2026 Dong'e Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in January)

🏮 First time visiting Shandong, remember not to join a tour group, because it’s just too much… ——2025 real deal, group tours = “pancake assembly line + shopping hell,” free travel costs about ¥3000 per person to truly experience the spirit of Qilu ⚠️ Why refuse group tours? ✅ Time black hole: Visit 2 “Ejiao shops/pearl stores” daily, only 3 hours to “race to the summit” of Mount Tai ✅ Experience cut short: The Three Confucian Sites become “photo backdrops,” Penglai Pavilion turns into a “prayer and shopping spot” ✅ Food isolation: Group meals are “group meal version of nine-turn large intestine,” can’t taste Bazirou, hairtail dumplings, or sweet soup 📍 2025 Shandong Free Travel Complete Guide (8 days 7 nights counterattack edition) 1️⃣ Preparation (¥2000 covers basics) 🚄 Transportation: - Nationwide → Jinan/Qingdao high-speed rail (preferred), 1-2 hours interconnection within the province by high-speed rail - City transport: Bus ¥1-2 covers all, shared electric scooters ¥5/ride (magic for old city travel) 🏨 Accommodation tips: - Around Jinan Spring City Square ¥150/night (near Baotu Spring, convenient for night tours) - Qingdao Zhanqiao/Train Station area ¥180/night (German-style old buildings, but poor soundproofing) - Guesthouse near Qufu Three Confucian Sites ¥100/night (exclusive early morning access to Confucius Temple) 2️⃣ Transportation: Pitfall prevention guide 🚌 Pitfall records: - Airport/Station → City: Taxi flat rate ¥100 (metered ¥60) - Scenic transport: - “Mount Tai direct bus” detours to shopping spots (stops 1 hour at Tai’an Mu Yu Stone Museum) - Illegal car “charter to Penglai Pavilion” ¥400/day (actually only to the scenic entrance, cross-sea cableway extra charge) - Hidden costs: Car rental ¥250/day (parking difficult on Jiaodong Peninsula, Qingyin Expressway traffic jams make you question life) 💡 Counterattack plan: ✔️ High-speed rail + bus: - Jinan → Tai’an high-speed rail ¥20 (17 minutes, 1 hour faster than bus) - Qingdao subway 3-day pass ¥35 (covers Badaguan - Shilaoren Bathing Beach) ✔️ Walking/Cycling: - Jinan “Spring City” walking tour (Baotu Spring - Black Tiger Spring - Daming Lake, total 5 km) - Weihai coastal road cycling (rent electric scooter ¥50/day, see seaweed houses and windmill array) 3️⃣ Attractions: Group tour traps vs local hidden gems 🔥 Group tour must-fall-for spots: - Mount Tai: squeeze into Zhongtianmen cableway → night climb Red Gate route** (depart 10 pm, save ¥140 cableway fee, arrive at Jade Emperor Peak before sunrise) - Three Confucian Sites: only walk the central axis → enter from Confucius Mansion back garden at 6:30 am** (avoid study groups, listen to ancient trees and birdsong) - Qingdao Zhanqiao: crowds overwhelm Huilange Pavilion → watch the sea at 5 am on Qinyu Road** (free, exclusive “Little Qingdao” lighthouse morning light) 💎 Local routes: - Jinan Qushuiting Street (free, watch elders play chess, drink “spring water tofu pudding” ¥5) - Yantai Yangma Island back sea (free, catch sea creatures at low tide, release starfish after picking) - Weifang Shihu Garden intangible cultural heritage street (free, watch Yangjiabu New Year painting masters carve woodblocks) 🗺️ 8 days 7 nights amazing itinerary 📍 Mountains, waters, sages line (4 days 3 nights: Mount Tai + Three Confucian Sites) Stay: Guesthouse near Tai’an Red Gate ¥80/night (luggage storage, light pack for midnight climb) Play: ✅ Day 1 Mount Tai awakening: - Night climb Red Gate - Zhongtianmen - Nantianmen (bring headlamp + gloves, rent military coat ¥30) - Descend via Houshiwu after sunrise (few people, see ancient pine “First-class official” stone arch) - Lunch Mount Tai fried chicken ¥40 (“Favorite fried chicken shop,” perfect with potstickers) ✅ Day 2 Qufu pulse: - Confucius Temple official guide ¥100 (focus on “Chenghua Stele” + “intricate architecture”) - Yan Temple free! (quieter than Confucius Temple, students recite Analects under ancient cypress) - Overnight at village near Nishan holy land ¥120 (stargazing, listen to villagers’ Confucius birth legends) 📍 Jiaodong Peninsula line (4 days 3 nights: Qingdao + Weihai) Transport: High-speed rail ¥60 (Jinan → Qingdao 2 hours), ferry ¥30 (Qingdao → Weihai to see seagulls) Play: ✅ Day 3 Qingdao edges: - Signal Hill rotating viewing platform ¥10 (see “red tiles and green trees” panorama, alternative to queuing at Xiaoyushan) - Buy seafood at Tuandao Market (mantis shrimp ¥25/jin, find “Sister Liu” for processing ¥10) - Sunset at Xiaomai Island (free, bring beer, sit on lawn, listen to street band) ✅ Day 4 Weihai wild: - Chengshantou hiking (¥150 ticket a bit pricey, but sunrise at mainland’s easternmost point worth it) - Jinshi Bay seaweed houses (free, take fairy tale photos, pick sea urchins at low tide) - Naxianghai beach camping ¥50 (windy in winter, but can see blue tears phenomenon) 📍 Fireworks finale line (2 days 1 night: Jinan + Zibo) Transport: High-speed rail ¥40 (Jinan → Zibo, 40 minutes) Play: ✅ Day 5 Spring City slow walk: - Black Tiger Spring water fetching (free, bring your own bottle, old man teaches water quality identification) - Shandong Museum free! (see “Haidai Daily Renewal” general history exhibition, top ten treasures) - Huanlian Night Market ¥30/person (eat “Fatty’s iron plate squid” ¥10, Weifang fried radish balls ¥5) ✅ Day 6 Zibo temptation: - Badaju Market morning market (fried pancake ¥6/box, purple rice cake ¥3, glass trinkets ¥10) - Haidai Tower Zhongshu Bookstore (free, China’s most beautiful bookstore, cyber night lighting) - Shepherd Village BBQ ¥50/person (reserve seat at 4 pm, small pancake + scallion + sauce soul trio) 💡 2025 ultimate tips ❌ Group tour traps: - “Mount Tai jade” safety buckle ¥300 (Mount Tai produces serpentine, not real jade, cost price ¥20) - “Penglai fairy tea” hard sell (actually ordinary green tea, guide gets 50% kickback) - “Weihai Korean Town” clothes (mostly from Jimo wholesale market, price tripled) ✅ Free travel is truly great: - Buy Zhoucun sesame cake ¥5/bag at vegetable market (thin, crispy, sesame fragrant, half the price of scenic spots) - Eat Bazirou ¥10 at community canteen (Jinan “Chaoyixing,” free rice refills) ⛰️ Traveler awakening quotes “When group tourists queue 2 hours for Mount Tai cableway, I found a rubbing of the stele from Song Zhenzong’s Fengshan ceremony on the cliff at Houshiwu; When the bus touched the ‘Fu character stele’ at Confucius Temple, I exchanged zongzi candy with elementary students reciting Analects under the ancient cypress at Yan Temple; I didn’t eat the ¥200 Confucius Mansion banquet, But at a barbecue stall in Zibo, I traded ¥50 for small pancakes wrapped with meat, charcoal fire, and friends— The soul of Shandong is hidden in every spoonful of the rich local broth that tourist buses never stop at.” 👇 Interaction “What other anti-tour group experiences do you have in Shandong? One person will be drawn to receive [Bazirou coupon + Mount Tai hiking map]!”

