Weifang
Overview
Weifang
Shandong Weifang, the Kite Capital of the World
Weifang geographically lies in the center of Shandong. It is the 2nd largest metropolitan city in Shandong. It possesses 10% of Shandong’s total territory and 10% of Shandong’s population. Weifang’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranks 4th in Shandong and 32nd in China. Weifang faces the Bohai Sea to the north. At the southern tip, it borders with Qingdao and Rizhao. It is about an hour drive to Wang Ping Kou port, Rizhao City’s beach front. Weifang also sits half-way between Qingdao City and Jinan, the capital of Shandong.
Weifang is also well-known for its historical background. As early as 7000 years ago during the Neolithic Age, there were clan tribes living in this territory. In the Xia Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty was built with the seal of the country, the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and it belonged to the Qi, Lu and other States. Today, Weifang is rewarded for being the best living city in China. This has proven Weifang’s wonderful environment and great humanity.
Also known to many, Weifang is the capital of kites in the world. And it fully utilizes local traditional resources to create a traveling itinerary called “thousands of miles in folk tourism”. The most famous attraction that you won’t want to miss is the Yangjiabu Folk Culture Village in which woodblock paintings and kites Weifang people are proud of are commonly hand made. During the Ming and Qing era (1368-1902), Weifang owed its fame to 200 furnaces, 3,000 blacksmiths, 9,000 sewing machines, and 100,000 looms. This would explain that while downtown Weifang’s high-rise building dominated the city’s landscape, Weifang as a region (in Shandong, all regions are named after its regional capital city) is still largely rural. Traditional artisan craftsmanship and lifestyle is purposely reserved.
As of today, Weifang’s Shou Guang County continues to be China’s top vegetable producer. Interestingly, China’s national highway also reserves a “vegetable express lane” at the Shou Guang exit for vegetable truckloads to be transported daily across China. Weifang’s juicy radish earns its national fame. Travelers in search of amazing sights, Taihe Mountain is your place to take a peek.
Outside of Weifang City, a large county that is at a 1 million population mark has become a true gem. Qingzhou, a county-level city that is rarely visited by international tourists, is often missed by the many highlights it has to offer. The traditional streets are charming, and the atmosphere to take a stroll at dusk, in moody light, after rain won’t be your ordinary stroll in the park. Flickers of color and music twinkle out from small shops, drawing in the senses to unfamiliar goods, drinks, or interesting snacks.
An attractive European-style architecture is also found in this village too, dotted around Qingzhou county. One example is Christ Church, built by British missionaries in 1879.
Although it is marching towards modernity along with the rest of China, the city of Weifang and its people are particularly proud of maintaining their cultural heritage, making it a great place to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of Shandong. Weifang is known for its folk art and handicrafts, particularly kites. Weifang is also famous for New Year woodblock paintings; find out more about both these and other handicrafts at the fascinating Yangjiabu Folk Culture Village, and pick up some beautiful souvenirs to take home at the same time.
It is fascinating to see a mixture of rural lifestyle and cosmopolitan elements in Weifang. Walking along Weifang’s streets, and eating at local restaurants, you will find the cost of living is extremely reasonable. You will also see happy faces of farmers’ kids enjoying “Big Macs” at local brand hamburger chains.
Weifang people are very proud of how they preserved their intangible cultural heritage and even refined it with modern style. The increasingly attention was captured by its cultural core all-over the world. A must-visit city if you never come by. You should even better to come there if you have been there already because you can see more in-depth content than anyone else.
Food & Drink
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Weifang Meat Pancake
A small piece of dough is stuffed with meat and peppers rounded into a ball to flatten and form a pancake shape. Then fried into the deep oil and turned several time to allow the ingredients like pork bits, chopped green onions, and shrimps inside to simmer to cook. Chenghuang Temple is known to be the most famous for making such dishes. The look and taste are very enticing to get more. Weifang’s pancake is deeply rooted in the locals.
Chaotian pot
As the #1 street food in all of Shandong since created 300 years ago. It is the perfect combination of 3 different kinds of meats filled with flavor, and it is as crispy as a pancake. You can choose different pots with either pork or beef. Even though its name has the word “pot”, the meal does not necessarily mean it will be served in a pot.
Experience
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Jingtang Old Village of Qingzhou
Built in 1456, the entire village withstood 500 years and still preserving the original Ming style (1368-1644).
Jingzhi Liquor Complex
Historical liquor museum with documentation for over 5,000 years of liquor production in China
Shouguang Vegetable high-tech Exhibition Park
It is a national research center for organic vegetable productions
Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum
It is at Zhucheng that more than 30 dinosaur fossil areas have been found, thus the name City of Dinosaur. The Museum was constructed in 1997.
