Top 10 Famous Tourist Shandong Attractions and Sightseeing

Shandong, known as the "Hometown of Confucius and Mencius" and the "Land of Etiquette", unfolds across the land of Qi and Lu a millennia-old scroll where mountains embrace the sea and culture blends with valor. From the lofty summit of Mount Tai, revered as the foremost of the Five Sacred Mountains, to the bubbling elegance of Baotu Spring in the City of Springs; from the mirage-like fairyland of Penglai Pavilion to the Confucian heritage of the Three Confucian Sites in Qufu, all embody the charm of "Hospitable Shandong". Here are the Shandong top 10 attractions.

Top 1: Mount Tai

Mount Tai, historically known as Dai Mountain and also called Daizong or Tiansun, is the foremost of China's Five Sacred Mountains and is honored as "the Greatest Mountains over the world". It has been hailed by both Chinese and foreign scholars as "China's Olympus". Rising majestically in the eastern part of the North China Plain and towering over the Qilu Plain, Mount Tai faces the sea to the east and borders the Yellow River to the west. It stretches across the cities of Tai'an, Jinan, and Zibo, covering a total area of 25,000 hectares. Its main peak, the Jade Emperor Peak, stands at approximately 1,545 meters above sea level.

Mount Tai has witnessed 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, being the epitome of Chinese culture and serving as a spiritual symbol of the ancient Chinese concept of "harmony between heaven and humanity". In antiquity, it was revered as a gateway to the throne of heaven, a sacred mountain worshiped by the people and visited by emperors for ceremonial offerings. There is a saying: "When Mount Tai is stable, all under heaven is at peace." From the time of the First Emperor of Qin to the Qing Dynasty, a total of 13 emperors ascended Mount Tai to perform Feng-shan sacrifices or hold rituals, giving rise to the expression "Fengshan of Mount Tai". In ancient Chinese mythology, it is said that after Pangu died, his head transformed into Mount Tai. It is also a sacred site for both Buddhism and Taoism, with temples and landmarks from both religions scattered across its expanse.

The main peak of Mount Tai rises abruptly with steep cliffs and layers of towering ridges. The abundance of pine and cypress trees enhances its solemn, majestic, and lush appearance, while the flowing streams and springs lend it an air of grace and tenderness. The ever-shifting mist and clouds add a touch of mystery and profundity. At the foot of the mountain lies the Dai Temple, the central structure aligned with the main axis of Tai'an city, where emperors held Fengshan ceremonies and worshipped the deity of Mount Tai. From the Dai Temple at the base to the summit of Mount Tai, more than a thousand stone inscriptions are scattered along the path.

• Address: Hongmen Road, Dayue District, Tai'an City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 05:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 6-24 hours

Top 2: Mount Lao

Mount Lao, also called Laoshan Mountain, is hailed as the "No.1 Famous Mountain on the Sea" and is the highest peak along China's coastline. It covers an area of 446 square kilometers, with its main peak, Jufeng, reaching an elevation of 1,132.7 meters.

Formed during the Cretaceous period 100 million years ago, Mount Lao has undergone vast geological changes, resulting in its majestic, unique, and splendid landscapes. Centered around Jufeng, the mountain range extends in all directions. Its eastern and southern slopes face the sea, creating a rare mountain-sea panorama. The winding coastline forms many capes, bays, and scattered islands. Viewed from the sea, the peaks rise amid swirling mist; from the mountain, the vast ocean stretches to the horizon. When strong winds stir the waves, roaring tides crash against the shore in a spectacular display. Throughout history, Mount Lao has been praised as a "marvel of mountain and sea".

The mountain's waters are pure and unpolluted, known for their clarity and quality. The famous Tsingtao Beer uses Mount Lao's spring water as its source.

Mount Lao is also a major birthplace of Taoism in China, known as "the Second Greatest Taoist Monastery under Heaven" in the Quanzhen sect. At its peak, it had "nine palaces, eight temples, and seventy-two hermitages". Since the Spring and Autumn period, Taoist priests and recluses have practiced here, and the mountain has long been admired by emperors, scholars, and monks. The renowned writer Pu Songling, who regarded Mount Lao as a second home, made it famous through his story Lao Mountain Taoist.