Address: Gaoshang Village, Liuji Town, Dong'e County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province Transportation: Self-driving navigation "Jingjue Temple", the road in the village is narrow Parking: There is an open space at the entrance of the temple, free parking Tickets: No tickets, donations are allowed in the donation box On both sides of the temple are inscribed "Majestic National Map and Benefiting All Sentient Beings". The paint and printing are a bit rough, which is incomparable to the royal or imperially built ones we visited earlier. There is a couplet promoting Buddhism on the main entrance, which exudes the local rustic flavor. Inside the temple: The main building is a gable-roofed building with blue bricks and gray tiles, with no painted decorations, and we don’t know much about other architectural languages. It is closer to the style of Shandong rural houses. There are incense tables and cushions in the main hall for worship, but the paint on the wooden doors is peeling and fading. The smell of burning incense in the temple is also different from that in large scenic spots. It has the familiar and friendly smell of burning incense in my hometown in Shandong. There were a few incense sticks in the rusty iron incense burner, burning sparsely. The main gate of the temple is not open, and entry and exit are through the side doors. The stay was no more than ten minutes and there really wasn't much to see. The temple itself is very small and is located right next to the village. Its overall style blends in with the surrounding village buildings. There must be a lot of local villagers gathering here on weekdays. Maybe this is where its wisdom lies. The "immeasurable field of blessings" mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures may be the sound of the enamel pot falling from the hands of an old man, the playing cards scattered in the bucket of a tricycle, or the coughing and laughing in the sun on the missing stone pier.

