Dongying
Overview

Dongying
The Chinese word “Dongying” literally means “East Camp”. This is not far from the facts at all. From a camp site to a major modern metropolitan region consisting of one major city and two counties had only took a few thousand years. Dongying City is quiet and modestly nestled in Shandong’s northern region. Dongying is well connected among all major cities in China with its own airport. Yet, travelers from abroad will be shocked by the sight of the Yellow River Delta, where China’s mother river pours into the Bohai Sea. With the highest per capita income of the entire Shandong province, Dongying is known for its classical music fever and a local pride to be the hometown of Sun Tzu, author of the masterpiece, The Art of War.
Among the many remarkable attractions Dongying holds, these are four of the must-sees:
- The Wetlands;
- The point of China’s mother river, the Yellow River leading into the Bohai Sea;
- the Sun Tzu Theme Park,
- Dongying’s historical museum in Guangrao County.
Our journey to Dongying begins from Jinan, the Provincial Capital city.
Leaving Jinan City on G20 Expressway eastwards for 1.5 hours, we turn north onto G25 expressway at Qingzhou, well-known for its 3 km2 old town, a living museum and its collection of 400 Buddha statues in such vivid colors recovered since the North Song Dynasty in AD 1000. Continue driving north, we will enter Dongying region in 20 minutes; and within the hour, we would arrive at a modern farmer’s market in Guangrao County.
Guangrao is Shandong’s hidden gem. It is ranked 26th among China’s top 100 counties in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is well-known for its agriculture, an immersive industry and rich historical presence. The County produces 90% of the paper used in today’s media industry. It has seven tire factories which are ranked amongst the top 75 tire manufacturers in the world. Michelin, one of the USA’s most trusted and respected tire companies, produces its tires out of Guangrao. Every morning before sunrise, caravans of trucks with freshly picked vegetables head to Beijing via designated highway toll booths. In the farmer’s market that we entered, there is a 48-acre modern greenhouse where local farmers to sell their meticulously grown produce, or to catch up with families over meals. This greenhouse type of farmer’s market also has a 96-room luxury hotels.
Guangrao County houses Dongying Historical Museum, where few of the exhibits push history back to a shocking 8,500 years from China’s recorded history of 5,000 years ago. This has surprised many historians from around the world. Dongying is a place that has altered Chinese history a few times. The local catch word is that history is tentative. Just wait until our next excavation. Who knows what could come up next.
Yellow River Delta and Wetland. China’s renowned Yellow River charging into the sea is Dongying’s icon. It draws big crowds just to see this. The wetland marsh nurtures over 42 km2 of wetland area following the Yellow River’s course shifting around the sea entry points. On any sunny day, a colorful marsh gathers across the sea. You might wonder, what a thrill to mingle with nature as a long wooden dock serves as your path that you can both protect the marsh and walk above the water. Truth be told by locals that there is another huge area of wetlands ahead of the first section where no road path can be seen or will ever be built. The wetlands are the true sanctuary to the birds since the land is undisturbed from its paradise. It is no wonder Dongying deserves your best camera shots you’ve been waiting all year. Never miss the migration season in November.
The Sun Tzu Cultural Theme Park. Sun Tzu is best known for the book he wrote, The Art of War. Dongying is one of his two acclaimed “hometowns”. As worldly famed military strategist, Sun Tzu’s work is often display in almost every bookstore in the world. Therefore, requiring the book become part of the most military academy syllabus. The book is also used in large number of business schools around the world too. In Dongying, a Sun Tzu Cultural Theme Park has been built to commemorate his accomplishments. The park consisting of 220 acres was officially opened in 2017.
The Sun Tzu Cultural Theme Park is the best educational institution on ancient warfare in China. Not only does it provide an overview to the origin of the war in China, the park offers a complete inventory in 1:1 ratio of all of China’s major military apparatus including vehicles, extended ladders, bows and arrows, etc. that were used in its 3000 year history. Amongst many dated artifacts is a replica of the then commanding carriage equipped with magnetic compass invented in 206 BC. In addition, instead of describing military strategies in an abstract concept, classic battlefield in the book are recreated to illustrate all thirteen chapters of Sun Tzu’s book including over 10 bridges. You have the chance to walk into history and digest Sun Tzu’s brilliancy with such live scenarios. Be sure to catch the gigantic 360 degree rotating arm that extends over 25 meters long. This 10 floor high arm allows your camera an aerial view of the park. The sunset water dance amid the rise of the Sun Tzu statue is a must see.
TRANSPORTATION
There are many ways to get to Swan Lake from downtown. You can either take the bus from Dongying public transportation in the East City Zone at 8, 9, or 10am to Swan Lake and return at 12, 1, 2, or 3pm. Another bus company which will take you to Swan Lake is Shengli Oilfield bus. It will pick you up at the central station in Xisi Lu at 8:20am and take you back at 3pm. Tip: Be sure to get to the station 20 minutes early.
Food & Drink
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Wild Vegetable Map

