Top 10 Best Things to Do in Shandong

Climb Mount Tai and feel the lofty spirit of overlooking all the mountains below; travel to Nishan and immerse yourself in the Confucian culture passed down for millennia; sail across Daming Lake and savor the tenderness of the Spring City; drink Qingdao beer and embrace the passion of a coastal city. Fly a kite in Weifang, enjoy mackerel dumplings in Weihai, then feast on pancakes in Linyi… On this land of Shandong, walk through the sceneries where its people have left their footprints, and experience the warmth and passion they have poured out. Following are the best things to do in Shandong.

Top 1: Ascend the Summit of Mount Tai

Mount Tai, ancient and majestic, rises through the clouds with overwhelming grandeur, earning the title of "The Most Revered of the Five Sacred Mountains". Since the Qin dynasty, twelve emperors have come to hold ceremonial rites here; through the ages, countless poets and scholars have climbed it, leaving verses and prose. Life is like climbing a mountain, that starting points differ, paths vary, but the will to ascend is shared. Steep slopes and rains may appear along the way, yet only the persistent can savor the vastness of seeing all mountains small from the summit.

Step steadily upward into dense forests, tracing ancient paths worn smooth by travelers. Each step breathes the timeless air and reveals deep cultural heritage Passing the Eighteen Bends, where cliffs rise like sheer walls, the steep zigzag path is set within them like a ladder to the clouds. From the Southern Heavenly Gate to Heaven Street, crabapple blossoms bloom in profusion. At the Jade Emperor Peak, gazing down upon mountains and rivers, the vastness of heaven and earth unfolds, and every step of the climb feels worthwhile.

From the summit, pine and cypress cloak hidden trails, birdsong breaks the silence, and the ridgelines gather and part like an artist's brushstrokes. Ancient pines crown perilous rocks like crouching dragons and tigers, while pale stone steps twist upward like a silver serpent toward the clouds. Shifting mist and clouds lends Mount Tai both power and grace, solemnity and elegance.

The sunrise at Mount Tai is a marvel to behold. Set out under the cloak of night, ascend steadily to the summit, and listen to the first birds call breaking the silence. The first rays of dawn emerge at the horizon where sky meets earth, breaking the gloom of night with pale silver and soft crimson. Moments later, the sun rises in brilliant gold, like a drawn sword cutting through the sky. The sun dances upward, stirring the curtains of clouds; soon, sunlight spills into valleys and over ridges, bathing pines and cypresses in a glow.

Top 2: Dialogue with the Greatest Sage

Qufu, is the hometown of Confucius, the great ancient Chinese thinker and educator, and Mount Ni is his birthplace. This land carries the entire life story of Confucius, not only the cradle of Confucianism, but also the birthplace of Chinese philosophy and culture. Put on traditional robes and step into this sacred realm, and it feels as though you've traveled back thousands of years to meet the great sage face to face.

Passing through the Erli Gate, the first sight is a 72-meter-tall statue of Confucius, surrounded by 3,000 ginkgo trees, separately symbolizing his 72 disciples and 3,000 students. Standing before the statue and bowing with hands clasped, you honor him just as scholars did 2,500 years ago when they entered his tutelage.

Before the stirring emotion of the pilgrimage fades, stepping into the Academy built in the architectural style of the Qin and Han dynasties brings a renewed sense of awe. A stairway named the "Path of Great Learning" ascends upward, symbolizing steadfast progress in both academics for youth and careers for adults. Daily performances are held here in which actors in period attire teach visitors the bowing ceremony to express respect for Confucius.

Following the Path of Great Learning to the second floor, you reach Ren Hall, the largest exhibition hall. Here, the All Under Heaven Ascribes to Ren light show offers a rich, immersive blend of visual spectacle and cultural insight. The highlight is the Bell Sounds and Stone Rings performance, which follows the rotation of the seasons and the key milestones of life, telling the story of a Junzi's lifelong growth under the influence of ritual and music. Visitors can also hand-copy passages from The Analects to personally experience its wisdom. Off to one side of the Ren hall lies the Corridor of the 72 Disciples, where 30 sets of clay sculptures depict vivid and lifelike scenes from the lives of Confucius's most renowned disciples.

Top 3: Take a Boat on the Daming Lake

Jinan, known as the "Spring City", has four spring areas, ten spring groups, seventy-two famous springs, and countless smaller ones. These springs converge to form Daming Lake, the world's largest natural spring-fed lake and one of Jinan's three great scenic spots, which is also the jewel of the Spring City.