• Address: Laoshan District, Qingdao City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 07:00 AM – 05:30 PM
• Tour Length: 4-24 hours

Top 3: Three Confucian Sites

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu, collectively known in "Three Confucian Sites", are sacred places where generations have commemorated Confucius and where scholars have paid tribute.

Qufu, in Jining, Shandong, is the hometown of Confucius. It was here that he taught and founded Confucianism, which has deeply influenced over 2,000 years of Chinese history. Representing Confucian ideals, his teachings shaped China's philosophical, political, and social systems, becoming the cornerstone of Chinese culture.

The Confucius Temple was originally built by the Duke Ai of Lu the year after Confucius's death, on the site of his former residence. It was expanded and renovated by successive dynasties and now covers over 600 mu (about 40 hectares), with 464 structures including halls, altars, pavilions, and gateways. Surrounded by red walls and watchtowers modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City, the temple reflects strong Confucian ethical symbolism.

The Kong Family Mansion, also known as the "Mansion of the Duke Yansheng", was the official residence of Confucius's direct descendants. Covering 240 mu (about 16 hectares), it includes government offices in the front and living quarters in the rear, making it a classic example of combined official and residential architecture in feudal China.

The Cemetery of Confucius, also called the "Sacred Forest", is the exclusive burial site of Confucius and his descendants. It is the world's longest-standing family cemetery, with walls stretching 7 kilometers. After Confucius's death, his disciples brought rare plants from across the country to be planted here. As his status grew, the cemetery expanded, and it now contains over 100,000 trees, making it the largest man-made forest in China.

• Address: Shendao Road, Qufu City, Jining City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 07:40 AM – 05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 4-12 hours

Top 4: Baotu Spring

Baotu Spring, along with Thousand Buddha Mountain and Daming Lake, is one of the three most famous scenic spots in Jinan. Located east of Quancheng Square and facing Five Dragon Poolto the north, it covers an area of 10.5 hectares and ranks first among Jinan's 72 renowned springs. During his southern tour, Emperor Qianlong praised the spring for its sweet and mellow water used to brew tea, and honored it as the "Best Spring in the World". It is also the earliest Jinan spring recorded in ancient literature.

The spring eyes are located in front of Luoyuan Hall inside Baotu Spring Park. Surrounded by stone embankments, the spring forms a rectangular pool measuring 30 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 2.2 meters deep. Water gushes from underground limestone caves at a daily volume of 70,000 cubic meters. Three main spring eyes are lined up in a row, bursting forth with great force. Many smaller spring eyes within the pool raise bubbling water, rising and drifting like strings of pearls.

Baotu Spring is known for three key features: clarity, sweetness, and coolness. The water is crystal clear, sweet and refreshing, with a constant temperature of around 16°C year-round. In winter, even at -10°C, while the surroundings are covered in snow and ice, a mist-like fog hovers over the spring, and the water plants between the pool and the stream remain vividly green as fish swim freely. In summer, the cool water brings a sense of freshness and relief. Such an extraordinary spring landscape has been praised by literati throughout the ages.

• Address: No. 1, Baotu Spring South Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 07:00 AM – 07:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-7 hours

Top 5: Zhanqiao Pier

Zhanqiao Pier, also known as Qingdao Pier, is located on the northern side of Qingdao Bay and aligns directly with Zhongshan Road, the city's main commercial street. Stretching out into the sea and facing Little Qingdao across the water, it is praised as a "long rainbow extending far into the sea". Built in 1891 during the Qing Dynasty, it was Shandong Qingdao's first modern man-made pier and remains one of the city's most iconic landmarks.

