Qixia, located in Yantai, Shandong, is a popular tourist destination known for its rich natural landscapes and profound historical and cultural heritage. Here is a detailed travel guide

Qixia, located in Yantai, Shandong, is a popular tourist destination known for its rich natural landscapes and profound historical and cultural heritage. Here is a detailed travel guide:

Best Time to Visit

Qixia is beautiful all year round. In spring (March to May), you can enjoy seas of peach blossoms and apple flowers; summer (June to August) offers cool weather, perfect for escaping the heat in the forests of Tiangu Mountain and Ai Mountain; autumn (September to November) is apple harvest season, where you can experience picking apples and enjoy the autumn scenery; winter (December to February) allows you to experience the local Jiaodong folk customs during the New Year.

Must-Visit Attractions

- Mou Family Manor: Also known as Mou Erhei Manor, it is the most well-preserved and typical clan manor in China, often called the "Little Forbidden City of the People." The manor’s unique architectural style reflects the traditional building art and folk culture of the Jiaodong region. Visitors can explore areas such as Dongzhonglai, Xizhonglai, and the accounting room to learn about the Mou family’s ancestral teachings and family traditions, and participate in folk activities like catching embroidered balls and grabbing steamed buns.
- Taixu Palace: Located in the northern suburbs of Qixia, nestled by Changchun Lake, it has a history of over 800 years and is known as the "Crown of Eastern Dao Lin." It was the preaching site of Qiu Chuji, a grandmaster of the Quanzhen sect of Taoism during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. The palace was named "Taixu Temple" by Emperor Jin Zhangzong. Inside the scenic area, you can visit the millennium-old Taoist scriptures, experience the profound Taoist culture, and stroll along the shores of Changchun Lake to enjoy the beautiful lake and mountain views.
- Tiangu Mountain Ecotourism Scenic Area: Located in Houzhai Village, Sujiadian Town, Qixia, it is nicknamed the "Little Huangshan of the North River." The area features towering peaks, unique stones, and cliffs that look as if carved by knives and axes, offering magnificent natural scenery. The scenic area has a thousand-meter wooden plank road where visitors can enjoy unique mountain views and experience special activities such as tent lodging, bonfire barbecues, and open-air KTV.
- Ai Mountain National Forest Park: A national forest park based on pristine forest ecology, characterized by perilous peaks and fairyland culture. It is known as the "Number One Dangerous Peak in Qilu" and nicknamed "Little Huashan." The park features fresh and natural secluded forests, mountain springs, and quiet winding mountain trails, ideal for hiking and enjoying the tranquility and freshness of nature.
- Jiaodong Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery (Yinglingshan): Located in Yinglingshan, Taocun Town, Qixia, it was established in May 1945 to commemorate the 20,850 martyrs who heroically sacrificed in the Jiaodong area during the Anti-Japanese War. It is a national 3A-level scenic spot. The cemetery includes the Martyrs Memorial Hall, Memorial Tower, and group bronze sculptures. The Memorial Hall is divided into three exhibition halls: the Memorial Hall, the Heroes Hall, and the War History Hall, showcasing major historical events and martyr stories from the Jiaodong revolutionary struggle, serving as an important base for red education.
- Changchun Lake: Located in the northern suburbs of Qixia on the upper reaches of the Baiyang River, originally named Anli Reservoir, it is the largest freshwater lake in Yantai and the Jiaodong Peninsula, known as the "Heavenly Pool of Jiaodong." The lake is wide and scenic, with distant mountains and nearby ridges reflected in the water, creating a picturesque scene. Visitors can take a painted boat to cruise the lake, enjoy the lake and mountain views, or walk and cycle along the lakeside to relax.
- Qixia Strange Stone Museum: Combining ornamental, collectible, educational, entertaining, and popular science features, it is located near Mou Family Manor. The museum houses over 1,000 exquisite strange stones from across the country, mainly including Lingbi stones, Taihu stones, petrified wood, and more. It frequently holds study activities, allowing visitors to appreciate the stones while learning about nature and geography.

Food Recommendations

- Qixia Apples: Known as the "Apple Capital," Qixia’s apples are brightly colored and crisp and sweet in taste, making them a must-try specialty fruit.
- Qixia Ten Bowls: Containing the good wishes of Jiaodong families, this traditional local specialty includes delicacies such as sea cucumber, abalone, and shark fin, offering rich flavors and strong regional characteristics.
- Mou Family Banquet: Near Mou Family Manor, you can taste the Mou family banquet, featuring exquisite dishes that preserve traditional Jiaodong cooking techniques, such as Mou family braised pork and manor-style tofu, allowing visitors to experience the dining culture of the Mou family.
- Other Delicacies: Other specialties worth trying include Qixia insect feast, flower steamed buns, apple feast, Qixia gray tofu, Yashan black goat, and Taocun smashed noodles.

Accommodation Guide

- High-end: Yantai Baohua Mingdu Hotel, rated 4.6, with a good surrounding environment and lake views from the window, located on Shengshi Road (opposite the Municipal Finance Bureau); Qixia Mou Family Manor Jinsha Hotel, rated 4.6, featuring the antique charm of an ancient town manor, allowing guests to feel a strong historical atmosphere.
- Budget: Shangkuyou Hotel (Qixia Commercial Street Mou Family Manor Branch), rated 4.6, with convenient parking in the backyard, located at 764 Commercial Street; Home Inn·neo (Qixia Commercial Street Mou Family Manor Branch), rated 4.6, with enthusiastic service and clean hygiene, located at 919 Commercial Street; Jiaoyun Youyuan Chain Hotel (Qixia Bus Station Branch), rated 4.5, with convenient dining nearby, located at 1010 Yingbin Road.

Transportation Guide

- External Transportation: You can first fly to Yantai Penglai International Airport, then transfer by car to Qixia; or take the high-speed train to Yantai South Station or Qixia Station, then take a bus or taxi to the city center and various scenic spots.
- Internal Transportation: Qixia city has bus routes connecting major attractions. For more convenient and flexible travel, you can choose to rent a car or take a taxi.

Itinerary Planning

- One-day Tour: Visit Mou Family Manor in the morning to experience the charm of a traditional clan manor; have Mou family banquet near the manor at noon; in the afternoon, visit Qixia Strange Stone Museum to admire various exquisite stones, then go to Taixu Palace to tour the Taoist temple and stroll along Changchun Lake to enjoy the sunset scenery.
- Two-day Tour: On the first day, visit Mou Family Manor, Qixia Strange Stone Museum, and Taixu Palace; on the second day, go to Tiangu Mountain to hike and enjoy the natural scenery and special activities, then spend the afternoon at Changchun Lake for leisure.
- Three-day Tour: On the first day, arrange visits to Mou Family Manor and Qixia Strange Stone Museum; on the second day, go to Ai Mountain National Forest Park for hiking and experiencing the tranquility of nature; on the third day, visit Jiaodong Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery for red education, then relax at Changchun Lake.