Changle Volcano Geology Park
You cannot find better place for taking pictures than here! Since the mantle melting due to surface fault activity 18 million years ago, the un-melted part was squeezed onto the surface, forming the current world wonder of the black hexagonal stone pillar. In addition, there are vast amounts of undiscovered sapphire which is the most sought-after type of stone in the world. How did these oddly shaped objects exist?
The Eye of Bohai
The world’s largest shaft-less ferris wheel was opened in May of 2018 at Weifang. Known to many as the Eye of Bohai Ferris wheel, it has a total of 36 moving pods, each of which can accommodate 8 to 10 people. The pods are cooling and comfortable. It takes about 30 minutes to complete the entire cycle. You have ample time to take in the aerial view of Binhai Center city. As a new landmark to Weifang, it certainly is a once in lifetime experience.
Qingzhou Museum
Being the largest National Museum in China, it is managed by the county government with over 400 painted Buddha excavation outside Longxing Temple. Back in 1996, Qingzhou was one of the top 10 archeological discoveries in China. Original colors painted around 500 AD, detailed facial composures, why these artifacts were buried in such well-packed pieces, and its magnitude as the largest collection of wall-anchored Buddha gives off such intrigue in our curiosity for a study trip to Qingzhou.
Qingzhou Ancient Town
With over 7000 years of history and 5000 years of civilization, Qingzhou Ancient Town has played a significant role on Chinese over 5000 year’s history. The ancient town of Qingzhou was a political, economic, military, and cultural center of Shandong for thousands of years. This is one of top 3 places of must- visit in Weifang and top 10 must-visit ancient streets in China. Nowadays, the Zhaode Street is no longer just a street, and it is more like a group of ancient streets mainly in the Han and Hui population….
The Shihu Garden
This small, well-preserved garden was first built in the Ming dynasty. The garden and its surrounding buildings and pavilions is a classic example of how Jiangnan garden design was replicated in northern China by wealthy Ming and Qing individuals. The name “Shihu” (literally “10 ceremonial tablets”) refers to the garden’s small size, said to be as large as 10 ceremonial tablets. We hope you will not miss real China at Weifang.
World Kite Museum
Weifang is best known as the “Kite Capital of China”. Not only does Weifang produce kites, it also holds an annual international kite festival, where people from 30 countries compete for honor and prizes.
The Chinese New Year Festivity
Trips to Beijing, Shanghai and Xian expose you to China. A visit to Shandong confronts you with the real China. Join Weifang farmers to celebrate Chinese New Year in an exotic way. People at Weifang still carry out their rituals by the clock from the New Year Eve to Jan 15th. Food, clothes to wear, gift exchanges, words of good wishes by ranks of families and co-workers, tips to the elder and the young, festivity table protocols, bow to parents, drinking protocols, time to visit in-laws, all performed exactly over thousands of years…
Yangjiabu Folk Culture Village
The best folk art and folklores are displayed everywhere in Weifang. Yangjiabu is a village-turned folk art depot at the northeast end of Weifang City. Setting your foot onto this village, immediately you will be overwhelmed by locals’ inviting smiles and eagerness to share their products. You will find paper-cutting, kite-making, wood block paintings, shoemaking and more inside the village’s 38 rooms. We were told that Yangjiabu Village produces 200 varieties of kite in six categories including the 350 m long dragon-centipede kit; the world’s longest…
Shopping
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Events
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Mountain climbing at Mt Yunmen
Find the gigantic inscription of the word, “longevity” in a 7.5×2.3 stone. You will find a temple built on top the steep cliffs.
Weifang Huanxin Electronic Music Festival
The Weifang Huanxin International Electronic Sound Festival was created by a professional team for 6 months. It attracted nearly 10,000 electronic music enthusiasts from Weifang and surrounding areas. The successful holding of Weifang Electronic Sound Festival realized the perfect combination of Qixi and electronic music, and gave all visitors a unique Qixi Electronic Festival.
Shouguang Dragon Boat Race
The first Dragon Boat Race of Shouguang City will be held on April 30th in Juding Lake Scenic Area. Nearly 20 teams will participate in this event for a total of three days.
China National Sailboat League
Sailboat is kind of sport in which athletes controlling moving only depends on the natural wind, and it was enrolled to game list as early as the first Olympic. In 10/30/2018, the first station of first sailboat were held at Weifang.
Shouguang International Vegetable Science and Technology Fair
The Shouguang International Vegetable Fair continues to surprise us even after 19 years. There are over 2,000 varieties of vegetables that would challenge your boundaries out of the norm. Get one for your own collection, I bet it will be worth an event to organize just for the vegetables! See them with your own eyes. They are not fake!! Recently, Shouguang was hit by a flood few months ago (as of Dec 2018). Let us lend our hand by visiting them to show our support.
Weifang International Kite Festival
Every year in April, the Weifang hosts an International Kite Festival, which attracts keen kite flyers and kite makers from countries around the world. The participants present their kites, many of which are intricately decorated, in competitions such as “largest kite” and “synchronized kite flying”.
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.