During the Spring Festival holiday, my wife and I visited the only national treasure cultural relic protection unit in Dong'e County, the Yushan Cao Zhi Tomb. The tomb is located on the western slope of Yushan Mountain, 20 km south of Dong'e County, Liaocheng City. It is the tomb of Cao Zhi, a famous poet of the Wei State (220–265) during the Three Kingdoms period and the third son of Cao Cao. The cemetery has a Cao Zhi Memorial Hall that tells the life story of Cao Zhi, and there are wonderful dance story performances in the park. On the left side of the tomb, there is a stele building rebuilt in the 25th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1899), which houses the Cao Zhi tombstone erected in the Sui Dynasty. The stele is 2.47 meters high, 1.03 meters wide, and 0.21 meters thick. The stele crown and stele body are carved from a single stone, and the inscription has a total of 935 characters, using both seal and clerical script. So far, there are still very few tombs from the Three Kingdoms period discovered in China, so the discovery of Cao Zhi's tomb is of great value for research in literature and archaeology. In March 1977, cultural relics and archaeological workers discovered an inscribed brick on the tomb wall about 3 meters high in front of the tomb chamber. The brick is a tomb brick, with inscriptions on three sides: "On the 15th day of the 3rd month of the 7th year of Taihe, the governor of Yanzhou, Hou Chang, sent 200 soldiers, including Zhu Zhou, to complete the construction of the tomb of King Chen, and each was given a 200-day rest. The supervisor was the minister of the Ministry of Works, Zhang Shun." This proves the authenticity of Cao Zhi's tomb in Dong'e. The ticket is not expensive, and the historical significance is profound. It is a good place to pay tribute to the ancients and enjoy a distant view of the Yellow River from the mountain. The only drawback is that it is unreasonable to pay 8 yuan each time for a private floating bridge to cross the Yellow River.

8-day tour to Qufu's Three Confucian Sites and more. Discover ancient culture and experience the charm of Confucianism! An unmissable historical and cultural tour awaits you! / 🏃Itinerary: Day 1: Depart from Guiyang and arrive in Heze for a rest. Day 2: Visit Qufu's Three Confucian Sites and experience Confucian culture -> Visit Daming Lake and enjoy the beautiful scenery -> Experience the ancient and mysterious Black Tiger Spring. Day 3: Visit Dong'e Ejiao Town and learn about traditional health culture -> Climb Mount Tai and enjoy the magnificent natural scenery. Day 4: Visit Penglai Pavilion and explore the fairyland of myth and legend. Day 5: Visit Xinghai Square and experience the bustling city -> Stroll through Lianhuashan and enjoy the peace and tranquility. Day 6: Vacation at Golden Pebble Beach and enjoy the coastal scenery -> Explore Dalian Haichang Oriental Water City and experience exotic customs. Day 7: Take a photo in front of Weihai Happiness Gate to record the good times -> Visit May Fourth Square and experience the fusion of history and modernity -> Stroll along Zhanqiao Pier and enjoy the sea view and sunset. Day 8: Visit Wanpingkou Seaside Scenic Area and end your pleasant journey. / Travel Essentials: 🎒 👚 Clothing: Qufu is cold in January, so we recommend wearing a warm coat and thick sweater, as well as comfortable shoes for long walks. 🎒 Personal items: Bring a thermos, as hot water is essential in winter. Also, carry a power bank to keep your phone charged. 📚 Cultural items: Bring a pen and notebook to record your travel experiences or draw the beautiful scenery. 🔖 Documents: Don't forget your ID card, student ID, or other discount cards, as they can save you money on tickets! 💊 Other essentials: Bring some common medicines, such as cold medicine and painkillers, just in case. Also, winter is dry, so lip balm and hand cream are essential. / Qufu's Three Confucian Sites and more have a rich historical and cultural heritage and are definitely worth a visit. We hope you can find your own peace and historical mark here.