Dongying Crab
The local crabs are also referred to as patterned crabs because of the distinct red, brown, and black patterns on their two hard shells. The crab meat is white, and tastes refreshing and delicious. You will often find them stir-fried, steamed, or boiled.

Lijing Fried Stuffed Bun
Created in the Qing Dynasty, Lijing fried stuffed buns are prepared by boiling, steaming, and frying. With either meat or vegetable filling, they take on a deep, golden yellow in color. Lijing fried stuffed buns, which are crisp but not hard, and aromatic but not greasy, are favored by both young and old.

Yellow River Gudao Fresh Fish Soup
The Fish Soup was created around the 1950s and has been a well-known dish that every visitors have to taste in Dongying. Fishes must take from the Yellow River estuary area, by utilizing unique techniques to handle the fish, make the fish soup even as white as milk. Because of its fantastic flavor, there is also a phrase said: “enter Yellow River Estuary, gods won’t leave, taste the fresh fish soup, keep safe forever”.

Guangrao Donkey Meat
“The meat in the sky is goose, the meat on the ground is donkey”, this meat is specially made from 17 different traditional spices, closely selected from high-quality pork. It goes great eaten with brewed soup.

Jun Ma Liquor
Jun Ma Liquor factory used to supply Chinese military only. After more than 30 year’s production, the liquor gained fame to be top 10 brands in Shandong. Be sure to test it at the production site and bring a couple bottles back home with you.
Experience
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Kenli 3D Rice Field Painting
Farmer are really artsy at Kenli County. They do not paint their county landscape. They build it with their crops on rice field.

Mingcui (鸣翠) Lake Wetland Scenic Area
Known as the “West Lake” of the North by locals, the Mingcui Lake immensely highlights the beauty of Dongying’s wetland. Step onto the long wooden deck and stroll along the long path ahead. The feeling would be more than “watching” a 360°angle movie.

Phoenix River Resort
Lavishly built by the Yellow River seaside, the Pheonix River Resort is 5-star hotel offers a camping site, fishing, swimming, fruit picking, etc. It also covers Yellow River Bath, Real person Counter-Strike, Phoenix Manor etc. Also, the “Phoenix River” is Shandong’s self-driving camping base. The resort is so big, time passes by so quickly. You may need to strategize how to plan out your day here ahead of time.

The Tianning (天宁寺) Temple
The Tianning Temple is the largest Grand Hall in Dongying. Locals love to brag about how Emperors who visited the temple were summoning ranking local officials. The grand celebration will be held every Buddhist festival. It is open all-year round, with street food, lion dance, and stilt performances.

Guangli Harbor
Locals often catch crabs here. The Guangli Harbor provides all sorts of gears. It is often hard to resist the rich landscape colors while catching crabs. You can also bring along a bucket and rain shoes to catch plenty of clams and crabs in two hours with your kids.

Yellow River Estuary Beach
The Yellow River Estuary beach is a popular summer retreat for locals. Over-the-sea bicycling, speed boating, surfing; you name it, are available to have fun at the beach. You can catch the florescent sea views during the evening of May to October.

Dongying Shengli Oilfield Technology Exhibition Center
Upon entering the center, visitors will have a vivid history of oil extraction process and the development of the Shengli Oilfield.