Boats are the soul of Daming Lake. Whether under sunny skies or in misty rain, drifting in a small skiff or aboard an antique-style pleasure boat across its vast, rippling waters is an enchanting experience.

Near the Daming Lake archway lies a pier shaded by drooping willows, with yachts and gaily-painted pleasure boats moored on the bank. On both sides of the pier stretches a sea of lotus, their round green leaves glistening like jade. In summer, when the flowers are in full bloom, red or white, they mirror each other's beauty, like fairies descending to earth, graceful, pure, and elegant. Drifting among them, one can savor Jinan's charm of "lotus flowers on four sides, willows on three". A gentle breeze stirs the rolling leaves, the willow branches brush lightly, and the lake surface shimmers. As the boat glides forward, the tranquil water parts softly, the tender lapping of waves mingling with birdsong along the shore, that is the most enchanting sounds in the world.

At night, under the soft moonlight and glowing lanterns, the lake sparkles like a sea of stars. Boats drift like pearls upon the still water, as streams murmur past. Along the shore, gardens, pleasure boats, and pavilions form a living painting of lights, reflections, and oar-swept melodies, which is a scene that makes one feel as though Jinan has transformed into a southern water town.

Top 4: Experience Qingdao Beer Culture

Beer, in Qingdao, is far more than something in a glass. It is the malt-sweet air drifting through street corners and alleys, the pulse of a city flowing between red-tiled roofs and green trees for over a century. This amber liquid has seeped into the cracks of the bluestone streets, settling as part of the city's very bones.

The story of Tsingtao Beer is a century-spanning legend. In 1903, British and German merchants jointly founded the Tsingtao Brewery at 56 Dengzhou Road, which has become the birthplace of Tsingtao Beer, and later transformed into Beer Street. From that moment, Tsingtao Beer and the city became inseparable.

Walking along Dengzhou Road, the Tsingtao Beer Museum stands as a faithful keeper of this brewing epic. Inside, time seems preserved in amber: century-old trademark drafts, their paper yellowed but words still sharp; tools once used by early workers quietly on display; and a massive vintage mash kettle that still seems to breathe the aroma of last century's malt. Stepping out of the museum, a wave of noise and warmth greets you—Beer Street awakens. Neon lights bathe the street in color, the air rich with the char of grilled seafood and the full-bodied scent of unfiltered beer.

Find a small table, take a freshly drawn pint crowned with snowy foam, and let the clink of glasses and bursts of laughter fill your ears. Before you, sizzling teppan squid and steaming spicy clams release their tempting aroma. A century of brewing heritage becomes, in this moment, pure delight on the tongue.

Top 5: Take a Sailboat at Qingdao Coast

On Qingdao's vast blue coastline, sailboats dot the sparkling sea like stars, carrying the city's rich sailing heritage and writing magnificent verses in harmony with the ocean and sky. After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, sailing became Qingdao's signature, earning it the title of "Sailing Capital of China".

The Qingdao International Sailing Center is a sacred place for sailing. The first sight upon arrival is the neat rows of sailboats, that sleek white hulls standing tall against the deep blue waters, masts rising like a forest, waiting for brave sailors to ride the wind and waves. As the breeze brushes past, the boats sway gently, as if whispering the stories of the sea.

Here, professional sailing coaches, some even with naval backgrounds, provide hands-on guidance on hoisting the mainsail, setting the jib, and harnessing the wind. Even when the boat tilts, there's no need to worry; the keel sailboats are fitted with lead weights and fins to self-right automatically, giving visitors the chance to experience authentic sailing.

Top 6: Watch a Sunset at Bathing Beach

In Weihai, the sea is not a distant view, but part of everyday life within arm's reach. The bays here are famed for their flawless clarity, like a vast pool of liquid crystal that refracts sunlight into countless shimmering flecks, dancing all the way down to the ripples in the sandy seabed. Standing on the shore, you can clearly see the sand, pebbles, and darting fish beneath the water, pure and transparent, that makes it feel as though all worries are carried away by the sea breeze.

The International Bathing Beach is the most accessible embodiment of Weihai's "blue". This three-kilometer crescent-shaped beach has fine, even sand, so soft and pure that bare feet sink into its gentle embrace. Even on a midsummer afternoon, the constant and cool sea breeze keeps the air refreshingly pleasant. The shore slopes gradually into the sea, and even dozens of meters out, the sea is only waist-deep, making a natural paradise for water lovers.

The beach is at its most beautiful in the evening. As the sun sets and night approaches, it slowly dips below the horizon, casting golden-red rays across the sky. The glowing clouds reflect on the entire sea, and the sunset, especially radiant over the bay, turns the sky and water into a canvas of rich gold and crimson.

