Shandong Highlights: A 9-Day Journey Through History and Culture

Description

Why Choose This Tour:

• Comprehensive Itinerary: This carefully crafted itinerary ensures you experience the very best of Shandong, from its iconic landmarks to its hidden gems.
• Expert Guidance: Our knowledgeable English-speaking guides will provide fascinating insights into the history, culture, and local customs of each destination.
• Comfort and Convenience: Travel in comfort with private transportation, enjoy well-selected accommodations, and let us take care of all the details.
• Authentic Experiences: Immerse yourself in authentic Chinese culture with opportunities to explore historical sites, sample local cuisine, and interact with friendly locals.

Day 1: Arrival in Qingdao – Coastal Charm and Brewery Delights

Welcome to Qingdao! Upon your arrival at the airport or train station, our friendly guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

This afternoon, we’ll dive into Qingdao’s most famous export at the Tsingtao Brewery Museum (1.5 hours). Discover the fascinating history of this iconic brewery, witness the traditional brewing process, and savor a taste of freshly brewed Tsingtao beer. Qingdao is celebrated for its beer culture, and this experience will give you a deeper appreciation for the city’s heritage. You will have a better understanding about the beer and the city after today’s visit. Before leaving, you will take a fresh sip of 2 glasses of Qingdao beer in the museum.   

Next, we’ll stroll along Zhanqiao Pier (1 hour), a historic landmark and a symbol of Qingdao. Built in 1891, this 440-meter-long strip stretches into the sea and was the first wharf at Qingdao. There is an octagonal pagoda of distinctive Chinese style, “Huilan Pagoda” at the end of the pier. Zhanqiao Pier is viewed in the eyes of many as the official symbol of Qingdao as it was made famous by being placed on the label of the bottles and the front of cans of Tsingdao Brewery. This beautiful pier park is a pleasant place for you to rest or enjoy the scenery of Little Qingdao and its white tower. It is close to the railway station and No.6 bathing beach.   

In the evening, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner at a local restaurant before settling into your hotel for a restful night.

Day 2: Qingdao to Weihai – Daoist Mountain and Coastal Drive

After breakfast, we’ll embark on a scenic 1.5-hour drive to Mt. Lao (5 hours), a mountain known as the Most Famous Mountain on the Sea. Mt Lao is a very important birthday place of Daoism in traditional Chinese culture. This trip focus on Taiqing Scenic Area – the highlight of Laoshan Mountain today. As you arrive, a big statue of Laozi – the founder of Taoism will come into your eyes. 

In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Weihai city (3 hours), a beautiful coastal city known for its clean beaches and relaxed atmosphere. 

Day 3: Weihai – Island Exploration and Beach Relaxation

Today, we’ll explore Liugong Island (4 hours), an unmissable small island located on the northeastern edge of Shandong Peninsula, facing the Yellow Sea. The main scenic spots on the island include Liugong Island National Forest Park, Qidingshan fort, as well as the Sino – Japanese War Museum.

Afterward, unwind at the Weihai International Bathing Beach (2 hours), the most notable one, which can accommodate 100000 tourists at the same time, offering plenty of recreational facilities and amenities, including speedboats, motorboats, showers, gazebos, benches, swings, bustling with restaurants, bars, fast food, and interesting shops.

Day 4: Yantai to Penglai – Hills, Wine, and Mythical Pavilions

This morning, we’ll visit Yantai Hill (1 hour), standing in the heart of Yantai City, is a must-visit landmark. It combines natural beauty with rich historical and cultural heritage. On the hill, you can find ancient lighthouses that once guided ships. There are also many Western-style buildings from the late Qing Dynasty, showing the city’s unique past. With lush trees and beautiful sea views, it provides a wonderful place for tourists to relax and explore Yantai’s history.

Next, we’ll indulge in a different kind of experience at The Changyu Wine Culture Museum (1.5 hours), one of the specialized wine museums in China. It tells the story of the Changyu Winery and attracts a large number of famous people and tourists from home and abroad.   

Later, we’ll drive to Penglai city (80km) to visit the Penglai Pavilion (2 hours). Penglai Pavilion, located in Penglai, Shandong, is a renowned historical site. Standing on the cliff by the sea, it offers a breathtaking view of the boundless ocean. This ancient structure, with its elegant architecture, is a symbol of traditional Chinese culture. It’s also famous for the illusory mirages, adding a mysterious touch. Penglai Pavilion attracts numerous tourists with its charm.  

