
1,400-year Ancient City · Qingzhou Museum · Yunmen Mountain · Northern Wei Grottoes
Last updated 22 July 2026 · by the Walk Voyage Editorial Team
Visitor data snapshot
Verified visitor numbers, ratings, and ticket prices from a third-party travel platform. Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-03 · snapshot 2026-08-03.
13
Bookable attractions
4.45/5
Average rating
11K
Total reviews
6
Free entries
| Top attraction | Rating | Reviews | Ticket (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qingzhou Museum | 4.6 | 1,271 | $0.00 |
| Yunmen Mountain Scenic Area | 4.6 | 1,789 | $8.87 |
| Qingzhou Ancient Town | 4.5 | 3,823 | $2.96 |
| Huanghua Creek | 4.5 | 2,407 | $16.25 |
| Tuo Mountain (Camel Mountain) | 4.5 | 231 | $7.39 |
| Taihe Mountain | 4.4 | 479 | $16.25 |
| Fan Gongting Park | 4.5 | 115 | $0.00 |
| Ou Garden | 4.4 | 602 | $0.00 |
| Jingtang Ancient Town | 4.3 | 608 | $5.91 |
| Li Qingzhao Memorial Temple | 4.4 | 87 | $1.33 |
Source: Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-03. Prices and review counts shift over time; check the source platform for current booking.
Qingzhou, a 1,400-year-old ancient city in central Shandong, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in China. Once the political center of the ancient Shandong region (the name 'Qingzhou' means 'Green Province'), the city has a 1,400-year-old Ming-Qing old town with the Fan Gong Pavilion, the 1,000-year-old Song-dynasty Yunmen Mountain, and the 1,400-year-old Ou Garden (the northern-style private garden). The 1996 Longxing Temple discovery at the Qingzhou Museum - 400+ painted Buddhist statues from the Northern Wei to Ming dynasties, found buried in a pagoda - is one of the most-important Buddhist art finds of the 20th century. The Yunmen Mountain has a 7.5-meter-tall 'Shou' (longevity) character carved into the cliff in the Ming dynasty - one of China's largest cliff carvings. The Tuo Mountain (Camel Mountain) has the 638 Northern Wei stone Buddhas carved into the cliff face, the most-important Northern Wei Buddhist grottoes in Shandong. The cuisine is the Qingzhou蜜桃 honey peach, the Qingzhou fried buns, the Longsheng pastries, and the Qingzhou whole-lamb feast.
Best Season
Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
Days Recommended
2 Days
Avg Budget
$129
Location
Shandong, China
Must-See Spots

One of China's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with the 1,400-year-old Qingzhou Old Town walls, the Fan Gong Pavilion, and the 600-year-old Song-Ming-Qing streets. The Trip.com 4.5/5, 3,823-review ancient city has the 1,400-year-old city wall section (the best-preserved in Shandong), the 1,000-year-old Song-dynasty government office site, the 600-year-old Confucian Temple, the Ou Garden (the 500-year-old Ming-dynasty private garden), the 1,000-meter east-west main street with traditional Shandong food stalls, and the 100+ restored Ming-Qing courtyard houses.
Free entry to the old town (separate tickets for Ou Garden and Fan Gong Pavilion). Allow 3-4 hours. The Friday-Sunday evening lantern market (5-9 PM) is the iconic Qingzhou photo. The 1,400-year-old city wall section near the south gate is the most-photographed. Pair with the Qingzhou Museum for a half-day heritage tour.

Home of the 1996 Longxing Temple discovery - 400+ painted Buddhist statues from the Northern Wei to Ming dynasties, found buried in a pagoda. The Trip.com 4.6/5, 1,271-review museum has the Longxing Temple vault gallery (the most-photographed Qingzhou site, with the 400+ Buddhist statues), the 1,000-year-old Song-era stone-carved Buddhist stele, the 6,000-year-old Beizhuang shell-mound pottery, the 1,500-year-old Northern Wei bronze Buddhas, the Ming-Qing calligraphy and painting gallery, and the 1,000-piece ancient-Qingzhou coin collection. One of China's most-celebrated local museums.
Free entry with ID card. Closed Mondays. The Longxing Temple vault gallery is the most-photographed - allow 1 hour just for this gallery. The audio guide (20 RMB) is highly recommended. Allow 3 hours for the full visit. Pair with the ancient city for a half-day Qingzhou heritage tour.

