Shandong Liaocheng | Visiting in the off-season during July-August is truly delightful, with fewer people and beautiful scenery

- Dear friends 🥰, summer in Liaocheng feels like it’s sprinkled with magical golden dust. The ancient canal’s water sparkles, and the lotus flowers on Dongchang Lake are blooming joyfully! In July and August, temperatures in Liaocheng range from 25°C to 33°C. Although it’s a bit warm, the breeze under the shade of trees is super comfortable. The best part is fewer crowds, so no squeezing and no fighting for photo spots~ Here you’ll find the passionate rivers and lakes from "Water Margin," the gentle romance of the northern Jiangsu water town, and the intoxicating flavors of Luxi cuisine. Quickly grab this summer escape guide 💕! - ➤ Must-try summer experiences in Liaocheng 🌟 Why visit Liaocheng in July-August? ❶ Immersive time travel: Watch the sunset from Guangyue Tower + night tour of the ancient canal alleys, fully soaking in the historical atmosphere 📜 ❷ Water fun: Row boats on Dongchang Lake + water town light show 💦, cool and perfect for photos! ❸ Foodie’s paradise: Guata, Wei’s smoked chicken, and Bagua pastries—only true carb lovers understand the joy 🍖 - ➤ Top recommended attractions: 1. 【Dongchang Lake Tourist Area】(The largest urban lake in northern Jiangsu · Lotus flower paradise) 📍 Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟 Highlights: A freshwater lake even bigger than West Lake! In July, tens of thousands of lotus flowers bloom. Take a rowboat through the lotus leaves 🛶, and in the evening, watch the "Eye of the Water City" Ferris wheel reflecting on the lake. Every snapshot looks like a scene from "A Dream of Splendor" 🌉 🕒 Opening hours: All day (Boat rides 8:30-18:00) 💰 Admission: Free (Boat ride 50 RMB) ✨ Magical experiences: ● Wear Hanfu and take photos on the lake island, feeling like "lost deep in the lotus flowers" 👘 ● Take a night cruise on a painted boat to watch the light show, with guzheng performances on the shore—super romantic 🎵 ● Buy freshly picked lotus seed pods, the sweet lotus seeds beat bubble tea 🍡 💡 Secret photo spot: "Lotus Fragrance Pavilion" on the west shore of the lake, perfect for ink painting style photos in the morning mist! - 2. 【Guangyue Tower】(Ming Dynasty architectural marvel · Water Margin check-in spot) 📍 Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟 Highlights: The ancient city tower visited six times by Emperor Qianlong! From the top, you can overlook all of Liaocheng. In August, the sunset often dyes the canal red 🌄, and when lit at night, it looks like a palace in the sky ✨ 🕒 Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 (Extended to 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays) 💰 Admission: 30 RMB ✨ Time travel tips: ● Join the "Water Margin Heroes" cosplay and get a stamped pass 🎭 ● Send postcards from the tower rooftop with a special postmark for a memorable keepsake 📮 ● Use AR devices to see the ancient canal’s prosperous cargo transport, full of tech vibes 👓 - 3. 【Chinese Water Ancient City】(The Bagua city floating on the lake) 📍 Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟 Highlights: The only ancient city on a lake in China! With bluestone paths and Ming-Qing dynasty shops, it’s liveliest at night in July-August. When lanterns light up, it feels like traveling back to the Song Dynasty 🏮. Don’t miss the old-fashioned popsicles and pear syrup candy in the alleys~ 🕒 Opening hours: All day (Attractions 9:00-17:30) 💰 Admission: Ancient city free (Combo ticket 80 RMB includes 7 attractions) ✨ Walking guide: ● Play the "Ancient City Treasure Hunt" game, collect copper coins to exchange for donkey-hide gelatin cake 🎮 ● Write an ancient land deed by hand at the "Contract Museum" 📜 ● Watch the 19:00 "Water Iron Flower" show, a stunning intangible cultural heritage performance 🔥 - 4. 