Jining
Overview

Jining
Jining is a city as well as one of 17 administrative regions in Shandong comprised of 12 counties and smaller cities in the southwest part of Shandong. The region is known for its brilliant cultural heritage and amazing landscapes. The gorgeous Weishan Lake is the largest in Shandong. Its vast wetlands, lush mountains, and fertile farm lands total to 1,100 sq km. It is home to approximate 8 million people. This blessed landscape has nurtured a world renowned philosopher and educator, Confucius. His saga laid the foundation for Chinese culture and its political system that still impacts the daily lives of Chinese people. Jining is a prime destination to observe and explore how the Confucius culture breeds and shapes daily lives of Chinese population.
Known as the holy land of Chinese Culture, it is also the hometown of China’s five saints of philosophy – Confucius, Mencius, Zengzi, Yanhui and Zisi. You will see how their extensive doctrines were preached and practiced as you tour and learn of Jining’s rich culture history. The Grand Canal of China that runs through Jining contributed to Jining’s commercial prosperity and brought in diverse lifestyles. The Weishan Lake wetland is home to hundreds of rare species of birds and wildlife. The Xinglong Cultural Park blends in astounding magnificence of Asia’s largest Buddhist Temples designed in contemporary architecture. The story behind it warrants a featured documentary by National Geographic. From local sagas of Mt. Liang and the Dongping Lake at Jining, the novel, the Outlaws of Water Margin was written. This is not only one of China’s top four nationally acclaimed literature marvels, but also the most popular and the first classic novel ever read by young adults who grew up in China. Do not forget Endless Colors, a world-class resort with shocking sceneries and an all-access pass to activities you would not believe even existed in China.
Qufu City is one of the must-sees in Shandong province, as the hometown of Confucius and his descendants. This was the capital of Lu Kingdom and hometown of Confucius. Confucius is China’s most famous teacher, philosopher and political theorist, and his ideas and teachings have greatly influenced the civilizations of East Asia. Qufu is a testament to the importance of Confucian thought, from imperial China and in our present day. The city has been visited many times by the leaders of East Asian governments, and also by two sitting US presidents – Richard Nixon and George W. Bush.
The main sights are within the city walls of ancient Qufu, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it will take a full day to explore. There is a choreographed closing ceremony at the gate, every evening. The Confucius Mansion, Confucius Temple, and the 2,500 year old Confucius family cemetery called the Confucius Forest are three holy places that is worth your time to gain deep insights into the life of this great philosopher and educator. Confucius was born in 551 B.C. He tirelessly advocates benevolent governance, education without discriminations, and most significantly the idea of social hierarchy which became the ultimate foundation. China’s social and political structure and ability were built on China’s social harmony that is achieved today.
The Confucius Temple began as Confucius’ simple three-room house, but it has been expanded greatly since his death in 479 BC. It has 9 courtyards, arranged on a central axis, and it is China’s largest imperial building complex after the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is peaceful and contemplative. In the downtown area outside, all buildings are required to be less tall than the main temple, which is 24.8 m high. Entry is free for teachers and also for Confucius family members – so for anyone with the surname ‘Kong’!
Next to the Confucius Temple is the Confucius Mansion – for centuries, the most sumptuous private residence in China, thanks to imperial sponsorship and the Kong clan’s rule and powers of taxation and execution over Qufu. Male heirs held the title of Duke Yan Sheng, from the Song dynasty until 1935. The Confucius Mansion hosts a local opera performance 6 times daily during the summer season.
About 2 km north of the downtown area, you can find the parklike Confucius Forest – beautiful in the autumn, with bright and fallen leaves. It covers 200 hectares. Confucius and more than 100,000 of his descendants have been buried here, for the past 2,000 years – a tradition that is still ongoing.
Qufu is an ideal destination for study tours of Chinese culture. It is only 2.5 hours away from Beijing and a little more than 3 hours away from Shanghai by high speed train. The city today is full of electric bicycles. Another way to get around, for tourists, is to take a relaxed ride in a horse carriage. If Shandong is where you can discover real China today, then Jining is a place for you to uncover what brings the Chinese people together as a nation.
PLANNING
1-day trip
Morning: “opening ceremony” of Wangren Palace (万仞宫墙“开城门仪式 ”)
Confucius Temple(孔庙)
Confucius Mansion (孔府)
Afternoon: Qufu Ancient City (曲阜古城)
Confucius Culture Theme Park (孔子文化园)
Sliver Jining 2-day trip
Day 1:
Morning: “opening ceremony” of Wangren Palace (万仞宫墙“开城门仪式 ”)
Confucius Temple (孔庙)
Confucius Mansion (孔府)
Afternoon: Qufu Ancient City (曲阜古城)
Confucius Culture Theme Park (孔子文化园)
Day 2:
Morning: Weishan lake Wetland Park ( 微山湖湿地公园)
Eat Fish soup nearby Weishan Lake ( 微山湖附近农家乐品鱼汤)
Afternoon: Mount Yi (驿山)
Golden Jining 3-day trip
Day 1:
Morning: “opening ceremony” of Wangren Palace (万仞宫墙“开城门仪式 ”)
Confucius Temple(孔庙)
Confucius Mansion (孔府)
Afternoon: Qufu Ancient City (曲阜古城)
Confucius Culture Theme Park (孔子文化园)
Day 2: Whole day – Endless Color Resort
(Biking, Hiking, Fishing, Spa)
Day 3:
Morning: Weishan lake Wetland Park ( 微山湖湿地公园)
Eat Fish soup nearby Weishan Lake ( 微山湖附近农家乐品鱼汤)
Afternoon: Mount Yi (驿山)
Endless Color Resort
Food & Drink
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Confucius Feast
Your visit to Confucius’ hometown will not be complete without a formal Confucius meal. This may not require you to empty your wallet. Historical recipes are kept well preserved to ensure its authenticity. Confucius uses meal time to preach his doctrines of seniority. The best examples are table seating, toast sequence, speech expectation, and table manners. Watch your Chinese host before eying for your own seat at the table. You may have to be on your feet again.