The pier is 440 meters long and 10 meters wide, with iron chain railings and lotus-shaped street lamps on both sides. At the end stands a semicircular, arrowhead-shaped breakwater, and on the man-made island at the southern tip of the pier sits Huilan Pavilion, a traditional Chinese two-story octagonal structure with flying eaves, covering 354.12 square meters. Its roof is tiled with blue glazed ceramic, and the pavilion is supported by 24 round pillars. Inside is a circular hall with a 34-step spiral staircase leading to the upper floor.

Walking along the pier, one can admire Qingdao's crescent-shaped skyline, while atop the pavilion, one can watch waves crashing against the breakwater. On calm days, thousands of seagulls soar freely over the bay, bringing vitality to the beautiful Qingdao Bay.

• Address: No. 12, Taiping Road, Shinan District, Qingdao City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 00:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-3 hours

Top 6: Badaguan

Badaguan Scenic Area is located in the eastern part of Huiquan, Shinan District, Qingdao, at the southern foot of Mount Taiping. Built in the 1930s, it is one of China's most famous scenic and health resort areas, covering over 70 hectares. The name "Badaguan (Eight Passes)" comes from the original eight streets in the area, each named after a famous pass along the Great Wall of China (now increased to ten streets). It is renowned as a villa district and is often referred to as an "architectural museum of the world".

What makes Badaguan unique is its integration of gardens and courtyards. Lush trees and blooming flowers fill the area year-round, and each of the streets is lined with a different species of tree. Shaoguan Road is lined with flowering peach trees, blooming in pink during spring; Zhenyangguan Road is filled with crape myrtles, vibrant in summer; Juyongguan Road features maple trees that turn red in autumn; Zijingguan Road is flanked by evergreen cedars; Ningwuguan Road is known for crabapple trees. From early spring to late autumn, the streets are continuously in bloom, earning the nickname "Flower Streets". In the northeast corner, a peach grove becomes a popular spring outing spot. In the southwest, paired cypress trees separate out private "boxes" along the paths, favored by couples leading to the nickname of "Love Corner". Against this romantic backdrop, the diverse foreign-style villas blend naturally into the landscape, adding charm and beauty to the spatial design.

• Address: Northeast of Huiquan Corner, Shinan District, Qingdao City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 00:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 3-4 hours

Top 7: Daming Lake

Daming Lake, one of the three major scenic spots in Jinan, is known as the "Pearl of the Spring City". It is located slightly northeast of the city center, in the northern part of the old town. The lake currently covers 46 hectares, while the entire park spans 86 hectares, with water making up about 53% of the area.

With a long history, Daming Lake was first mentioned in Commentary on the Water Classicby Li Daoyuan during the Northern Wei dynasty. Marco Polo has also praised its beauty in The Travels of Marco Polo.

The lake is fed by numerous springs within the city, a convergence of many springs. The water is clear and pure, reflecting the sky and clouds. Daming Lake boasts ample water supply and efficient drainage, earning its reputation as "neither swelling with endless rain nor drying in prolonged drought", maintaining remarkably stable water levels year-round.

Over 800 weeping willows encircle the lake, their soft green branches touching the water gracefully. A lotus pond covering more than 2.7 hectares lies within the lake, filled with green leaves and blooming white and red lotuses, resulting in a striking contrast and spreading a refreshing fragrance. Fish leap over the rippling surface, and birds occasionally skim the water. On the emerald waters, boats and small skiffs drift leisurely.

In the park, pavilions, towers, winding paths and corridors are scattered harmoniously, adorned with calligraphy and inscriptions from past scholars. Along the lakeside, waterside pavilions and covered walkways are arranged with elegant variety.

• Address: No. 271, Daminghu Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 00:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-4 hours

Top 8: Liugong Island

Liugong Island is located at the mouth of Weihai Bay on the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula. The island stretches about 4.08 kilometers from east to west, with a total area of approximately 3.15 square kilometers and a coastline of around 14.95 kilometers. Its highest point is Qiding Mountain, which rises to 153.5 meters above sea level. As a natural maritime barrier for Weihai, the island holds significant strategic importance in national defense and is known as the "Shield of the Eastern Frontier" and the "Unsinkable Battleship".