Day 5: Penglai to Weifang – Kites, Folk Art, and Gardens

Today, we’ll drive to Weifang (230km), the “Kite Capital of the World,” to explore the Weifang World Kite Museum (1 hour). Weifang World Kite Museum is the first large-scale kite museum in China. It adopts the characteristics of centipede kite, whose roof is made of peacock blue glazed tiles and looks like a dragon flying in the sky. It is a landmark building of “kite capital of the world”. The kite museum collects and displays kite treasures and cultural relics in eight exhibition halls. They respectively introduce the history, application, evolution and development of kites, the schools and classification of kites, foreign kite exhibitions, and international kite fairs. Here you can see the most exquisite kites in China and other countries. Seeing the kites, it is like you have become a child again who is running freely in the fields to fly your beloved kite up high.

We’ll then immerse ourselves in local culture at Yangjiabu Folk Culture Village (1.5 hours). Yangjiabu is the birthplace of Weifang kites with a long history. At the end of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644), the ancestors have already got excellent kite making skills and they integrated kites with New Year pictures (a form of Chinese colored woodblock print, for decoration during the Chinese New Year). Gradually, Yangjiabu kite has grown its own style with realistic colors and well composed groups. 

We will also visit Shihu Garden (1 hour). Shihu Garden, located in Weifang, Shandong, is a classic Chinese private garden. Covering a relatively small area, it ingeniously combines pavilions, ponds, rockeries, and corridors, embodying the essence of traditional gardening art. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it has a long history. The elegant architecture and carefully-arranged sceneries inside create a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. The garden also houses various cultural relics, offering visitors a chance to appreciate ancient Chinese aesthetics and cultural heritage.

Today, we’ll drive to Zibo city (110km) to visit Qi Heritage Museum (2 hours). The Qi Heritage Museum, in Linzi, Shandong, is a must-visit for history lovers. Spanning 152,000 square meters, it consists of five sub-museums. Here, you can admire precious relics from the ancient Qi State, like bronze wares and unique Qi-style knife coins. The museum vividly showcases the prosperous culture and economy of the Qi State over 3,000 years ago. 

We will also visit China Ancient Chariots Museum (1 hour). The Linzi Chinese Ancient Vehicle Museum in Zibo, Shandong, is built on the Houli Cultural Site. It’s based on the chariots and horses sacrificed in the Spring and Autumn Period, one of the top ten archaeological discoveries in 1990. Divided into exhibition halls for ancient vehicles and the sacrificed ones, it showcases China’s long history of chariots and advanced vehicle-making technology.

Later, we’ll drive to Qufu city (240km), the birthplace of Confucius, and check in.

This day is dedicated to exploring the Confucius Temple (1 hour), the place where the emperor worship Confucius during the feudal society, Confucius Mansion (1 hour), the mansion granted by the emperor Song one thousand years ago, as a living quarter of Confucius’ offspring from 45th to 77th generation. It is one of the highest building complexes in China, and the Family Tomb Group of Confucius (1 hour). With a total area of more than 2000 hectors and 100,000 tombs, the forest is the biggest tomb group in China. It is also the place where the Confucius buried in.

In the afternoon, we’ll take a passenger car to Tai’an (80km) to visit Dai Temple (1 hour). Originally built in the Han Dynasty, it is the place where ancient Chinese emperors worship the gods of Mount Tai and hold the ceremony of sacrifice. With a total area of 100000 square meters, it is one of four largest existing ancient building complexes in China (the other three are Forbidden Palace in Beijing, Confucian Sites in Qufu and Chengdu Royal Mountain Resorts).

Today, we’ll conquer the iconic Mt. Tai (6 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s Five Great Mountains. Mt. Tai was the first Mt. in this world which was named double heritage by UNESCO. Mt. is full of the stone inscription which extended for thousand years. And the culture of Mt is deeply associated with traditional Chinese culture.You can see Bixia temple, heavenly street and Jade emperor temple and so on.

Day 9: Jinan – Springs, Lake, and Farewell

Our final day begins with a visit to Black Tiger Spring (30 minutes), which ranks No. 2 among all 72 springs in Jinan. The spring water emerges from a natural limestone cave in a cliff and cascades from three giant stone tiger heads into a wide and open pool. The sound of spring water is similar to the roar of a tiger, so it is called Black Tiger Spring. The spring water is drinkable and rich in medicinal properties. You can also see locals collecting water with jars and jugs. There is also many chances to enjoy some relaxing stroll and find some peace and calm.

