Highlights of Shandong: Qingdao, Qufu, and Mount Tai in Five Days
Overview
This tour takes you to explore the most attractive sights in Shandong’s Qingdao, Qufu, and Mount Tai Scenic Area. Get to visit the cities but also enjoy the peaceful mountains, while gaining a deeper understanding of Confucianism in Confucius’ hometown: Qufu.
Destination: Qingdao Taian Qufu Tour type: Private Total duration for each tour: Five days Tour code: SD-5-01
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• Explore the Confucius Temple which has been restored and expanded from dynasty to dynasty
• Marvel at Mt. Tai’s incredible views
• Relax with the convenience of an English-speaking local tour guide and a driver
• Enjoy plenty of photo opportunities
Upon your arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel.
After you’ve checked in, you will visit the Tsingtao Brewery Museum, where you can learn about the complete process of making the world-famous Tsingtao beer and taste it too, as fresh as it gets. Outside of the museum is beer street, where you can sip even more of these refreshing suds that have brought the city so much attention throughout the years. In Qingdao, you’ll even be able to buy beer by the little plastic bag.
Today you will explore Qingdao City. The first stop on this tour is Zhanqiao Pier, a symbol of the city. This pier was built in 1891, and stretches 440 meters into the sea. Originally, the pier was a naval pier, but now it is a tourist destination. It is also the image that is used on the label of Tsingtao beer bottles and cans, so that’s why you might recognize it. Make sure you get plenty of photos of this iconic sight.
After that, we will visit Little Qingdao Isle, which is shaped like an ancient violin, and therefore also sometimes referred to as “Violin Isle.” It is one of Qingdao’s top ten sights, and holds some of its colonial history. The Germans constructed the white light tower on the island in 1900 out of white marble, standing tall at 15.5 meters. When the Japanese occupied Qingdao, they build a seawall of 377 meters long and 8 meters wide linking the island to the shore. You’ll be able to see the remnants of this time in history.
Later, you will be able to walk around the Badaguan Scenic Resort. This is a great place to embrace and learn more about Qingdao, which is well known for the beautiful old villas built in different architecture styles reflecting Qingdao’s colonial history. It is also a really relaxing place to go for a stroll. Lastly, you will be able to enjoy a walk along the coastline of Qingdao City to May Fourth Square and the 2008 Olympics Sailing Center. This will help you gain some more understanding about Qingdao’s scope.
In this morning, take the train from Qingdao to Qufu, and you’ll be met by your tour guide at the train station. Qufu is a city in southwestern Shandong Province with an urban population of about 60,000 people. The entire administrative region has about 650,000 inhabitants.
Qufu is best known as the hometown of Confucius. The city contains numerous historic palaces, temples and cemeteries. The three most famous cultural sites of the city, collectively known as San Kong, or "The Three Confucian sites", are the Temple of Confucius, the Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion. Together these three sites have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
In the morning, you will be picked up at Qufu train station or your hotel, depending on whether you are coming into Qufu for just the day, or whether you are already staying there.
Youl’ll start with a visit to Confucius Temple, or Kong Miao, as it is known in Chinese. The origins of the temple date back to the 5th Century B.C., as it was built shortly after Confucius’ death. In 478 B.C., Duke Ai of the state of Lu (in today's Shandong Province) built a temple honoring Confucius, who, at the time, was still largely unknown outside the province. By the 2nd Century B.C., the fame of Confucius had spread and the Han Emperor Wudi began offering sacrifices at this site in 205 B.C. The temple was expanded but subsequent generations of rulers, and for the next thousand years, untold numbers of buildings were built and torn down in many rounds of rebuilding.
After your visit to the temple, there will be time to taste some of the local cuisine, which your tour guide can help you understand.
Following lunch, you will visit the Kong Family Mansion, or Confucius’ Family Mansion. This is where both Confucius and his descendants allegedly lived for over 2,500 years. The yard boasts 466 rooms and myriad courtyards, most of which are off-limits to tourists, but there are enough open to give you a general idea of the grandeur of the place.
You’ll also visit the Cemetery of Confucius, which is where the Kong clan is all buried, as well as some of Confucius’ disciples. Construction on this cemetery was begun in 1331, but in total there have been 13 different renovations and extensions. By the late 18th century, the perimeter wall reached a length of 7.5 kilometers, enclosing an area of 3.6 square kilometers. The oldest graves found here date back to the Zhou Dynasty.
You will spend the night in Qufu.
In the morning, you will be taken to Mount Tai. Mount Tai, located in the middle of Shandong Province, spans across two cities: Tai’an City and Jinan City, covering a total area of 426 square kilometers. In 1987, the mountain was listed as a UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage site.
Since ancient times, Mount Tai has been recognized as a holy and sacred Mountain, and has held the accolade of being the “Most Revered of the Five Sacred Mountains”. Furthermore, Mount Tai symbolizes peaceful life and a unified country. Because of that, for thousands of years, more than a dozen emperors paid their homage to the mountain. Vast quantities of poetry and stone inscriptions were left by emperors, poets and scholars of every era. In other words, Mount Tai has become the symbol of Chinese spirit.
Your tour at Mount Tai includes many famous scenic spots on the mountain, such as the South Gate to Heaven (the last remaining gate of Mount Tai), Shiba Pan (some of the steepest steps), The Grand View Peak (a stone inscription left from Tang Dynasty (8th century), the Jade Emperor Temple, and a cable car ride to take in the incredible views. On your way down, you can visit a kindergarten to play games with some of the local children.
You will spend the night in Tai’an.
After breakfast you’ll have the morning to yourself until it is time to be taken to the train station. That is the end of your tour.
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