The mountain above the old city, with a 7.5-meter-tall 'Shou' (longevity) character carved into the cliff in the Ming dynasty - one of China's largest cliff carvings. The Trip.com 4.6/5, 1,789-review mountain has the 'Shou' cliff carving, the 1,000-year-old Song-dynasty Yunmen Temple, the 1,000-year-old Buddhist cliff carvings, the 5-km forest walk, the panoramic view of the Qingzhou basin from the summit (only 421 m), and the 600-meter cable car.
60 RMB entry. Cable car 50 RMB round trip. Allow 3 hours. The 'Shou' cliff carving is the iconic Qingzhou photo. Pair with the Tuo Mountain (15 km north) for a 1-day Buddhist heritage day.

The limestone mountain group with the 638 stone Buddhas carved into the cliff face, the most-important Northern Wei Buddhist grottoes in Shandong. The Trip.com 4.5/5, 231-review mountain has the 1,500-year-old Northern Wei stone Buddhas (in 5 main caves), the 1,200-year-old Tang-dynasty Buddhist temple, the 800-year-old Song-era cliff carvings, the 5-km mountain walk, and the panoramic view of the Qingzhou plain from the summit (only 576 m). The unique Shandong Buddhist cave site.
50 RMB entry. Allow 4 hours. The 1,500-year-old Northern Wei Buddhas in the 5 main caves are the most-photographed. Pair with the Yunmen Mountain for a 1-day Buddhist heritage day.

A scenic canyon with waterfalls, rapids, and lush forests, the 'little Jiuzhaigou' of central Shandong. The Trip.com 4.5/5, 2,407-review canyon has the 5-km canyon walk, the 9 waterfall pools, the 100-meter vertical cliff face, the 1,000-year-old Tang-era stone stele, and the 1,000-meter forest trail. The most-photographed Qingzhou natural site.
110 RMB entry. Best April-October. The 9 waterfall pools are the most-photographed. The autumn foliage (late October) is the seasonal highlight. Pair with the Yunmen Mountain and Tuo Mountain for a 2-day Qingzhou mountain + canyon day.

A 500-year-old Ming-dynasty private garden, the only well-preserved northern-style garden from the era. The Trip.com 4.4/5, 602-review garden has the 500-year-old stone-carving gallery, the 1,000-year-old cypress trees, the classical pavilions, the 500-meter rock-and-water walk, the 1,200-year-old Tang-era stone stele, and the seasonal peony garden (Qingzhou is the peony capital of China).
25 RMB entry. The 500-year-old stone-carving gallery is the most-photographed. The peony garden peaks in mid-April. Pair with the ancient city and the Fan Gong Pavilion for a half-day old-town tour.

The park built in memory of the Song-era governor Fan Zhongyan (the 'First Worry, Last to Rejoice' philosopher-statesman), with the Tanhai Pavilion overlooking the ancient city. The Trip.com 4.5/5, 115-review park has the 1,000-year-old Fan Zhongyan memorial hall, the 1,000-year-old Tanhai Pavilion (the most-photographed Qingzhou view), the Fan Zhongyan statue, the 600-meter lake walk, and the 100+ classical Chinese inscriptions on the cliff face.
Free entry. The Tanhai Pavilion view over the ancient city is the iconic Qingzhou photo. Pair with the Ou Garden and the ancient city for a half-day old-town tour.

