Shandong has a grounding nature, where towering mountains embrace the Yellow Sea in utter serenity. Confucian teachings are practiced inside millennia-old temples, surrounded by vibrant cities buzzing with modern energy.
Looking back on Shandong's ancient history, the city is full of historical treasures. For centuries, Mount Tai, ►
Shandong has a grounding nature, where towering mountains embrace the Yellow Sea in utter serenity. Confucian teachings are practiced inside millennia-old temples, surrounded by vibrant cities buzzing with modern energy.
Looking back on Shandong's ancient history, the city is full of historical treasures. For centuries, Mount Tai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been a pilgrimage destination for emperors and commoners alike.
The birthplace of the infamous philosopher Confucius, Qufu, is a place where visitors can marvel at the intricate architecture of the Confucian Temple Complex and absorb the essence of his teachings that has been forming the Chinese culture for centuries! The people built every sage, temple and cemetery in the complex out of pure devotion and love for Confucian.
In addition to the historical aspect of Shandong, the city has an enchanting natural beauty. Mount Laojunshan, with its cascading waterfalls and verdant forests, can be quite the retreat to embrace nature and ground yourself with Mother Earth. If hiking is your thing, you can go for a hike along the winding trails. You can also enjoy a bird's-eye view with a cable car ride. The coastal side of Shandong has a colonial-era architecture that blends seamlessly with the coastal charm. You can enjoy a relaxing day at Qingdao Beach while there too.
Yantai is a coastal city within Shandong, in the middle of the Shandong Peninsular. You can enjoy a time on the beach and sunbathe on a warm sunny afternoon. If you are visiting the city in the summer, the weather is usually moderate and it would be a pleasant experience to walk on the beach of Yantai under a temperature of 25°C.
Penglai is another coastal area in the city on the Bohai Gulf. To get a glimpse of the city’s nature and how things were happening during different times in history, you need to visit one ot its many ports! The Tianhou palace is another chance to witness the greatness of the Chinese culture. It was first built during the Song Dynasty, as a dedication to the to the maritime goddess Mazu in China.
In the countryside of Shandong, locals are friendly and hospitable. You will immerse yourself in the heart of Chinese culture first-hand! You can enjoy watching or participating in the silk weaving traditions in Jiaxiang or the ancient art of shadow puppetry in Yanzhou. Weishan is a great place to enjoy a soak in thermal springs. You can also explore the Qingdao International Beer Festival, where you can mingle with locals and enjoy different Chinese cultural practices.
Shandong's touristic appeal stems from its ability to blend history, environment, and culture into one unique experience. Shandong is a place you want to visit more than just once. So gather your belongings, widen your heart, and go off to find the undiscovered beauties of Shandong.
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