Southern Song Hall and Sun Wu Shrine
In the northwestern corner of Guangrao County, the Southern Song Hall was constructed in 1128 (the second year of the Jianyan reign period of the Southern Song Dynasty). Originally it was the Guandi Temple which was built to worship Guan Yu, one of the most popular commanders in the Three Kingdoms. Compared to other commanders, Guan Yu tried to minimize war and confrontation as much as possible. Not only a messenger of peace in ancient time, his bravery and loyalty became a legend in Chinese history.

The Qingfeng Lake (aka the Breeze Lake)
With the Yellow River as its theme, the largest city park in Shandong was built with a blend of Western and historic Chinese style, between modern and traditional landscapes. Qing Feng Lake is also home to one of the tallest musical fountains in China. From the middle of the entertainment square, thousands of water rays dance in the sound of a beautiful song with fascinating lights in the background. The whole scene paints a complete picture of a modern Dongying in the Yellow River theme.

Swan Lake
From late November to early April, you will find yourself in a bird’s paradise just 15 minutes southeast from downtown Dongying. Thousands of black and grey swans, cranes and other types of birds can be found either in the sky or dancing passionately on the water. Nowhere else in the world will you find such a sight!

Guangrao County
The Dongying History Museum is one of the top three County Museums in the Shandong Province. The other two are the Museum of Jun County in Linyi and the Qingzhou City Museum in Weifang. This museum is best known for Chinese civilization history dating back to a total 8500 years ago, as compared to the common locally known 5000 years.

Grand Lotus Theater
The Grand Lotus Theater name comes from its lotus-shaped roof nicely anchored at the river bank. There are 3 performance halls in total where plenty of world class music groups performed here, and among them is the Vienna Orchestra and the Hamburg Orchestra. Culture and arts are deeply rooted with the people. Highest per capita income certainly helps to bring world renowned artists into Dongying. Not only adults, but many children plays are performed here as well.

The Sun Tzu Cultural Theme Park
All exhibits are English bilingual. It is best to read the book Art of War first, or you can catch up by watching Youtube videos on any of Sun Tzu’s topics. There is also a 3-D movie theater for children to enjoy and yet interact with some of the military games offered.

The Estuary of the Yellow River
At the junction of the Bohai Sea and Laizhou Bay, the estuary of the Yellow River was formed after the Yellow River changed its course in 1855. At the estuary, you are surrounded by a lush marsh and accompanied by wild birds, such as seagulls and wild ducks. Be sure to take a boat tour to watch the color change on the sea. And then joined by a nice lunch at the “Watching Tower”. You’d want to book your tickets in advance as tour tickets are limited.
Shopping
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Shanghe Road
Shanghe Road is located in Dongying’s Xicheng Shopping District, adjacent to the Jinan Road.

Guangrao Donkey Meat
“The meat in the sky is goose, the meat on the ground is donkey”, this meat is specially made from 17 different traditional spices, closely selected from high-quality pork. It goes great eaten with brewed soup.

Jun Ma Liquor
Jun Ma Liquor factory used to supply Chinese military only. After more than 30 year’s production, the liquor gained fame to be top 10 brands in Shandong. Be sure to test it at the production site and bring a couple bottles back home with you.
Events
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Yellow River Estuary Mitten Crab Festival
#1 to Dongying’s local produce, the Yellow River Estuary Mitten crabs from the Tianqing Lake Crab Farm hold its annual 9-day fair from Sept 12th to Oct 1st. The fun part is local chefs are gathered on the spot to showcase their crab cooking styles. For a 20-course crab meal, that can almost be a banquet. Have you seen such a feast in your hometown?

Kenli Sea Fair
Sea crabbing and catching clams are two of the highlights at the Kenlli Sea Fair. The staff will help you to prepare your gear and guide you to the staging position. Do not be surprised there will surely encounter a couple of surprises along the way. The best part – your hard work of catching seafood on the shore seabed will be cooked for you. Nothing can be any fresher.
山东省文化和旅游厅 Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism
美国友康科技有限公司 U-Combination Technology (USA) Inc.
Authorized agency for Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism in the U.S.
(山东省文化和旅游厅在美授权机构)
150 E Swedesford Rd, Suite 101,
Wayne, PA 19087
For help planning your visit, please contact us now:
E-Mail:
tours@travelshandong.