8-Day Tour of Qufu's Three Confucian Sites and More: Explore Cultural Relics! A super detailed guide is here to help you travel easily and avoid detours. Save it now! -------- 🚩Itinerary: Day 1: Guiyang🚄Heze Depart from Guiyang and take a train to Heze to start a journey of exploring ancient sites and nature. Day 2: Qufu's Three Confucian Sites🏛️->Daming Lake Scenic Area🌊->Black Tiger Spring🐅 Visit the holy land of Confucian culture, the Three Confucian Sites, and appreciate the ancient academic hall. In the afternoon, head to the picturesque Daming Lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery. Finally, visit the mysterious Black Tiger Spring to experience the charm of the ancient spring city. Day 3: Dong'e Ejiao City🌿->Mount Tai Scenic Area🏔️ Learn about traditional medicine culture in Dong'e Ejiao City, then climb Mount Tai to appreciate the grandeur of nature and experience the fun of climbing. Day 4: Penglai Pavilion🏰 Visit Penglai Pavilion to explore the fairyland in myths and legends and feel the harmonious integration of ancient architecture and natural landscapes. Day 5: Xinghai Square🌌->Lianhua Mountain🌺 Enjoy the cityscape at Xinghai Square and feel the prosperity of a modern city. Then head to Lianhua Mountain to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature. Day 6: Jinshitan Resort🏖️->Dalian Haichang Oriental Water City🏰 Relax at Jinshitan Resort and enjoy leisure time by the sea. In the evening, head to Dalian Haichang Oriental Water City to experience a unique water castle. Day 7: Weihai Happiness Gate🚪->May Fourth Square🎉->Zhanqiao Bridge🌉 Visit the iconic Happiness Gate in Weihai and feel the charm of a coastal city. Then head to May Fourth Square to experience the vitality of the city. Finally, stroll along Zhanqiao Bridge to enjoy the sea view and city panorama. Day 8: Wanpingkou Seaside Scenic Area🏖️ End the trip at Wanpingkou Seaside Scenic Area, enjoy the sun, beach, and waves, and leave with beautiful memories. -------- Travel Tips: January Climate: Qufu is cold in January, so remember to wear a thick coat to keep warm.🧣 Photo Spots: The Wanren Palace Wall and Dacheng Hall in the Confucius Temple are must-visit photo spots.📸 Specialty Prices: The price of Qufu's Three Treasures is about CNY 100–300, suitable as souvenirs.🎁 Food: Don't miss the Confucius Family Banquet. Qufu Roast Chicken and Qufu Sausage are also worth trying!🍽️ -------- Qufu's Three Confucian Sites, a treasure of millennia-old culture, await you to explore the footprints of history and feel the charm of Confucianism!🌟

8-Day Tour of the Three Confucius Sites in Qufu: Explore cultural relics and experience the charm of Confucianism. An amazing itinerary awaits you! -------- 📅 Itinerary: D1: Guiyang -> Heze Depart from Guiyang and arrive in Heze to start your exciting journey! D2: Three Confucius Sites in Qufu -> Daming Lake Scenic Area -> Black Tiger Spring Visit the Three Confucius Sites in Qufu, the holy land of Confucianism, and experience the charm of ancient culture. In the afternoon, head to Daming Lake to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Finally, go to Black Tiger Spring to taste the sweet spring water. D3: Dong'e Ejiao Town -> Mount Tai Scenic Area Visit Dong'e Ejiao Town to learn about Ejiao culture. Then head to Mount Tai to challenge yourself with a mountain climbing trip and enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery. D4: Penglai Pavilion Visit the fairyland of Penglai, climb up to Penglai Pavilion, overlook the sea and sky, and feel the charm of myth and legend. D5: Xinghai Square -> Lotus Hill Enjoy the city view at Xinghai Square, then head to Lotus Hill to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature. D6: Golden Pebble Beach National Tourist Resort -> Dalian Haichang Oriental Water City Enjoy the seaside at Golden Pebble Beach National Tourist Resort, then head to Dalian Haichang Oriental Water City to experience a different kind of water fun. D7: Weihai Happiness Gate -> May Fourth Square -> Zhanqiao Pier Visit Weihai Happiness Gate to experience the romance of a coastal city. Then head to May Fourth Square to learn about history and culture. Finally, take a walk on Zhanqiao Pier to enjoy the sea view and sunset. D8: Wanpingkou Scenic Area Spend a relaxing and enjoyable last day at Wanpingkou Scenic Area, enjoying the sunshine and beach. -------- Travel Essentials: 🎒 For a trip to the Three Confucius Sites in Qufu and more, don't forget these items! 👚 Clothing: The temperature in Qufu in December is moderate. You can wear a light jacket during the day, but it gets a little chilly at night, so it's recommended to bring a warm coat. Choose comfortable shoes, as the scenic area is large and requires a lot of walking. 🎒 Accessories: Don't forget to bring a sun hat and sunglasses, as the winter sun can be dazzling. A power bank is essential, as you'll need your phone for taking photos and navigation. 📇 Documents: Be sure to bring your ID card, student ID, and other discount cards to save money on tickets. Also, bring some cash and bank cards for emergencies. 🍞 Food: The food in the scenic area may not suit your taste, so it's recommended to bring some snacks and water to quench your thirst and replenish your energy. -------- Visit the Three Confucius Sites in Qufu to experience the collision of history and culture, and don't forget to leave your footprints! 👣 See you next time~