The island features undulating terrain, with steep sea cliffs in the north and gently sloping land in the south, and forests cover about 87% of the area. Liugong Island is rich in cultural and historical landmarks, ranging from Warring States period relics to Qing Dynasty sites such as the Beiyang Navy Admiral's Office, Naval Academy, and old forts related to the First Sino-Japanese War, with also many European-style buildings from the British lease period. The island is home to the Sino-Japanese War Museum, the Liugong Island Exhibition Park, and the Liugong Island National Forest Park. It served as the founding base and garrison of the Beiyang Fleet and remains a key memorial site in modern Chinese history for the Battle of the Yellow Sea.

• Address: No. 101-2, North Haibin Road, Huancui District, Weihai City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 07:30 AM – 05:30 PM
• Tour Length: 2-24 hours

Top 9: Thousand Buddha Mountain

Thousand Buddha Mountain, or Qianfo Mountain, one of three most famous scenic spots of Jinan, covers an area of 164.88 hectares. It is part of the Tai Mountain range, with its highest peak reaching an elevation of 285 meters.

The earliest record of Thousand Buddha Mountain appears in the Commentary on the Water Classic by Li Daoyuan, where it was called Li Mountain. Legend has it that Emperor Shun once farmed at its foot, making it also known as Shun Mountain. In the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang Jian ordered the carving of a thousand Buddha statues and the construction of the "Thousand Buddha Temple", giving the mountain its present name.

Thousand Buddha Mountain is lush and undulating, resembling a brocade screen when viewed from afar and serving as a natural barrier for Jinan. Along the western mountain path stands the Tang Sophora Pavilion beside an ancient locust tree, said to be where Tang Dynasty general Qin Qiong once tied his horse. From the Yilan Pavilion and gaze northward: nearby lies the mirror-like Daming Lake, and in the distance, the Yellow River winds like a ribbon, with the city's scenery fully in view.

The stone Buddha carvings are concentrated on Qianfo Cliff, behind Xingguo Zen Temple (formerly Thousand Buddha Temple), halfway up the mountain. At the mountain's northern foot lies the Wanfo Cave, a 500-meter-long grotto that incorporates the artistic essence of China's four greatest grottoes—Dunhuang, Longmen, Maijishan, and Yungang—making it a "stone-carving art museum" that bridges a thousand years of history and offers a sweeping view across time.

• Address: No. 18, Jingshi Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 06:30 AM – 06:00 PM
• Tour Length: 1-3 hours

Top 10: Penglai Pavilion

Penglai Pavilion, perched atop Mount Dan, was built during the Northern Song Dynasty and has been repeatedly renovated through the ages without ever being rebuilt, preserving its original Northern Song appearance, famed both for the legend of the "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and the rare natural wonder of the "mirage". Alongside Yueyang Tower in Hunan, Tengwang Pavilion in Jiangxi, and Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei, it is celebrated as one of China's Four Great Towers, and is often hailed as the "Number One Pavilion North of the Yangtze".

The complex is a grand ensemble of ancient architecture, consisting of six groups of temples, halls, pavilions, towers, and archways, with a total floor area of nearly 20,000 square meters. The structures are artfully arranged, blending temple courtyards with classical gardens. Built to follow the natural terrain, the flying eaves and layered roofs rise above the mist, while crimson cliffs meet azure seas, each view offering its own charm.

Soaring from the red cliffs, Penglai Pavilion stands in striking contrast to the boundless blue sea, shrouded in drifting clouds and mist, creating the enchanting scene of a "celestial tower suspended in the air". According to legend, it was here that the the Eight Immortals, after a joyous feast, each displayed their magical powers to cross the sea. The pavilion is also the best vantage point to witness the Penglai mirage, that the mirage, sea shimmering, and advection fog known as the three great natural wonders of the sea, have once been witnessed appearing together over the waters north of Penglai Pavilion.

• Address: No. 7, Yingbin Road, Penglai District, Yantai City, Shandong
• Open Hours: 07:30 AM –05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-5 hours