Complete Guide to Mount Tai Sunrise

Must-visit checklist in Shandong: A nanny-level guide to explore Mount Tai, Weihai, and Jinan in 3 days

As a destination consumption guide blogger, I help you condense Shandong’s three highlights—Spring City Jinan, Mountain-Sea Weihai, and the Five Great Mountains Mount Tai—into an efficient 3-day itinerary, covering transportation connections, must-see highlights, and local cuisine, so even beginners can easily follow along!

🌟 Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Leisurely Spring City · Jinan Cultural Route
Baotu Spring → Daming Lake → Qu Shui Ting Street → Spring City Square Night View
Day 2: Mountain and Sea Journey · Weihai Healing Route
Torch Eighth Street → International Seawater Bathing Beach → Hanlefong Night Market
Day 3: Summit the Five Great Mountains · Mount Tai Passion Route
Red Gate Hiking → Jade Emperor Peak Sunrise Viewing → Return Trip

🌊 Day 1: Jinan · A City of Springs and Poetry

Morning: Baotu Spring + Daming Lake (3 hours)

- Baotu Spring: Enter before 7:30 to avoid crowds, watch the “water surging like wheels” from three springs, and visit the Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall (ticket 40 RMB, half price for students). Grab a bottle of drinking water and taste the “first sweet sip of Spring City.”
- Daming Lake: A 10-minute walk away, take a boat ride (30 RMB/person) to the lake island, climb the Chao Ran Pavilion to see “half the city’s mountains and half the city’s lake.” Stay until 7:00 PM to catch the stunning light-up moment.

Afternoon: Qu Shui Ting Street · Old Jinan’s Lively Atmosphere

Along the street flows the “clear spring water over stones” scenery. Choose a spring water teahouse (about 25 RMB per person) to drink jasmine tea and watch elderly people washing clothes by the water. Recommended to try “spring water tofu pudding” + “oil spiral bread” for afternoon tea, authentic old flavors.

Night: Spring City Square · Landmark Check-in

Watch the 8:00 PM music fountain show (15 minutes), take photos with the “Spring City” landmark, then walk 5 minutes to “Chao Yi Xing” to eat braised pork with rice (about 15 RMB per person). The pork, with a perfect fat-to-lean ratio, poured over rice is incredibly fragrant!

🏖️ Day 2: Weihai · Leave Time for the Sea

Transportation: Take high-speed train G6951 from Jinan Station (8:15–11:05, ticket 184 RMB) directly to Weihai, then a 15-minute taxi ride to Torch Eighth Street (about 20 RMB).

Morning: Torch Eighth Street + Seawater Bathing Beach (3 hours)

- Torch Eighth Street: Arrive before noon! Colorful houses against the blue sea create a comic scene. At the end of the slope, take photos of the “road to the sea.” The corner café (about 35 RMB per person) serves lattes with sea views that are super healing.
- International Seawater Bathing Beach: A 10-minute walk away, rent a sun umbrella (50 RMB/day) and relax by the sea. When the tide is out, catch little crabs (bring a shovel!). Jet ski experience (150 RMB/30 minutes) is very thrilling.

Night: Hanlefong Night Market · Seafood Feast

A 15-minute taxi ride to Weihai’s “Little Seoul.” Must-eat cheese-baked oysters (25 RMB/portion), seaweed buns (8 RMB each). Recommended “Han Fu Jia” Korean BBQ (about 80 RMB per person), the marbled beef sizzles with oil when grilled.

🏔️ Day 3: Mount Tai · Summit the Supreme of the Five Great Mountains

Transportation: Take high-speed train G6986 from Weihai Station (7:00–11:10, ticket 244 RMB) to Tai’an Station, then a 20-minute taxi ride to Red Gate trailhead (about 30 RMB).

All day: Mount Tai Classic Hiking Route

- Red Gate Start: Begin hiking at 12:00, pass Wanxian Tower and Doumu Palace, see the stone carving prototype of “Supreme of the Five Great Mountains” (ticket 115 RMB, half price for students).
- Zhongtianmen Supply Point: Take the cable car (one way 100 RMB) or hike 2 hours to Zhongtianmen, eat Tai’an fried chicken (50 RMB/portion) with flatbread to replenish energy.
- Summit Jade Emperor Peak: Pass the Eighteen Bends to Nantianmen, then the final 1-hour sprint to Jade Emperor Peak. Check in at the “Supreme of the Five Great Mountains” stone carving; the sea of clouds is breathtaking when it surges.

Return Tips: Take the scenic area shuttle bus (30 RMB) down to Tianwaicun, then taxi to Tai’an Station for the high-speed train back. It’s recommended to reserve 2 hours for transportation buffer.

🚗 Transportation and Accommodation Guide

- Transportation: Jinan → Weihai high-speed train 3 hours, Weihai → Tai’an high-speed train 4 hours, buy tickets 1 day in advance; city taxis start at 8–10 RMB, shared bikes available around Torch Eighth Street in Weihai.
- Accommodation: In Jinan, stay near Spring City Square (All Seasons Hotel about 200 RMB per person); in Weihai, stay near the Seawater Bathing Beach (Golden Bay Hotel 5-minute walk to the sea); for Mount Tai, no need to stay overnight if hiking the same day.

🍽️ Must-Eat List

✅ Jinan: Chao Yi Xing Braised Pork, Qu Shui Ting Street Spring Water Tofu Pudding
✅ Weihai: Hanlefong Cheese Oysters, International Seawater Bathing Beach Seafood Stalls
✅ Tai’an: Zhongtianmen Tai’an Fried Chicken, Summit Three Delicacies Soup (cabbage + tofu + spring water)

⚠️ Nanny-Level Tips

1. Wear non-slip shoes for Mount Tai hiking, bring 1 bottle of water (5 RMB/bottle at the summit), and carry a light jacket in spring and autumn (big temperature difference at the summit).
2. Wear light-colored clothes for photos at Weihai Torch Eighth Street; the light is softest before 10 AM.
3. Book tickets for Baotu Spring in Jinan and Mount Tai one day in advance on “Hospitable Shandong Yunyou Qilu” to skip lines.
4. Budget reference: about 1500–1800 RMB per person (including transportation, tickets, food, and accommodation).

Check in Shandong’s springs, sea, and mountains in 3 days, blending literary poetry with mountain-sea passion. Follow me to unlock more time-saving and valuable travel guides~ 🌿