7 Days Shandong Tour of Qingdao Qufu Jinan

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Qingdao Arrival

   Welcome to our 7-day Shandong Tour! Qingdao is a coastal city known for its beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, and historic architecture! Upon your arrival, you'll check into your hotel and have the rest of the day to rest and recover from your journey.

   Meal: Dinner

   Accommodation: InterContinental Taiyuan

2. Day 2: Qingdao City Tour
   Olympic Sailing Center, Qingdao Beer Museum

   After breakfast, you will visit the Olympic Sailing Center, which was the venue for the sailing competitions during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 29th Paralympic Games. Located on the shores of Fushan Bay in the eastern part of Qingdao, the center offers beautiful views of the sea and mountains.

   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. Using a variety of media, including pictures, texts, and actual equipment, the museum showcases a century of Tsingtao Beer's production history and cultural significance.

   

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

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Accommodation: The ST. Regis Qingdao

3. Day 3: Qingdao - Qufu
   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, take a high-speed train for two hours to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius.

   

   Qufu is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to many historic sites that are associated with the life and teachings of Confucius.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Accommodation: Qufu JW Marriott

4. Day 4: Qufu Tour
   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, once the ancestral home of Confucius' descendants, and the Cemetery of Confucius, the final resting place of Confucius and his descendants, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Accommodation: Qufu JW Marriott

   

5. Day 5: Qufu - Taian - Jinan
   Mount Taishan, Heavenly Street, Bixia Temple, Cliff Carvings, Jade Emperor Peak

   After breakfast, we drive for 2 hours to Tai'an to take a cable car up Mount Taishan, which is one of the Five Great Mountains of China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   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.

   

   At the summit, you will visit Jade Emperor Peak and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from Riguan Peak. Afterwards, we'll drive two hours to Jinan for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Accommodation: InterContinental Jinan City Center

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". The spring gushes forth vigorously, forming a constant flow of water. Under the sunlight, the spring water sparkles, creating a picturesque scene with the surrounding pavilions and towers. Visitors can stroll along the winding paths to feel the peace and freshness. Additionally, Baotu Spring boasts a rich historical and cultural background, offering tourists a great opportunity to learn about the history of Jinan.

   Then, visit the Daming Lake, a scenic lake in the heart of the city. With its broad surface and rippling azure waters, the lake is one of the three major attractions in Jinan, alongside Thousand Buddha Mountain and Baotu Spring. Small boats gently glide across the lake, creating gentle ripples, while occasionally, egrets can be seen gracefully flying low, adding to the beauty of the lake and the surrounding hills. You can take a boat ride to appreciate the scenery or stroll along the lakeside.

   

   After the tour, explore the old city of Jinan on your own, which is known for its historic buildings and traditional markets.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Accommodation: InterContinental Jinan City Center

7. Day 7: Jinan Departure

   Today is the final day of your 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.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A