Top 7: Birdwatch at Yellow River Estuary

The Yellow River winds for thousands of miles, carrying silt as it relentlessly scours the coastline, finally slowing at Dongying, where it pours its golden waters into the blue Bohai Sea, nurturing China's largest and most intact warm-temperate wetland—the Yellow River Delta Wetland. In Bohai Bay, the vast blue waters meet the calm, gentle river; yellow-green reeds sway in the breeze, blending harmoniously with the two-toned seascape.

Once with severe land salinization, the area is now a haven of clear waters, lush shores, and flocks of birds, earning the nickname "International Airport for Birds". During peak spring and autumn migrations, vast flocks cut through the sky like great waves, creating the breathtaking "bird tide". To build strength and avoid predators during their long journeys, many birds gather here, making such spectacles common. At sunset, against the gorgeous sunset glow, tens of thousands of birds wheel in tight formation, sometimes like a sandstorm, sometimes like rolling surf, sweeping across tidal flats and river mouths, shifting shapes in a majestic, awe-inspiring display.

Top 8: Enjoy Clam Digging on the Beach

In Weihai, every rise and fall of the tide is a heartfelt dialogue between the sea and the shore, and clam digging, is like a magical key that unlocks the gates to this blue treasury, inviting us to discover the surprises hidden between the sands and the waves.

When the tide recedes, the coastline reveals the palm prints of the earth. Plump razor clams burrow beneath the sand, blowing bubbles; oysters cling tightly to the cracks in the rocks; while hermit crabs carry their colorful shells, roaming in the tidal pools. These delicious gifts of the sea invite every wave-chaser to join in a private conversation with nature.

Different beaches yield different harvests. For example, Shuangdao Bay is known for its clams, while Xiaoshi Island abounds in oysters and small periwinkles. Clams must be dug from the beach; periwinkles can be picked directly from the water; oysters must be pried from the reef with tools; and razor clams are lured out with salt.

Howerver in truth, clam digging is never about how much you bring home. When your fingertips feel the cool touch of seawater, when the cry of seagulls sweeps past your ears, when you see the folds of time in the rhythm of the tides—this sea has already placed its most precious gift quietly into the heart of every visitor.

Top 9: Night Raft in Yimeng Mountains

Yimeng Mountains stretches across Linyi and Weifang, formed by towering peaks, rolling hills, and river plains. Known as the foremost of the Five Guardian Mountains, it holds several hats of the "famous revolutionary base in China", the "world-renowned wellness and longevity destination", and the "home of the World Heritage Site Qi Great Wall". Whether you come to retrace revolutionary history, seek health and relaxation, or explore the Daigu landforms, each offers its own delight.

The Yimeng Mountains Tourist Area includes three scenic spots: Yunmeng, Guimeng, and Yishan, with Yunmeng's forest drifting being the highlight. The drifting slide stretches over 3,000 meters, built along a mountain stream. Riding a rubber kayak down winding waterways, lush forests rush past, fresh scents of grass and trees fill the air, as if stepping into a magical green wonderland.

When night falls, lights flicker on along both banks, casting a romantic glow over the jungle's mysterious outlines. As the kayak drifts gently along the cool waters, stars sparkle overhead while lantern reflections shimmer below, as if you having burst into the dreamlike midsummer night's fantasy.

Top 10: Find Wukong at Lingyan Temple

In Black Myth: Wukong, the highly authentic recreation of traditional Chinese architecture has become one of the game's major highlights. The game carefully selected 36 scenic spots across 12 provinces in China and municipalities as background settings. Among them, the scene where the "Destined One" battles the Macaque Chief is modeled after the Tomb Pagoda Forest at Lingyan Temple in Jinan. Following in Wukong's footsteps, blending the virtual with the real, offers a unique and fascinating experience.

The thousand-year-old Lingyan Temple, founded during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, has been regarded as the foremost of the "Four Famous Temples" since the Tang Dynasty. Within the temple grounds stand ancient trees and strange rocks, with majestic halls rising amid winding caves, clear streams, and verdant peaks. The Tomb Pagoda Forest lies on the temple's western cliff, a cluster of pagodas that has served as the burial site for successive abbots and eminent monks since the Tang Dynasty. It contains 167 pagodas and 81 tombstones, hence its name. Over the centuries, craftsmen have used techniques such as bas-relief, full relief, and shallow carving on stones no larger than a foot across to vividly depict scenes of people and animals at play, in combat, or in pursuit, rendering them lifelike and full of spirit.