Qingzhou

1,400-year Ancient City · Qingzhou Museum · Yunmen Mountain · Northern Wei Grottoes

Shandong, ChinaRecommended 2 daysFrom $129/person

Last updated 22 July 2026 · by the Walk Voyage Editorial Team

Visitor data snapshot

What travelers actually experience in Qingzhou

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 attractionRatingReviewsTicket (USD)
Qingzhou Museum4.61,271$0.00
Yunmen Mountain Scenic Area4.61,789$8.87
Qingzhou Ancient Town4.53,823$2.96
Huanghua Creek4.52,407$16.25
Tuo Mountain (Camel Mountain)4.5231$7.39
Taihe Mountain4.4479$16.25
Fan Gongting Park4.5115$0.00
Ou Garden4.4602$0.00
Jingtang Ancient Town4.3608$5.91
Li Qingzhao Memorial Temple4.487$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 at a glance

Travel snapshot
Province
China
Best season
Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
Trip length
2 days recommended
Avg budget
$129 per person
Top attractions
8 featured · 0 rated 4.7+
Food picks
6 signature dishes
Routes curated
3 multi-day itineraries
Budget
¥2253 itemized

About Qingzhou

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.

Qingzhou ancient cityQingzhou MuseumLongxing Temple statuesYunmen MountainTuo Mountain grottoesLi QingzhaoNorthern WeiShandong heritage

Best Season

Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

Days Recommended

2 Days

Avg Budget

$129

Location

Shandong, China

Must-See Spots

Top Attractions in Qingzhou

4.5
1,400-year Ancient City

Qingzhou Ancient City (Qingzhou Gucheng)

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.

Free240h

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.

4.6
Buddhist Art Museum

Qingzhou Museum (Qingzhou Bo Wu Guan)

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.

Free180h

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.

4.6
Cliff-Carving Mountain

Yunmen Mountain (Yunmen Shan)

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.

¥60180h

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.

4.5
Northern Wei Buddhist Grottoes

Tuo Mountain (Camel Mountain / Tuo Shan)

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.

¥50240h

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.

4.5
Scenic Canyon

Huanghua Creek (Huanghua Xi)

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.

¥110300h

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.

4.4
500-year-old Ming Garden

Ou Garden (Ouyuan)

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).

¥2590h

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.

4.5
Song-era Memorial Park

Fan Gong Pavilion Park (Fan Gong Ting)

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.

Free90h

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.

4.4
Song Poetess Memorial

Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall (Qingzhao Ci)

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.

Free90h

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

What to Eat in Qingzhou

Qingzhou Heritage Fruit

Qingzhou Honey Peach (Qingzhou Mi Tao)

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.

¥15-30 per kg (seasonal Jul-Aug)
4.7

Recommended: Qingzhou Old Town morning market, or the Qingzhou Peach Orchard town

Qingzhou Heritage Snack

Qingzhou Fried Buns (Qingzhou Jian Bao)

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.

¥2-5 each
4.6

Recommended: Qingzhou Old Town morning stalls, or the Fan Gong Pavilion area breakfast stalls

Qingzhou Heritage Banquet

Qingzhou Whole-Lamb Feast (Qingzhou Quan Yang Yan)

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.

¥1,200-2,500 per whole lamb (for 6-8 people)
4.7

Recommended: Fan Gong Pavilion banquet halls, or the Qingzhou Lu-cai Restaurant on Yunmen Mountain Road

Qingzhou Heritage Pastry

Qingzhou Longsheng Pastries (Qingzhou Longsheng Gao Dian)

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.

¥10-30 per box
4.7

Recommended: Longsheng Flagship Store (隆盛糕点总店) on Qingzhou Old Street

Qingzhou Heritage Side

Qingzhou Dongguan Pickles (Qingzhou Dongguan Jiang Cai)

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.

¥15-30 per jar
4.5

Recommended: Dongguan Pickle Store (东关酱菜) on Qingzhou Old Street

Qingzhou Heritage Snack

Qingzhou Whole-Grain Pancakes (Qingzhou Quan Mai Jian Bing)

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.

¥5-12 each
4.4

Recommended: Qingzhou Old Town morning stalls, or the Fan Gong Pavilion breakfast stalls

Curated Itineraries

Suggested Routes in Qingzhou

2 Days

Qingzhou Classic 2-Day Ancient City Trip

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.

Qingzhou ancient cityQingzhou MuseumYunmen MountainTuo MountainFan Gong Pavilion
2 Days

Qingzhou + Jinan 2-Day Ancient City + Springs Trip

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.

Qingzhou ancient cityQingzhou MuseumBaotu SpringDaming Lake
2 Days

Qingzhou + Zibo BBQ 2-Day Heritage + Food Trip

A 2-day trip combining Qingzhou (ancient city) with Zibo (BBQ + Zhoucun). Best April-October; pairs the cultural heritage with the famous Zibo barbecue.

Qingzhou ancient cityQingzhou MuseumZibo BBQZhoucun

Trip Planning

Travel Budget for Qingzhou

Transport

Qingzhou taxi (per 5 km)¥12
Qingzhou-Jinan high-speed rail (round trip)¥200
Qingzhou-Zibo high-speed rail (round trip)¥80
Qingzhou-Tuo Mountain taxi (round trip)¥80
Subtotal¥372

Food

Qingzhou whole-lamb feast (per person)¥200
Qingzhou fried buns (per piece)¥4
Longsheng pastries (per box)¥20
Dongguan pickles (per jar)¥22
Qingzhou Lu-cai restaurant (per person)¥90
Subtotal¥336

Attractions

Qingzhou ancient city (free)Free
Qingzhou Museum (free)Free
Yunmen Mountain (with cable car)¥110
Tuo Mountain¥50
Ou Garden¥25
Subtotal¥185

Accommodation

Qingzhou budget hotel (per night)¥180
Qingzhou mid-range hotel (per night)¥320
Qingzhou ancient city boutique (per night)¥380
Huanghua Creek resort (per night)¥480
Subtotal¥1360

Total estimated budget: $129 per person

Actual costs vary by travel style, season, and booking choices.

Common Questions

Qingzhou Travel FAQ

What is the best time to visit Qingzhou?

Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct is generally the best season, with comfortable weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

How many days are recommended for Qingzhou?

2 days is a practical baseline for first-time visitors covering major highlights.

What is a typical travel budget in Qingzhou?

A common reference is around $129 per person, depending on hotel level, transport, and attraction choices.

Is Qingzhou suitable for family travel?

Yes. Qingzhou has diverse attractions, flexible route options, and accommodation levels suitable for family trips.

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Guide
Yellow River DeltaRed-Crowned CraneRed BeachShengli Oilfield

Northernmost Shandong city on the Bohai Sea, home of the 5A Yellow River Delta National Park, the Red-Crowned Crane Sanctuary, the seasonal red-beach (red seepweed in October), and the Shengli Oilfield.

Explore Dongying

Shandong

Zaozhuang / 枣庄

Guide
Taierzhuang1938 BattleWeishan LakeSpicy Chicken

Southern Shandong city on the Grand Canal, home of the 5A Taierzhuang Ancient City (the most-celebrated living Grand Canal town), the 1938 Battle of Taierzhuang Memorial, the Weishan Lake Red Lotus Wetland, and the famous Zaozhuang spicy chicken.

Explore Zaozhuang