepping into Wang Ximeng’s ‘A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.’”

🍁 Day 2: Hike the cliff carving secret path → Explore the Thousand Buddha Cave carvings → Climb Peach Blossom Peak for panoramic views

Early morning 6:30: Be among the first to enter, avoid the tour groups
🎫 Ticket original price ¥65/person? But our homestay includes free tickets ✅

👣 Recommended route (off-peak deep experience):
Enter from the east gate → pass through the red leaf corridor → climb hundreds of stone steps → reach [South Heaven Gate] → turn left to walk the [Cliff Carving Ancient Path] → visit [Thousand Buddha Cave] → detour the undeveloped west line → climb to [Peach Blossom Peak] → return the same way or take the cable car down

🪨 This route is avoided by 90% of tourists but is the essence of Shimenfang:
Northern Qi dynasty cliff carvings stand quietly for a thousand years, with clear Buddha robe patterns
Below is a hundred-meter-deep valley, above birds circle, as if traveling back to an ancient pilgrimage path

📷 A Jie’s secret photo spots:
Frame “Red Cliff + Red Leaves + Sea of Clouds” in the arch of South Heaven Gate
Use rock cracks as foreground to shoot Buddha’s profile light and shadow
Capture time-lapse of red leaf forest burning like flames in morning mist

🔔 Important reminder: Flash photography is prohibited in the Thousand Buddha Cave! Respect cultural relics.

Noon: Eat authentic Central Shandong cuisine at the mountaintop [Peach Blossom Pavilion Farmhouse]
🍽️ Recommended:
Linqu whole lamb soup ¥68
Mountain stir-fried chicken ¥58
Sweet potato jujube steamed buns ¥18
Wild sour jujube juice ¥12×2=24
💰 Total for two: ¥168, hot and satisfying

🚠 Afternoon optional cable car down ¥50×2=100 yuan (save energy), or return by foot to exercise legs

📸 Capture on the way down:
Dynamic moments of the monorail sliding by
Close-up of red leaves falling on the stream
Old farmer carrying a load walking the ancient path, full of life atmosphere

🌄 Day 3: Enjoy the empty valley at dawn → Hanfu photo shoot → Buy souvenirs and return

Early morning 5:45: Enter the park again (free second entry with room card)
The park is not open yet; as guests, we have early access for exclusive shooting privileges!

🌫️ Morning mist spreads, the entire gorge looks like a fairyland
We change into Hanfu at South Heaven Gate platform (free rental provided by homestay), ask the owner to take a set of “walking in a painting” photos

📷 Must-shoot combos:
Woman in red standing on the edge of Red Cliff (wide-angle low angle)
Holding a round fan covering face looking back (medium shot soft light)
Falling red leaves dancing with prayer flags (slow shutter capture)

🎁 Buy souvenirs on the way:
Handmade rubbing copy of “Northern Qi Cliff Inscription” calligraphy ¥88
Linqu red leaf bookmark gift box (resin sealed) ¥68
Mountain walnut oil ¥98
Shimenfang cultural creative ice cream ¥25×2=50
💰 Total spent ¥304

🚌 Homestay arranges vehicle to Linqu Bus Station → Take bus back to Weifang → Take high-speed rail home

✅ Total cost breakdown (for 2 people)

Item Cost
------ ------
Round-trip high-speed rail tickets 1200 yuan
Local transportation (bus + shuttle) 164 yuan
Accommodation (2 nights Tang-style courtyard) 1760 yuan (includes tickets + breakfast + Hanfu)
Meals (2 main meals + snacks) 192 yuan
Scenic area tickets 0 yuan (included in room fee)
Cable car down 100 yuan
Souvenir shopping 304 yuan
Emergency expenses 20 yuan
Total 5980 yuan

This trip,
We didn’t squeeze into Xiangshan,
But saw an Oriental aesthetic scene carved by history and nature together.

When you’re anxious about KPIs in the city,
Someone is quietly chanting “heart without hindrance” before Northern Qi Buddha statues;
When you think autumn is only desolation,
Someone stands atop Red Cliff, watching the mountains ablaze like wildfire.

Less than 3000 yuan per person for three days and two nights of cultural immersion and visual feast—
This is the “mountain and water spirit journey” that Chinese people should have.

📌 Tips:
Book homestays 3 weeks in advance during red leaf season (only 8 rooms)
Wear anti-slip hiking shoes! Some sections are steep and slippery
Respect cultural relics: no carving near cliff carvings, no touching Buddha statues
Recommended pairing: read Wang Wei’s poetry collection / watch the documentary “Chinese Gardens” before departure