China Tours

 The province of Shandong is located on the eastern coastal line of China on the lower reached of the Yellow River. Shandong covers an area of 156,000 square km with a population of over 90 million and has a mild temperature with distinctive four searsons.

Jinan

 As the capital of Shandong Province, Jinan is politically and industrially important. It is well known for its natural springs surrounded by gardens: the Gushing-from-the-Ground Spring, Black Tiger Spring, Pearl Spring, and Five Dragon Pool. Qianfo (Thousand Buddha) Hill is a mountainous park offering spectacular views and about 600 Buddhist statues from the Sui Dynasty atop its rocky cliffs. Daming (Great Light Lake), located in the northern part of old Jinan, covers an area of 86 hectares. Marco Polo once described it as a "beautiful garden."

Qufu

 Qufu is the famous birthplace of Confucious and the home of his clan, the Kong. The Confucious Family Mansion (The Kong Mansion) is located in Qufu and is accessible to the public. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this fine aristocratic mansion was home to the clan until 1948 and contains 463 rooms and halls. The Temple of Confucious, the place for offering sacrifice to Confucious, dominates Qufu proper. The temple is about 22 hectares in size and include 9 courtyards and 466 rooms, all well-designed and extremely ornate. In the Great Courtyard is a tree allegedly planted by Confucious, the Xing Tan Pavilion where Confucious gave lectures to his disciples, and the Dachengdian, built during the Qing dynasty. Confucious Woods (The Graveyard of the Kong Family) is located one kilometre north of Qufu city. The graveyard is set admidst more than 100,000 trees, covers 200 hectares and is surrounded by a 7 km brick wall. There are more than 100,000 graves of Kong descendants in this graveyard and Confucious' grave is the most simple and dignified.

Tai'shan (Mount Tai)

 Tai'shan (Mount Tai) holds the highest repute of all the famous mountains in China. The majestic Mount Tai is revered as the most sacred mountain in China. It is now one of the national parks with an area of 426 square km and its peak rises 1,545 m above sea level.

 But, Tai'shan's historical significance is great as many emperors came here to perform grand sacrifices to heaven. Upon the mountain itself are numerous historical relics and stone carvings from various dynasties including the Buddhist Diamong Sutra carved on a stone cliff. Climbing the mountain is as gratifying as the mountain itself, and as Confucious said more than 2,000 years ago, "When one goes up Tai'shan Mountain, the world will be dwarfed beneath his feet."

Qingdao

 Qingdao was no more than a fishing village in 1897 when the Germans seized it to compete with other Western powers. It wasn't until 1922 that is was returned to China. It is a popular beach resort, yet there is a well preserved German Concession amid modern Qingdao offering a European atmosphere. Stretching 400 m into the sea, The Pier is located in Qingdao Bay, south of Qingdao city, off Zhongshan Road. First built in 1891, The Pier was Qingdao's first wharf and was expanded in 1931 to what it is today. Laoshan (Mount Lao) meets the majestic Yellow Sea on its north shore. This beautiful mountain is one of the national parks of China and is only 30 km from Qingdao proper. A dozen Taoist temples remain well preserved here from the Song Dynasty and thereafter. Qingdao is home to China's most famous brewery: The Qingdao Brewery. Built in 1903, the brewery produces Qingdao beer (Tsingtao) from quality oat, rice, hops and spring water from Mount Lao; it is famous at home and abroad.

Weifang

 Weifang is China's famous kite city. On April 1 to 10 each year, an international kite festival is held here. Both Chinese and foreign kite-lovers gather here to participate in kite- flying performances and competitions, and visit the kite exhibitions and veteran kite-makers.

Zibo

 Around the 15th of the first lunar month, there is the traditional custom of lighting lanterns among the Chinese people. Lantern Festivals in Zibo has a long history. During the festival, there are many folk art performances such as boat dance on land, Xinzi (standing on a bamboo pole carried by two people) and walking on stilts and a fancy dress carnival.