【Shandong 1h Direct｜4 Underrated Treasure Small Cities】

Who says Shandong only has Qingdao and Weihai? These 4 lesser-known cities reachable by high-speed train within 1 hour have prices so low you'll be smiling secretly, with barbecue, seafood, and ancient architecture all available!

🍢 Zibo (Surprises Beyond Barbecue)
What to do?
1️⃣ **Haidai Lou Zhongshu Pavilion**: The most beautiful bookstore in China! The mirror design is super magical, even more stunning when lit up at dusk
2️⃣ **Zibo Ceramics Museum**: Free admission! Try pottery making yourself (50 RMB experience), and your work can be mailed home
3️⃣ **Hongye Shiyan**: The Little Lijiang of the North! Night tour of the ancient village with light shows, wearing Hanfu for beautiful photos
**Must eat**
✔️ Barbecue without queues: Go to Linzi District, old shops frequented by locals
✔️ Jiaozhuang Shaobing: 2 RMB each, crispy and flaky

🏯 Qingzhou (The Forgotten Millennium Ancient City)
What to do?
1️⃣ **Qingzhou Museum**: The top county-level museum! See the top scholar’s exam scrolls and Longxing Temple Buddha statues (free)
2️⃣ **Ancient City Cycling**: Rent a bike for 10 RMB, visit Ouyuan Garden + Zhenjiao Temple, experience the fusion of diverse cultures
3️⃣ **Yunmen Mountain**: "Longevity" character cliff carving, bring your parents to touch the character and pray for blessings
**Hidden activities**
✔️ Stroll Zhaode Ancient Street at 6 AM, watch the Hui Muslim breakfast market
✔️ Buy Honey Sand Knife pastries at Longsheng Pastry, 12 RMB/box

⛰️ Tai’an (More Than Just Mount Tai)
What to do?
1️⃣ **Taishan Xiucheng**: Free Republic of China film and TV base! Watch the live performance of "Railway Guerrilla"
2️⃣ **Underground Dragon Palace**: Cool cave drifting, 40 minutes full of screams
**Effort-saving tips**
✔️ Night climb Mount Tai to watch the sunrise (start climbing at 10 PM)
✔️ Must drink Taishan original brew after descending, 7-day fresh beer is forever great

🦞 Yantai, Shandong (Seafood Freedom Paradise)
What to do?
1️⃣ **Yangma Island**: Rent an electric scooter to circle the island, jelly sea + Instagram-style cafes
2️⃣ **Chaoyang Street**: Retro villa district, Zhangyu Wine Culture Museum is a must-visit
3️⃣ **Penglai Pavilion**: See the boundary line between the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, and if lucky, witness a mirage
**Foodie guide**
✔️ Wangjiao Small Fishing Village: Sea cucumber rice for 98 RMB, enough for 3 people
✔️ Suochengli Alley: Steamed jelly + mung bean cake are a perfect match

📌 Travel Tips
▫️ Transport: High-speed trains from Jinan all within 1 hour, shared electric scooters recommended in Zibo/Qingzhou
▫️ Accommodation: Stay at the foot of Mount Tai in Tai’an, choose Zhifu District in Yantai
▫️ Essentials: Comfortable shoes (Qingzhou ancient city stone roads), digestive tablets