【Jingyanggang Tourist Area】(The original site of Wu Song fighting the tiger) 📍 Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 🌟 Highlights: A must-visit for true Water Margin fans! The forest is very cool in summer. There are live performances of "Wu Song Fighting the Tiger" daily at 10:30 and 15:00 🐅, and you can experience the drinking culture of "Three Bowls Not Passing the Hill" 🍶 🕒 Opening hours: 8:00-18:00 💰 Admission: 60 RMB ✨ Fun ideas: ● Hug a tiger plush toy for a "tough guy" photo (really inside a cage) 📸 ● Drink "Tou Ping Xiang" rice wine, and if you have a strong tolerance, challenge the "Eighteen Bowls" 🤣 ● Buy tiger-head shoes or cloth tigers, irresistibly cute 🐯 - 5. 【China Ejiao Museum】(The top in nourishing health products) 📍 Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 🌟 Highlights: The home of Dong’e Ejiao! Learn health preservation knowledge in an air-conditioned room, watch masters demonstrate traditional gelatin boiling methods, try Ejiao cake for free 🍯, and enter a lucky draw when buying souvenirs~ 🕒 Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays) 💰 Admission: Free (Guided tours require reservation) ✨ Health tips: ● DIY Ejiao red date tea, with hands-on guidance from a friendly lady 💁 ● Stamp the twelve zodiac wax seals at the "Jiao Xiang Book House" ✉️ ● Must-buy "Peach Blossom Princess" ready-to-eat Ejiao, sweet but not greasy 🌸 - 🌸 Liaocheng 2-day perfect itinerary Day 1: Ancient city × Water town double experience 08:00 Dongchang Lake morning mist lotus photoshoot 📸 → 12:00 Eat Shazhen Guata with mutton soup 🍲 → 14:00 Guangyue Tower AR time travel 👓 → 19:00 Watch iron flower show at Water Ancient City 🎇 - Day 2: Rivers and lakes × Health double hit 08:30 Watch Wu Song fighting the tiger at Jingyanggang 🐅 → 12:00 Try Wei’s smoked chicken, tear it apart to eat 🍗 → 15:00 DIY at Ejiao Museum 🍯 → 18:00 Lakeside stroll waiting for sunset 🌉 - ➤ Food highlights ❶ Shazhen Guata: More fragrant than roujiamo! Egg and meat filling fried crispy, perfect breakfast 🤤 ❷ Wei’s smoked chicken: Intangible cultural heritage old brand, black-golden chicken skin chews like beef jerky 🦃 ❸ Bagua pastries: Fried eight-strand dough ropes, perfect dipped in soy milk 🍢 ❹ Linqing Shaomai: Juicy lamb filling, skin as thin as paper 🥟 ❺ Gaotang old tofu: Braised with over a dozen spices, lines start at 3 a.m. 🍮 - ➤ Accommodation recommendations 🏯 Ancient city inn: Open the window to see the canal, fall asleep to the sound of rowboats at night, about 100 RMB per person 💤 🏨 Dongchang Lake Hotel: Lake view rooms with sunrise views, just downstairs to play in the water 🌅 - 🚗 Transportation guide ✈️ Flight: Jinan Yaoqiang Airport → 2-hour direct bus 🚄 High-speed rail: Liaocheng West Station, 2.5 hours from Beijing / 1.5 hours from Zhengzhou 🚌 City transport: Shared electric scooters + water buses, cool and no traffic jams 🛵 🚗 Self-driving: Qingyin Expressway Liaocheng exit, parking around the ancient city 5 RMB/day - 💡 Summer travel tips ❶ Sunscreen essentials: arm sleeves + straw hat + sunglasses, few shady spots in the ancient city 🕶️ ❷ Limited-time experience: Lotus Festival at the end of July with river lantern release 🏮 ❸ Hidden perks: 10% off at Ejiao Museum with high-speed rail ticket 🤑 ❹ Cultural bonus: Ancient costume flash performances at Guangyue Tower every Saturday 🎵