The memorial to the Song-dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao (1084-1155), who lived in Qingzhou for 13 years and wrote her most famous ci poems here. The 3A-rated memorial has the Li Qingzhao statue, the 1,000-year-old Song-era poetry gallery, the 800-piece Song-dynasty calligraphy exhibition, the classical Chinese garden walkways, and the panoramic view of the Qingzhou ancient city from the hilltop. The unique cultural site for Chinese literature enthusiasts.
Free entry. Allow 1.5 hours. The Li Qingzhao poetry gallery is the most-photographed. Pair with the ancient city and Ou Garden for a half-day literary heritage tour.
Local Flavors

The Qingzhou specialty - the local honey peach variety, smaller and sweeter than the southern Chinese peaches, harvested in July-August. The Qingzhou蜜桃 is the most-celebrated Shandong peach, and the Qingzhou Peach Festival is held annually in August. Found at every Qingzhou market.
Recommended: Qingzhou Old Town morning market, or the Qingzhou Peach Orchard town

The Qingzhou breakfast - pan-fried pork buns, similar to the Shanghai sheng jian bao, with a crispy bottom and a juicy pork filling. The Qingzhou jian bao is a 600-year tradition, found at every Qingzhou morning market. The most-celebrated snack in the city.
Recommended: Qingzhou Old Town morning stalls, or the Fan Gong Pavilion area breakfast stalls

The Qingzhou celebration feast - a whole lamb roasted on a spit for 4-6 hours over juniper wood, served family-style on a large platter with salt-pepper dip and the inner-organ soup. The Qingzhou whole-lamb feast is the most-celebrated banquet dish, served at the Fan Gong Pavilion banquet halls and the upscale Qingzhou Lu-cai restaurants.
Recommended: Fan Gong Pavilion banquet halls, or the Qingzhou Lu-cai Restaurant on Yunmen Mountain Road

The 100-year-old Qingzhou pastry tradition - the Longsheng bakery (founded 1898) is the most-celebrated, with 100+ varieties of traditional Chinese pastries. The signature is the 'Longevity Peach' pastry, a peach-shaped flaky pastry filled with red bean paste. Served at the Longsheng flagship store on the Qingzhou Old Town and as ceremonial pastries at every Qingzhou wedding.
Recommended: Longsheng Flagship Store (隆盛糕点总店) on Qingzhou Old Street

The Qingzhou specialty - pickled vegetables, particularly the pickled radish, pickled Chinese cabbage, and the pickled lotus root. The Dongguan pickle tradition is 1,000 years old, served as a side dish with every Qingzhou meal. Found at the Dongguan Pickle flagship store on the Qingzhou Old Town.
Recommended: Dongguan Pickle Store (东关酱菜) on Qingzhou Old Street

The Qingzhou snack - thin pancakes made from whole millet or buckwheat flour, rolled with scallions and sweet bean sauce. The Qingzhou version is more-healthy than the Tai'an or Jinan pancakes. Found at every Qingzhou morning market.
Recommended: Qingzhou Old Town morning stalls, or the Fan Gong Pavilion breakfast stalls
Curated Itineraries

A 2-day first-time Qingzhou trip covering the ancient city, the Qingzhou Museum, the Yunmen Mountain, the Tuo Mountain, and the Fan Gong Pavilion. Best April-October; spring for the peony garden, autumn for the cool weather.

A 2-day trip starting in Qingzhou (ancient city + museum), continuing to Jinan (City of Springs). Best April-October; pairs the 1,400-year-old ancient city with the natural beauty of the City of Springs.

A 2-day trip combining Qingzhou (ancient city) with Zibo (BBQ + Zhoucun). Best April-October; pairs the cultural heritage with the famous Zibo barbecue.
Trip Planning
Total estimated budget: $129 per person
Actual costs vary by travel style, season, and booking choices.
Common Questions
Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct is generally the best season, with comfortable weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
2 days is a practical baseline for first-time visitors covering major highlights.
A common reference is around $129 per person, depending on hotel level, transport, and attraction choices.
Yes. Qingzhou has diverse attractions, flexible route options, and accommodation levels suitable for family trips.
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