Humble Qingzhou

3rd tier cities are rarely the place tourists travel to in China. And understandably so. They're often less developed and less exciting versions of bigger cities. But in these cities reside a significant percentage of China's population and, therefore, they better reflect the country's culture. Qingzhou is one of such cities; a relatively insignificant city in modern China, but what few know is that it was quite an influential hub back in the day ... I mean WAY back in the day. Luckily some of the old town has survived (however obvious renovations are visible) and one can really imagine the good old days while navigating the little alleys. Of course it's inevitable that you will encounter the usual stores selling Sun Wu Kung face masks, milk tea, and trinkets from the early days of modern China, so don't expect any high end treasures. It might be better to just enjoy the walk, grab a bowl of noodles, and possibly get your hair trimmed outdoors by the local barbers that line the main street. Another charming part of the city is Yunmen Mountain. It rises up a few kilometers to the south of the city and very little development surrounds it. It's a peaceful area and the hike up the mountain helps one escape the stress of city life. The reward is ultimately a marvelous view of the city and miles of countryside. Before heading back to the city, possibly pop in to one of the adorable rural restaurants at the foot and grab a bite to eat. PS to those adventurous few: fried cicadas, crickets, scorpions, or goats head might be found on some menus #historicculture#culturalattractions#hiking