Maji Roast Chicken (MJ Chicken)
Maji Roast Chicken is a well-known local food brand in Jiaxiang County. It taste is crispy, tender, and unique flavor in the meat that it intoxicates food lovers from afar. You will never miss the Maji Roast Chicken. However, the “devil lies in the detail” is true here. One brand, one store, one family heritage. Find out what that could be. They do not save mail orders. Only available in-store.

Qingsanheng (QSH Cake)
The QSH cake is a must-stop at the Nanyang Village. The shop owner Kong (56) started working here when he was 17 years old. There are over 100 types of cake varieties. Do not miss the “Jing8” sets.
Experience
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The Six Arts of Confucius
While visiting theme park, do not miss the twice per day shows. They have archery range and chariot cart rides that pass wax model of the city and people back in the era. Ticket are 60 RMB. Suggest to utilize an English interpreter for hire at the gate.

Baoxiang Temple Scenic Area
Baoxiang Temple lies in the township of Wenshang. It is well known for its Song Dynasty era architecture. On March 15, 1994, 141 Buddhist Buddha’s tooth and other relic were found in the Palace of Linzong tower. It has been confirmed the supreme Sakyamuni Buddha’s tooth were kept here. This had sent shocking waves across circles of Buddhism. Baoxiang Temple is thus branded as the “Second Famen Temple” in China.

Mt. Yi Scenic Resort
Mt Yi itself has beautiful landscape. Merely 10 kilometer away from Qufu, Mt. Yi is a hiking spot. Along the designated hiking trail, you can see over 300 pieces of historical calligraphy inscriptions along the “Trail of History”.

Nishan Sacred Land Attraction Park
According to legend, Confucius was born about 30 km southeast of Qufu, in a cave at Mt. Nishan. As a modern way to honor Confucius, the Nishan Sacred Land Attraction Park opened on Sep 28th, 2018, Confucius’ birthday. The centerpiece of the attraction is the world’s largest Confucius statue, made of bronze standing tall at 72 meters.

