Shandong Introduction

Shandong, a northeastern province of China with an area of 153,000 square km and a population of approximately 90 million, is an important cultural and economic center for the Chinese mainland. It was also the birthplace of the greatest philosopher and educator in China--Confucius, whose philosophy and mottoes, for over two thousand years, have exerted indelible impact on the people of China.

Shandong is full of interesting sights and customs, both Chinese and foreign influenced, that have inspired artists and thinkers for many centuries. From Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to the revered Mount Tai and the beaches of German influenced Qingdao, Shandong provides a variety of activities for any traveler.

The minute you set foot in Shandong, you will be impressed by its unique folk customs. Considered different from most other provincial people, who are branded as being shrewd, Shandong people are characterized by their generosity and unsophisticatedness, making them, it is said, warm and friendly.

Best Time To Visit

Shandong Province is frequently affected by marine monsoons, especially during the summer time. The climate here is generally characterized by rain during the summer and autumn and a dry winter, forming a distinct four seasons. The annual average temperature is between 11 and 14 degrees C while the annual precipitation is more vulnerable to the monsoon rain, between 500mm and 1100mm.

Suggested Itineraries

Ji'nan, the capital city of Shandong Province, is the stopping point for people coming to and from the Jiaozhou Peninsular, which is easily accessible either by train or plane. As a result, this is the first stop on the Shandong Tour.

Day 1: In the morning, take a local bus to 1000 Buddha Mountain, and in the afternoon go to Daming Lake and of course, Baotu Spring, the symbol of the city. In the evening, check in at a local hotel.

Day 2: Get up early in the morning and take a long-distance bus to Mt. Tai (about two hours). Take the cable car up the hill and walk down. You can have lunch on Heavenly Street. In the afternoon, continue walking downhill while appreciating all the sights along your way. There are some good hotels at the foot of the mountain where you can rest.

Day 3: Take a long-distance bus to Qufu, the birth place of Confucius (about two hours). In the morning, visit Confucius Residence and The Confucius Temple by pedi-cab. You can have a typical Kongfu Banquet at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, go out of town to pay tribute to the awesome Confucius Forest, Confucius' resting place. After seeing all these sights, go back to the city and take a train back to Ji'nan (about two to three hours, running until late). Stay at a local hotel.

Day 4: Take either train or coach to Qingdao (about 4 hours) in the morning. Have lunch at a small restaurant (seafood is definitely the best). Visit the Catholic Church and Qingdao Protestant Church, both by local bus or on foot. This can be finished by around four in the afternoon. Try out one of the many local restaurants in the evening.

Day 5: If the hotel you choose is near the railway station, go to Small Qingdao Island and Zhanqiao Bridge by foot in the morning, otherwise, take a local bus or taxi. In the afternoon, go to Ba Da Guan Scenic Area by bus, on foot or by taxi. After that, you should visit the Beaches nearby. (If you go to Qingdao in summer and you are a keen sunbather, spend one more day trying out these beaches).

Day 6: In the morning, take a bus to Taiqing Palace (about an hour). You can find some restaurants around, but they might charge more than expected; a packed lunch of Tsingtao and German sausage is recommended. In the afternoon, have a wander around Laoshan. You can leave Shandong either on the same day or stay at a hotel for another night.

Dining Overview

Shandong Cuisine is on the list of the four most famous Chinese cuisines. Enjoying great renown ever since the Spring and Autumn Period, 2500 years ago, Shandong cuisine is nowadays regarded as representative of the northern cuisines. It was not until the Yuan Dynasty, 1800 years ago, however, that Shandong cuisine was introduced to the imperial court. The cuisine lays much emphasis on the outer appearance and color of courses, the most famous dish being golden-looking sweet and sour carp.

Shandong cuisine presents its food (usually deep-fried, braised, roasted or stewed) with a strong emphasis on soy sauce, shallots, and garlic. Of the most famous regional varieties, the seafood of Qingdao and the Confucius specialities in Qufu, come highly recommended.

Shopping Overview

Known as one of the "cradles of the Chinese people", Shandong abounds in all kinds of resources. For long it has been a major economic driving force in China with its diverse shopping specialties: Ji'nan feather painting, Weifang kite, Weifang cloth toy, Zibo pottery, Qingdao shell carving, Kongfu Wine, Brandy, Yantai Red Wine and, of course, Tsingdao Beer.

For business travelers, Shandong is a province not to be ignored, for Qingdao is the second largest business center apart from Shanghai. In addition, there are also annual trade fairs in Ji'nan, Yantai and Weihai.

Transportation

Travelers to Shandong are usually impressed by the well established transportation system in the province. Convenient transportation has contributed a lot to the booming development of the tourism industry in Shandong.

By Air:
Besides the capital city of Jinan which has flight connections with almost all the major Chinese cities, Qingdao, Yantai and Weihai all have international airports with flights to both domestic cities and international destinations. The Qingdao International Airport is the second largest airport along China's eastern coast. Besides these, Weifang and Lingyi also have airports.

By Train:
The railway system in Shandong is composed of over a dozen railways which are connected to almost all tourist destinations in Shandong. Jinan and Yanzhou are the railway hubs of the province, from both of the cities over a hundred trains run daily within the territory of Shandong. It is convenient to travel by train from all major cities in China to get to Shandong province.

By Bus:
The province boasts one of the best provincial level highway systems in China, including a considerable number of express-ways. Road transportation has become the easiest way for tourists to travel within the province.There are buses here linking all cities in the province and many cities out of the province. Buses usually run on a fairly regular schedule.

By Boat:
Shandong Peninsular is surrounded by the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. Many cities in the province have regular passenger boat services to domestic and even international destinations. Cities like Qingdao and Weihai serve boat routes to Japan and Korea. Cities like Yantai, Qingdao and Weihai have boat connections with other domestic cities such as Dalian, Shanghai and Tianjin.