Jinan + Tai’an + Qufu + Qingdao + Weihai + Yantai + Penglai Area · 7 days

The Baotu Spring (Chinese: 趵突泉; pinyin: Bàotū Quán, sometimes translated as “Jet Spring” or “Spurting Spring”) is a culturally significant artesian karst spring located in the city of Jinan, Shandong, China. It is mentioned in the Spring and Autumn Annals, one of the Five Classics of Chinese literature, and was declared the “Number One Spring under the Heaven” (Chinese: 天下第一泉; pinyin: Tiānxià Dì-Yī Quán) by the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing dynasty.

The Baotu Spring is the most renowned among the more than 70 named artesian springs in the downtown area of the city of Jinan. The water of all these springs originates from an Ordovician karst aquifer under the city. As the terrain around Jinan slopes from the south down to the north, the recharge area for the aquifer is located in the mountainous area to the south of the city. The recharge area of the springs covers 1,500 square kilometres, out of which 550 km2 provide direct recharge and 950 km2 indirect recharge.

Mount Tai (Chinese: 泰山; pinyin: Tài Shān) is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai’an. It is the highest point in Shandong province, China. The tallest peak is the Jade Emperor Peak (simplified Chinese: 玉皇顶; traditional Chinese: 玉皇頂; pinyin: Yùhuáng Dǐng), which is commonly reported as being 1,545 meters (5,069 ft) tall. Planning note: Mount Tai deserves a dedicated mountain day. Check the chosen ascent/descent route and weather; treat the Railway Guerrilla Warfare show as a separate optional programme, not an included evening event.

Mount Tai is known as the eastern mountain of the Sacred Mountains of China. It is associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal, and is often regarded the foremost of the five. Mount Tai has been a place of worship for at least 3,000 years and served as one of the most important ceremonial centers of China during large portions of this period. Because of its sacred importance and dramatic landscape, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It meets 7 of the 10 evaluation standards of World Heritage, and is listed as a World Heritage site that meets the most standards, along with the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in Australia.

Confucius (孔子; pinyin: Kǒngzǐ; lit. ’Master Kong’; c. 551 – c. 479 BCE), born Kong Qiu (孔丘), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages, as well as the first teacher in China to advocate for mass education. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius. His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, and a ruler’s responsibilities to lead by virtue. Planning note: Qufu’s three Confucian sites and the transfer to Qingdao require substantial time. Give Qufu its own day or reduce the visit rather than assume all three sites and a relaxed arrival fit together.

Confucius considered himself a transmitter for the values of earlier periods which he claimed had been abandoned in his time. He advocated for filial piety, endorsing strong family loyalty, ancestor veneration, the respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives. Confucius recommended a robust family unit as the cornerstone for an ideal government. He championed the Silver Rule, or a negative form of the Golden Rule, advising, “Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself.”

The time of Confucius’s life saw a rich diversity of thought, and was a formative period in China’s intellectual history. His ideas gained in prominence during the Warring States period, but experienced setback immediately following the Qin conquest. Under Emperor Wu of Han, Confucius’s ideas received official sanction, with affiliated works becoming mandatory readings for career paths leading to officialdom. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Confucianism developed into a system known in the West as Neo-Confucianism, and later as New Confucianism. From ancient dynasties to the modern era, Confucianism has integrated into the Chinese social fabric and way of life.

St. Michael’s Cathedral (Chinese: 圣弥爱尔大教堂; pinyin: Shèng Mí’ài’ěr Dàjiàotáng; German: Kathedrale St. Michael), also called the Zhejiang Road Catholic Church (Chinese: 浙江路天主教堂), is a Catholic church in Qingdao (Tsingtao), Shandong Province, China, and is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Qingdao (Tsingtao). It is located in the oldest part of Qingdao, at 15 Zhejiang Road, on the east side of Zhongshan Road in Shinan District. Built by German missionaries, the cathedral stands at the top of a hill in the center of the old German-built part of the city. It is the largest example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the province, resembling a German cathedral of the 12th century.

St. Michael’s Cathedral is the product of a strong German presence in Shandong Province in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the mid-19th century the European powers forcibly opened China to foreign trade. The Divine Word Missionaries built a church in the Jiaozhou Bay concession in Shandong in 1902, and in 1934 erected the cathedral, which remained nominally under their administration until 1964. In 1942 it came under the control of the Japanese Army, returning to Chinese control when the Japanese left Qingdao in 1945. In 1981, it was repaired by the government and reopened for services, and in 1992 it was listed as a Provincial Historic Building by the government of Shandong Province.

On the walls of the house, which are made of a mixture of raw stones or bricks, there is a high ridge, and above the ridge is a wonderful roof with a fluffy texture and a fishing net stretched on it. This is a local dwelling – the seaweed house. When you walk into the fishing village in the Jiaodong area of ​​Shandong Province, you can see these houses with stone walls and seaweed roofs. They are simple and unsophisticated, and have local characteristics, just like the grass houses in the fairy tale world. Planning note: Travel from Qingdao to Weihai takes part of the day. Choose Liugong Island or an eastern coastal/village excursion rather than promise every stop; ferry operation depends on conditions.

Weihai Shenyou Ocean World is a project of Shenyou Ocean Culture Museum built by Huaxia Group with an investment of 500 million yuan on the north side of Huaxia City Scenic Area. It integrates with the natural beauty of mountains and rivers to form a wonder of sea in the mountains. The main building area is 23,000 square meters, including four parts: the disappeared rainforest area, the marine culture experience area, the polar scenery area, and the marine animal performance area. There are a large number of special rare fish and endangered animals such as beluga whales. At the same time, the beauty and splendor of my country’s coral reef ecosystems are restored, so that tourists can deepen their understanding of marine geography and biology while sightseeing.

Yantai is a paradise for food lovers, with many specialty dishes recommended as follows:

1. Yantai Braised Potato Starch Cake: Made from coarse sweet potato starch, it has a crispy exterior and tender interior, served with garlic sauce, sesame paste, and other seasonings for a unique flavor.
2. Fushan Pulled Noodles: Also known as Fushan Big Noodles, it comes in solid, hollow, and fine varieties like dragon’s beard noodles, and is one of the three major flavored noodles in Yantai.
3. Penglai Fine Noodles: Characterized by a fish broth made from fresh seafood, the noodles are as thin as silver threads, with a distinctive seafood flavor.
4. Fresh Fish Dumplings: With thin skins and large, tender, and juicy fillings, these are a traditional snack in Yantai.
5. Seaweed Stuffed Buns: Stuffed with sea vegetables and dried small shrimp, these buns have a distinctive Yantai flavor.
6. Braised Prawns in Brown Sauce: With a bright red color and tender shrimp meat, it is a famous dish in Shandong cuisine.
7. Sugar Crispy Firestick Burn Head: Crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside, it is a traditional snack in Yantai.
8. Huangxian Meat Box: With more meat and less vegetables, golden in color, fresh filling with rich juice, and crispy skin, it is a traditional famous snack in Yantai.
9. Ninghai Brain Rice: Originated in 1927, made from millet and tofu brain, it is delicious and tasty.
10. Blooming Steamed Buns: A traditional noodle food in Yantai, with beautiful appearance and soft texture.

A: Confucius was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period. He is considered the paragon of Chinese sages and the first teacher to advocate for mass education.

A: St. Michael’s Cathedral is a Catholic church in Qingdao, Shandong Province. It is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Qingdao and is the largest example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the province.