7 Days Shandong Tour of Qingdao Qufu Jinan

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Qingdao Arrival

   Welcome to our 7-day Shandong Tour! Our local guide and driver will be seeing you at the airport/train station at Qingdao. They’ll be holding a board with "China Xian Tour" on it so that it should be quite easy for you to catch them.

   After checking into your hotel, you can spend the rest of the day freely on your own. Some may feel in need of staying at the hotel to have a rest or, many others would think, it’s a good chance to explore the iconic Zhanqiao Pier and the lively May Fourth Square. Both spots provide an initial understanding of Qingdao’s seaside charm.

   Vehicle

   4-Star Hotel in Qingdao
2. Day 2: Qingdao City Exploration
   Olympic Sailing Center, Qingdao Beer Museum

   After breakfast, we’ll be going to visit the Olympic Sailing Center, which was the venue for the sailing competitions during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 29th Paralympic Games. It’s located on the shores of Fushan Bay in eastern Qingdao, which is praised to be a place recording China’s Olympic history. Visitors here can also embrace a panoramic view of sea and mountain being blended together. If you are interested, you can try many activities here such as watching boats sailing, and immerse yourself in the waterside atmosphere.

   Then, you will head to the Qingdao Beer Museum, situated in the old brewery building from a century ago. The museum combines beer culture exhibitions, brewery visit, production introduction, and a bar. And you can walk across a century of Tsingtao Beer's production history and cultural significance through interacting with the media (e.g., pictures, texts, and actual equipment).

   After that, you can explore the city on your own and take in the scenic views of the coastline.

   

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Qingdao
3. Day 3: Qingdao to Qufu by High-speed Train
   Small Fish Hill

   In the morning, you'll take a bird's-eye view of Qingdao City from the mountaintop of Small Fish Hill. It is the first classical-style mountain garden park in Qingdao, with an elevation of 60 meters and an area of 2.5 hectares. Although the mountain is not high, it offers visitors the opportunity to see far away. Climbing up the hill, you can have a panoramic view of the Zhan Bridge, Little Qingdao, Lu Xun Park, bathing beach, and other landscapes.

   

   After the visit, we’ll be moving to Qufu by high-speed train, and the whole journey takes approximately 2 hours. Qufu has been praised by so many visitors for its rich cultural heritage and traditional architecture as the hometown of Confucius. When strolling through the city, you’ll see the city’s old-time glamour through a variety of historical sites, ancient streets, and cultural relics, and they altogether allow you to see the traces of teachings and influence of Confucius. It is considered a center of Chinese philosophy and Confucianism.

   High Speed Train, Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Qufu
4. Day 4: Qufu Highlights
   Confucius Temple, Kong Family Mansion, Cemetery of Confucius

   Get up early to witness the "Bells in the Sunrise" at 8 am (on your own), which is a traditional ceremony that is held at the Confucius Temple.

   Afterwards, you will take a guided tour of the Confucius Temple, which is the largest and oldest Confucian temple in the world. Most of the existing buildings here were completed in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1636-1912), covering an area of 21.8 hectares, including nine courtyards. There are 464 rooms in the temple, such as halls, altars, and doors. Surrounded by red walls, and four corners with turrets, it is built in the style of the Imperial Palace in Beijing.

   Besides, we also visit the Kong Family Mansion, and here once lived Confucius’ descendants. Many visitors have found out, its traditional architecture and cultural heritage are so captivating and worth a deeper exploration. These beautiful sites, indeed, show the family’s long-standing influence and status. While we exploring its courtyards, halls, and private rooms, you’ll gradually understand how daily life in imperial-style residences looked like in the past.

   Afterwards, walk through the Cemetery of Confucius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s the resting place of Confucius and his descendants. The cemetery is also worth visiting as you may only see this much ancient stone carvings, towering memorials, and serene paths lined with cypress trees.

   

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Qufu
5. Day 5: Qufu to Jinan
   Mount Taishan, Heavenly Street, Bixia Temple, Cliff Carvings, Jade Emperor Peak

   After breakfast, drive about 2 hours to Tai’an and take a cable car up Mount Taishan, one of China’s Five Great Mountains and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mount Taishan has been a place of worship for over 3,000 years and is celebrated for its majestic cliffs, historic inscriptions, and ancient temples, making it a symbol of spiritual and cultural significance.

   You will visit Heavenly Street, a scenic pathway that leads to the summit of the mountain. Along the way, you'll pass by several temples and historic landmarks, including Bixia Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess of dawn and childbirth, and the Cliff Carvings of the Tang Dynasty, which are a series of stone carvings that date back to the 7th century.

   

   You can embrace a panoramic view of the surrounding when you reach the summit of Jade Emperor Peak. The site got its name from the Jade Emperor, the supreme deity in Taoism, thus, many people are coming for its adorned shrines and ancient inscriptions. From Riguan Peak, you may be amazed by the unparalleled beauty of the sunrise and clouds drifting below.

   After that, we drive to Jinan for an overnight stay.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Jinan
6. Day 6: Jinan City Tour
   Baotu Spring, Daming Lake

   Jinan is the capital city of Shandong Province and is known for its many natural springs and historic sites. Today, you'll visit Baotu Spring, hailed as the "Number One Spring under the Heaven". It’s a spring with constant flow of water. And whenever the sunlight reaches the spring’s sparkling surface, the picturesque scene will become even more gorgeous. To feel the peace and freshness that lay in the heart of the site, you can stroll along the winding paths in a slower pace. Indeed, Baotu Spring is it’s definitely a must-visit for people who wan to learn more about the local history.

   Then, visit the Daming Lake, a scenic lake in the heart of the city. This is one of the three major attractions in Jinan (alongside Thousand Buddha Mountain and Baotu Spring), and certainly, we won’t let you miss it. It has broad surface and rippling azure waters, so beautiful and peaceful. Small boats can glide across the lake, creating gentle ripples. While occasionally, egrets will come and you can see them gracefully flying low.

   

   After the tour, you’ll have some free time to explore the old city of Jinan on your own. It’s recommended to focus more on historic buildings and traditional markets.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Jinan
7. Day 7: Jinan Departure

   Today is the final day of your Shandong trip. You'll be escorted to Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport for your departure flight. We hope you enjoyed your trip and have many fond memories in Shandong Province. Thank you very much for choosing China Xian Tour!

   Vehicle

   B