Nanyang Ancient Town
Nanyang Ancient Town of Weishan County sits in the half way of China’s Grand Canal – the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the longest and oldest canal in the world (1790 kilometers). The middle points secured the prosperity of the town and had hosted two emperors from Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) and Emperor Kang Xi (1654-1722).

Endless Colors Ecological Health Tourism Resort
The Endless Colors Resort has everything an international vacationer ever dreamed about. First, it is close to major cultural highlights Shandong offers. It is 36 km away from Qufu Highspeed Rail Station. Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, an UNESCO World Heritage site. From Beijing, you will reach in two hours by high-speed train. It is also within 200 km from Jinan International airport, the capital city of Shandong.

Xinglong Cultural Park
Located in Yanzhou City, which is 20 minutes by car from Qufu’s bullet train station, stands this grand Buddhist-themed, contemporary architectural marvel will render you speechless. The ripple-less pond in front of the building symbolizes the peace of mind in meditation; the grand four Buddhas facing each direction in the 118 m tall temple conveys the supremacy of Buddhist power. Content displayed explains the belief of all branches of Buddhism; the artwork of paintings, sculptures, and embroideries inside are works of nationally acclaimed artists.

The Grand Canal of China
Weishan Lake is the largest fresh water lake in northern China. It is about 16,000 acres and the Grand Canal of China runs through the lake. At the northern end of the lake, you will find Mt. Liang. This is the place where the story of a 108 legendary heroes, are depicted vividly in China’s top master novel, the Outlaws of Marshall. The government funds heritage projects like these to protect this glorified saga. Weishan Lake is also a heroic place for China’s guerrilla warfare against the Japanese invasion in World War II.

Confucius Forest
It is the largest family cemetery in the world, with over 10,000 tombs in the 200,000 m2 area. Only the eldest son of the male descendants of the Kong family earns the right to be buried in this cemetery, and it continues to grow. So far, there are no female tombs burials allowed at the cemetery. Close to Confucius’ tomb are his son and grandson’s tomb. We can see a tree planted by Zigong, the most dedicated apprentice of Confucius, and a hut where he spent 6 years in mourning of his teacher’s death.

Confucius Temple
Previously a residence, now converted to a huge temple compound commemorating the life of Confucius in 478 BC. In 140 AD, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty adopted the idea to “abolish all, but Confucianism”. It was suggested by scholar Dongzhongshu, a Confucius’ loyalist. The Confucius Temple has retained its sacredness until 1911 when China became a Republic. As you step into the courtyard, a huge apricot tree that appears out of nowhere will catch your glimpse first. This is the place where Confucius is said to have preached to 3,000 of his disciples.

Confucius Mansion
The official mansion with family living quarters. It is the mansion of Yansheng Dukes, the oldest male direct descendants of Confucius. This title and rank were conferred, by Emperors, to the direct descendants of Confucius out of respect to him. The Confucius Mansion is the largest family mansion and the 2nd largest building cluster in China, after the Palace Museum in Beijing. Through routine expansion since the Ming Dynasty, it now has 9 rows of courtyards, 480 rooms, totaling 1.2 km2 in size.
Events
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Liangshan Yellow River Fish Catching Festival
The Liangshan Yellow River Fish Catching Festival is held at every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday in the two weeks from July 15th to August 30th. The theme of this event is to give teenagers the experience and fun of catching fishes by hand naturally, and give adults a time to recall their childhood times.

Zoucheng Fluorescent Night Run
Fluorescent Night Run, the most shining 5 kilometer race on the earth. This is a party run, flanked by bars, snack stops, etc. People are dressed in their own crazy ways. Best event to run a race.

China International Confucius Cultural Festival
The Qufu International Confucius Culture Festival is held on every September 28th. This is the official birthday of Confucius. Confucius was very humble. He called himself the “teacher”. And coincidentally, China’s national Teacher’s Day was thus set on Confucius’ birthday. The Chinese people, like the people of the world, respect teachers. Huge respects are given to all teachers even if you have been a teacher for a day. If in China, and you are not sure what title to call someone, you can always say teacher XXX (eg. Jack Ma called himself Teacher Ma). Try for yourself if you are planning a trip Qufu on that day. You will not regret it.
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.