|
SCENES & SIGHTS
 Jinan
Jinan, capital of Shandong Province, is a famous historical and
cultural city known as the "Capital of Springs" or "City
of Springs" since ancient times. "Baotu" "Black
Tiger", "Pearl", and "Five-Dragon" are
the names of the four best known of the 72 springs in this charming
city, which is situated with Mount Taishan in the south and the
Yellow River in the north. Other attractions: Thousand-Buddha Mountain,
Daming Lake, and Lingyan Temple with the Four-Door Pagoda.
Mount Taishan
Mount Taishan, its main peak at an elevation of 1,545 metres, and
its smudge of peaks looking majestic in their sheer masses, is regarded
as the holiest of all the five holy mountains in China. For its
long history, scientific value and natural beauty, Taishan has been
designated as a world natural and cultural heritage site. The Daimiao
and Bixia temples are among the mountain's major sites of historical
interest, and the Yuhuang (Jade Emperor) and Riguan (Sun-Watching)
peaks are primary scenic spots. A visit to Mount Taishan not only
brings one in touch with its peaks and stones of imaginary images,
ancient trees famed rich in cultural implications, and its awesome
topographical wonders-it also provides the opportunity to marvel
at stone tablets inscribed with poems composed by emperors and poets.
Watching the sunrise atop the mountain is definitely a fascinating
experience.
Qufu
 Qufu
is another famous historical and cultural city of China. During
the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Qufu was the capital
of the state of Lu, and the native place of Confucius, a celebrated
thinker and educator and the father of Confucianism. Chinese rulers
and scholars of various dynasties held Confucius in high esteem,
and the Confucian temple, mansion and graveyard were built in Qufu
as a result, which are now on the UNESCO'S list of world cultural
heritage sites. Confucian Temple, where libations and sacrifices
were offered to Confucius, is a complex of tall and elegant buildings.
Confucian Mansion, where the thinker's scions resided and ran official
business, is another giant courtyard with 463 halls, chambers and
rooms. Confucian Graveyard, where the remains of Confucius and those
of his descendents are buried, is a 200-hectare affair planted with
more than 100,000 ancient trees. When visiting Qufu, don't miss
the chance of tasting the dishes prepared in the Confucian kitchen.
The classical concerts and dances staged nightly at Qufu's Queli
Guesthouse are worth seeing for their authentic Spring and Autumn
and Warring States styles. Qufu can be reached by bus from Jinan
and Taishan.
Zoucheng
Zoucheng, a neighbouring city of Qufu, was the native place of another
ancient Chinese thinker, Mencius. The Mencius temple, mansion and
graveyard in the city are as majestic and elegant as their counterparts
in Qufu. Zoucheng also has something else to offer its visitors:
the famous and scenic Yishan Mountain, and a Ming cemetery.
Qingdao
 Qingdao
in east Shandong is a fine harbour on the Yellow Sea. It is also
a renowned beach resort. Numerous European-style villas and churches
have turned the city into a veritable world architecture museum.
Qingdao boasts a lot of fine bathing beaches, one of them having
been converted into a national summer resort-Shilaoren (Old Stone
Man) National Holiday Resort, which is equipped with a 18-hold golf
course, an international beer city and an amusement park-on-the-sea,
in addition to some posh hotels, villas and apartment buildings.
Zhangqiao (Plank Pathway), Lesser Qingdao, and Badaguan (Eight Major
Passes) are among the scenic attractions in the city. To the southeast
of Qingdao is Laoshan Mountain, a national scenic Zone and major
Taoist sanctuary with 10 well-preserved temples. As renowned as
Qingdao's landscape is Qingdao Beer. The International Qingdao Beer
Festival takes place in summer every year along with the International
Marine Festival.
Yantai
Yantai is another famed port city and seaboard tourist city in northeast
Shandong. Quite a few historical relics bear witness to visits by
Qinshihuang, who founded the Qin, and Emperor Wudi of the Han. Eighty-three
km off the shore of Yantai is Penglai, a fairyland-like resort on
the northernmost tip of Shandong Peninsula. The mystique of Penglai
is mostly ascribed to the mirages that occur beyond the sea, and
the Penglai pavilion proves an ideal place for watching the sea
and enjoying the sunrise.
 Zibo
Zibo, an eastern Shandong city 110 km from Jinan, is another famous
cultural and historical city. It is where ruins of the Dawenkou
culture of 7,000 years ago and the Longshan culture of 7,000 years
ago and the Longshan culture of 4,000 years ago have been found.
During the Warring States Period Zibo was the capital of the state
of Qi and the largest city in the east. Many celebrated thinkers,
including Confucius, Mencius, Xun Zi, had visited the city on lecture
tours. The former residence of Pu Songling (1640-1715), author of
the Qing classic Strange Tales from a Carefree Studio, is there.
The rare discovery of a large Spring and Autumn Period tomb with
chariots and horses prompted City Hall to build the Chinese Ancient
Chariot Museum in 1994.
Educational Tour of Qufu
Shandong was the cradle of education in the east in ancient times.
Apricot Altar at the Confucian Temple of Qufu was where Confucius
lectured. An educational tour of Qufu enables tourists to learn
Chinese calligraphy, classical Chinese musical instruments and cooking,
with graduation ceremonies taking place in the Confucian Mansion.
They may also visit schools, cultural facilities and famed scenic
resorts.
Calligrabphic Tour
Shandong, the native place of Wang Xizhi, a pre-eminent calligrapher
of ancient times, abounds in calligraphic resources. Over 70 percent
of China's Han-dynasty stone tablets are found in this province,
not to mention so many ancient stone inscriptions preserved in Mount
Taishan, Yishan Mountain, Wenfeng Mountain in Yantai, and Laoshan
and Tainzhu mountains in Qingdao.
 Bird-Watching
Tour
Among the endangered species of birds inhabiting the national nature
reserves on Long Island and in Yellow River Delta, are red-crested
cranes and golden eagles under first-class state protection. In
spring and autumn, these nature reserves provide excellent stopovers
for migratory birds. Both places are dream places for lovers of
mankind's two-legged friends.
|