We’ll then experience the beautiful Baotu Spring (1 hour). Enjoy beautiful views of architecture, river and living scenes along the moat sides. The Baotu Spring is probably the most famous spring in China that every Chinese student should learn in textbook of primary school. It has been a well-known attraction since Shang Dynasty (1600 BC ~ 1046 BC), and visited by many celebrities and emperors including Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1644~1911) who claimed Baotu Spring as “the No. 1 spring under heaven” after his pleasant visit. Today it is the icon of Jinan where you can marvel at beautiful springs as well as a number of ancient shrines, pavilions, memorial halls, bridges and steles full of cultural and historical values. 

Lastly, we’ll visit Daming Lake (1 hour), which is dotted with small islands and framed with thick willows. Relaxing yourself with the picturesque scenery, enjoying walking crossing stone-carved bridges, stopping by peaceful pavilions, watch fish swimming among lotus flowers… there are many ways to seek fun time.

If time permits, we will also visit Shandong Museum (2 hours), located in Jinan, is a comprehensive provincial-level museum. Boasting a vast collection of over 200,000 items, it houses precious cultural relics from various historical periods. Among them are exquisite ceramics, delicate jade carvings, and ancient calligraphy works. With modern exhibition halls, it vividly displays Shandong’s rich history and profound culture, attracting numerous domestic and international visitors every year.

After the tour, you will be transferred to Qingdao airport or train station to catch your flight/train to your next destination.

Accommodation:

We offer a choice of accommodation to suit your preferences:

• Luxury: Stay in 5-star hotels, known for their exceptional service, luxurious amenities, and prime locations. (e.g., The hotels listed in “Our Partners”)
• Comfort: Enjoy a comfortable stay in well-appointed 4-star hotels, offering excellent value and convenient facilities.

Pricing:

Price varies depending on the number of guests and your accommodation preference:

• • 2 guests: $2279 – $2429 per person
  • 3-4 guests: $1789 – $2029 per person
  • 5-9 guests: $1619 – $1759 per person

Inclusions:

• Private vehicle tour for your group
• All attraction entrance fees as listed
• All meals as listed as B/L/D (B=hotel breakfast; L=lunch; D=Dinner)
• Professional licensed English-speaking guide
• Luggage Transfers: between train stations and hotels
• Accommodation: double bed room of hotel of your preference, 4-star or 5 star.

Exclusions:

• Personal expense, beverages;
• International Airfare or Train Tickets to enter or leave China;
• Tourist attractions, which are not listed in the itinerary;
• Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary;
• All optional items listed in the tour itinerary;

Important information:

• Passport and Visa: Ensure you have a valid passport and visa. Obtain your visa well in advance.
• Itinerary Changes: We may need to change the tour itinerary due to unforeseen events like flight or transportation schedule changes. In such cases, the tour price will not change. However, if you request changes to the itinerary, you will be responsible for any additional costs.
• Luggage Restrictions: For internal flights in China, the checked luggage limit is 20 kg (44 pounds) per person. Excess weight will incur additional fees. Additionally, on trains and subways in China, items such as insecticides, air fresheners, hair products, mousses, and pressurized containers (like sunscreen or deodorant sprays) must not exceed 120ml.
• Hotel Check-In and Check-Out: Hotel check-in is usually at 2:00 PM, and check-out is at 12:00 PM. Please schedule your flights or trains with these times in mind. If you require an early check-in or late check-out, please inform us in advance, and we will try to arrange it when booking your hotel.
• Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance before your tour.

Local Customs: Tipping in China

In China, it’s a common practice to offer a small tip, or gratuity, to your tour guides and drivers as a way to thank them for their service. Tipping isn’t required, but it’s a kind gesture to show your appreciation if you’re happy with their work.

Suggested Tipping Guidelines

• For Private Tours with Sightseeing:
  • Guide: RMB 150 per day for your entire group
  • Driver: RMB 100 per day for your entire group
• For Private Transfer Services (just driving, no sightseeing):
  • Guide and Driver: RMB 0-50 per day for your whole group (you decide the amount)

Good to Know

These amounts are just suggestions to help you plan. Feel free to adjust the tip higher or lower depending on how satisfied you are with the service you receive. Tipping is always optional, and the amounts listed are for the whole group, not per person.

We hope this guide makes tipping during your trip a little easier to navigate!