Confucian Culture & Qingdao Exploration

Day 1 Arrival in Jinan
Baotu Spring Park
Baotu Spring Park
Our tour guide will meet you at the railway station or airport, and then escort you to the hotel booked by us in Jinan. We recommend that you arrive before 14:00. After a short rest at the hotel, your 5 days Jinan tour starts with the sightseeing of Daming Lake, which has been enchanting people since the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). Summer is the best time to visit and at the same time you can appreciate the gorgeous lotus blossoms. After an hour’s visit, the tour continues to Baotu Spring Park – one of the essential attractions of Jinan. While enjoying the beautiful views, you can sip the cool and sweet spring water there, which is regarded as an ideal water resource for making tea.

Day 2 Jinan – Tai’an – Qufu
Mount Taishan
Mount Taishan
After breakfast, we will set out for a 1.5 hours’ private ride to Tai’an City, the home of Mount Taishan. Being one of the most famous mountains in China, Mt. Taishan boasts profound Taoist and Buddhist cultural relics, remainders of its sacred history. The mountain also has an enchanting natural landscape. We will take the eco-bus to the Mid-Heaven Gate (Zhongtianmen), and then board the cable car to the South Heaven Gate (Nantianmen). When you get off, trek for about 30 minutes along the paved stairway to the summit. On a good day, you can witness the amazing sea of clouds. A simple lunch is served inside the scenic area to replenish your energy. Afterwards, reverse the route back to the mountain foot, and make an extended trip to the Dai Temple to admire the elaborate Taoist architecture. Then we will transfer you to the next destination, Qufu, with a duration of about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, check into a local hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Queli Hotel

Day 3 Qufu – Qingdao
Confucius Temple, Qufu
Confucius Temple, Qufu
Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, a great educationalist and ideologist during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC). In the morning, we will set out to visit the Confucius Temple. It is the first temple in the world to enshrine Confucius and is estimated to date back to 478 AD. Resting upon what was Confucius’s residence before, the temple spans about 50 acres, second to the Forbidden City. We will go to the Confucius Family Mansion, where descendants of Confucius have lived for generations. After lunch, pay a visit to the Confucius Cemetery and take a leisurely stroll through the grounds.

After the tour, our guide will escort you to Qufu Railway Station for your onward high-speed train ride to Qingdao, the last destination of your Shandong tour. Our Qingdao guide will pick you up at the train station and help you with the hotel check-in procedures.

Day 4 Qingdao
Zhan Bridge
Zhan Bridge
In the morning, we will explore the coastal city of Qingdao, with a visit to the city’s most prized symbol, the Zhan Bridge. As we walk along the corridor, we can capture the crescent-shape coastline of Qingdao. Then we will venture to the Small Qingdao Island, from which the city gets its name. It is the best place for one to sit down and enjoy the coastal view and feel the refreshing sea breeze. Afterwards, our guide will lead you to Badaguan Scenic Area, where you can inspect the exotic villas, built in various architectural styles.

Later, you are treated to a hearty lunch, which involves tasting the local sea food. If you are not too full, pay a visit to Qingdao Beer Museum, where you can savor authentic Tsingtao beer, and learn more about the evolution and process of making the beer.

Day 5 Departure from Qingdao
Before leaving, seize the morning to sight-see the May Fourth Square, where the symbolic statue May Wind towers. Roam along the seashore or enjoy the water fountain in the sea. You can even stroll to the nearby Olympic Sailing Center, where the sailing competitions at the 2008 Olympic Games were hosted and see the various sailboat models on display.

Your memorable Shandong tour package ends here. Our guide will see you off at the airport or railway station. For your convenience, we suggest you board a flight or train leaving after 14:00.

Meal: Western buffet breakfast