Dong'e Ejiao Town is located beside Medicine King Mountain and adjacent to Luoshen Lake, situated in Dong'e County, Liaocheng City. Ejiao Town is an ancient-style architectural complex with the background of traditional Chinese medicine culture from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. It was built for the filming of the TV series 'The Grand Mansion Gate 1912': Dong'e Film and TV City. The top recommended spot in the scenic area is the Bai Family Courtyard, the filming location of the TV series The Grand Mansion Gate. Other productions filmed here include the TV series 'Snow Eagle', 'Iron Blood General', and the movie 'Tea Soul', etc. Ejiao Town was constructed because of 'The Grand Mansion Gate', so the main attractions in the town imitate Jinan's East Street and South Street of that era, and include features such as a city tower, Water City Gate, Bai Residence Courtyard, Heiqi Ejiao Manor, traditional Chinese medicine shops, Ejiao Well, Ejiao Tea House, and the Du Yue Bridge, among others. On Medicine King Mountain, the stone carvings, statues, medicinal herbs, couplets, and plaques constitute the 'Five Excellences', which are worth savoring in detail. Along with the Medicine King Hall on the mountain and the vast Luoshen Lake, the entire scenic area boasts a beautiful natural environment and pleasant scenery. Ejiao Town is a 4A-level scenic area themed around traditional Chinese medicine culture. It is a great choice for a trip to western Shandong, and a visit to Dong'e Ejiao Town will surely be worthwhile.

📍Dong'e Ejiao Town, also known as Dong'e Film and TV City, is located in Dong'e County, Liaocheng, Shandong. 👀This is a group of antique buildings with the culture of the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China as the background, taking you to feel the market atmosphere of that era. 🎬Shuicheng Gate is the iconic scenic spot of Dong'e Film and TV City. In the TV series 'The Grand Mansion Gate', Bai Qiyi entered Jinan Prefecture from here. 🏠Bai's Mansion is a typical Siheyuan with three courtyards, and it still retains the decorations of the study, bedroom, and reception hall from the TV series. 📚There is also the Heiqitang Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop, from which the prototype of Bai Qiyi in 'The Grand Mansion Gate' originated. Let's learn about it together. 🤩In addition, you can also learn about the history and development of Ejiao and taste the unique full donkey banquet. 🅿Parking is very convenient, with a large parking lot at the entrance. 🕰Opening hours: 8:00-18:00. 💖Dong'e Film and TV City is a comprehensive scenic area that combines film and TV shooting, historical culture, and tourism leisure. It is recommended to play for 3-4 hours.

| Travel Guide. 👉Dong'e Yaowang Mountain is located on the west side of Shuguang Street, Dong'e Square, Dong'e County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, and is located in Dong'e Cao Zhi Park. It is a national AAAA level scenic spot💯. 🙏To the west is the Dong'e Ejiao Health Culture Garden, and to the east is the 800-acre Luoshen Lake, with beautiful scenery. 😀There are many cultural relics here, enshrining the Medicine Buddha and the Eight Great Medicine Kings, as well as the Guanyin who gives sons, the God of Wealth, the God of Wenchang, the Grandma of Eyesight, the Dragon King and more than thirty other gods. 🤩Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong have visited many times during their southern tours, leaving precious calligraphy. 🎉Climbing up and looking into the distance, it is refreshing and unforgettable. There is a folk saying, 'Pray for blessings, longevity and peace, please go to Dong'e Yaowang Mountain'. 🕙Opening hours: 8:00-17:00 💰Ticket price: 25 yuan/person 🎯Suggested play time: 3 hours 🌈Main attractions: Yaowang Temple, Fushou Palace, Bell and Drum Tower, Jingxin Pool, Ejiao Museum, etc. 🍲Surrounding food: Dong'e Ejiao cake, Gaotang donkey meat, Liaocheng gua da, etc.

The night wind, the flashing neon, constantly changing the various lights, as if passing through the ancient years, it is easy to understand the unique feelings of the old Jinan people. The colorful lights clearly outline the bridges, springs and ancient buildings. They are picturesque and dreamlike. The moat under the light makeup exudes a deep poetry, pavilions and bridges, small bridges, bright lights, beautiful