Best Places to Visit in Shandong

Shandong is the birthplace of Confucian culture and is renowned as the "Hometown of Confucius and Mencius, the Land of Etiquette". Since ancient times, it has produced countless great figures, including Jiang Ziya, Confucius, Mencius, and Sunzi, all of whom have deep connections with this land. From ancient Confucian towns to coastal cities, from the footsteps of sages to modern architecture, every city here has a story to tell. Following are the best places to visit in Shandong.

Top 1: Qingdao

The human warmth drifting from Qingdao Courtyard, the romantic elegance of Zhanqiao Pier stretching into the sea, and the relaxed pace of Badaguan shaded by plane trees, together form Qingdao's iconic scene of red roofs, green trees, blue sea, and clear sky.

Qingdao, abbreviated as "Qing" and also known as the "Island City" and "Music Island", lies in the south of the Shandong Peninsula, facing the Yellow Sea to the east and south, and bordering Yantai to the northeast. Covering a total area of 11,293 square kilometers, it is an important port and tourist city in eastern coastal China. Known as China's Sailing Capital and the World's Beer City, Qingdao is also the birthplace of the May Fourth Movement.

The city's coastline alternates between capes and bays, with soft sandy beaches, gentle slopes, and winding shores, where the city and sea complement each other. Mount Laoshan boasts steep peaks, serene expanses, and awe-inspiring natural formations. Badaguan's European-style villas, with red roofs and stone walls, are exquisite and unique in character. Zhanqiao Pier arches over the waves like a rainbow, leading to the Huilan Pavilion. May Wind rises like flames, swirling upward, standing sentinel over the May Fourth Square. Qingdao's density of former residences of famous figures is rare in China, and historical relics and cultural landmarks are scattered throughout the city.

Top 2: Jinan

There is a city, though located in the north, that carries the charm of the Jiangnan region —where "every household has spring water, and every doorway is shaded by willows". It has the grandeur of the Nanshan Mountains, the grace of the Ji River, the embrace of famous mountains and rivers, and the gathering of renowned scholars and literary masterpieces. This is Jinan, the "City of Springs", an ancient city celebrated for its cultural heritage.

Jinan is the capital of Shandong, situated in its central region, bordered by Mount Tai to the south and spanning the Yellow River to the north. Its name derives from its location south of the ancient Ji River, one of China's four great watercourses. Abundant in springs and water, Jinan is often called a natural karst spring museum, and is also a cradle where Shun culture and Qi-Lu culture originated, thrived, and intertwined.

Since ancient times, Jinan has been famed as the "City of Springs", with 72 famous springs gushing forth, the most renowned being Baotu Spring, Black Tiger Spring, Five Dragon Pool, and Pearl Spring. The sheer number, abundant flow, and beauty of its springs are unmatched worldwide. The waters from these springs converge into Daming Lake, surrounded by Qianfo Mountain, Wufeng Mountain, Lingyan Temple, and other sceneries, forming the city's unique landscape of "half city mountain, half city lake". Jinan is not only blessed with natural beauty but also rich in talent, attracting countless scholars and poets throughout history, earning it the reputation of "a city of many distinguished figures".

Top 3: Weihai

China lies in the east of the world, Shandong in the east of China, and Weihai at the easternmost tip of Shandong. Here, mountains weave through the city, the city blends into the sea, and a thousand kilometers of coastline unfold like an ink-wash painting, shaping a unique and livable city.

Weihai, located at the eastern end of the Shandong Peninsula, is a beautiful coastal city. Streets lined with flowers, shaded by trees, and a quiet, clean urban environment make it one of the most livable cities in China. The First Sino-Japanese War left Weihai with the title of "Unsinkable Battleship", while long-term trade exchanges with South Korea have infused it with a Korean international flair. Pristine beaches, fresh seafood, and the charm of Korean fashion, this small city gathers every dream of vacation, gourmet dining, and shopping.

Weihai's coastline stretches nearly a thousand kilometers, with clear waters, expansive pine forests, and flocks of seabirds, lying more than 30 harbors and 168 islands, as well as numerous high-quality bathing beaches. It is home to Liugong Island, birthplace of China's first modern navy; Chengshantou, the "Cape of Good Hope of the East" visited by Emperor Qin Shi Huang; Shengjing Mountain, the cradle of the Quanzhen School of Taoism; Chi Mountain's Fahua Temple, a symbol of friendship among China, Japan, and South Korea; and Swan Lake, the largest swan habitat in Asia.

Top 4: Yantai

In Shandong, there is a coastal city that resembles Qingdao, yet surpasses it in both food and fun. Even in peak season, it is less crowded than Weihai, while losing nothing of gentleness and romance. Embraced by mountains and the sea, its unique fishing-port character fuses urban life with the ocean. This is Yantai.

Yantai lies in the northeast of the Shandong Peninsula, bordering Weihai to the east and Weifang to the west, with Qingdao to the southwest. To the north, it faces both the Bohai Sea and Yellow Seas, standing opposite the Liaodong Peninsula and gazing across the waters at Dalian.

With more than 900 kilometers of sunshine coastline, roadside white lighthouses, the mysterious mirages of the sea, and the sunsets over Changdao, the place is filled with earthly romance. This is where the legendary tale of the "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" took place, with the myths of Penglai Pavilion still widely told. It is the "Culinary Capital of Shandong Cuisine", where every steaming bowl distills the very essence of the Jiaodong Peninsula. It is also the birthplace of the journey of the Red Fuji apple, sweetened by the sea breeze, glowing crimson on the branches, adorning this land of wonder.

Top 5: Tai'an

Tai'an City, located in the central part of Shandong, borders Jinan to the north with Mount Tai as the natural boundary and adjoins Jining to the south. It stands proudly at the heart of the Qi-Lu cultural belt, where the majestic Mount Tai rises skyward and the gentle Wen River flows beneath, with birds soaring gracefully above.

The city takes its name from Mount Tai, honored as the "Foremost of the Five Mountains" and the "Number One Mountain under Heaven", which is also a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage site. The ancient saying goes, "When Mount Tai is secure, all under Heaven is secure", symbolizing national peace and prosperity. The urban area lies at the southern foot of Mount Tai, built against the mountain, forming an integrated mountain-and-city landscape.

Though Tai'an is famed for Mount Tai, it is far more than that. The mighty Yellow River flows steadily here, while its largest lower-reach tributary, the Dawen River, runs east to west, nourishing the fertile land for thousands of years and giving rise to the Dawenkou Culture. Along the Wen River, the Daicun Dam, known as the "Heart of the Grand Canal", has pulsed for more than 600 years, bearing witness to history and reflecting change. Where the rivers converge, Dongping Lake shimmers with dazzling hues. Once known as Liangshan Marsh, it is the only surviving remnant of the vast waters immortalized in Water Margin, the legendary tale of the 108 heroes.