Qingzhou Ancient City Scenic Area is located in Qingzhou City, Weifang, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of 1.4 square kilometers. As one of the ancient Nine Provinces, Qingzhou has a profound historical accumulation. The scenic area is mainly composed of Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, retaining a complete ancient city layout, covering various historical relics such as ancient streets, ancient dwellings, and ancient buildings. There are more than 20 existing ancient streets, and the total area of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties is about 300,000 square meters. The feature of the scenic area lies in the combination of historical culture, folk customs and modern tourism experience. It has main streets such as North Gate Street, Ouyuan Street, and East Gate Street, with temples, mansions, and shops distributed along the streets. Among them, there are 12 cultural relics protection units at or above the provincial level, which is the core area displaying Qingzhou's historical culture and regional characteristics, attracting a large number of tourists every year to experience the style of the ancient city.
Historical Culture
The history of Qingzhou Ancient City can be traced back to the Dayu period. As one of the ancient Nine Provinces, it has successively been the seat of prefectures, states, and mansions since the Western Han Dynasty. It has not been interrupted for more than 2,000 years and is one of the political, economic, and cultural centers in Shandong, known as the "Eastern Ancient Province".
The historical buildings in the ancient city have witnessed the changes of different dynasties. The Hengwang Mansion of the Ming Dynasty is an important historical relic. It was originally the mansion of Zhu Zhi, the 11th son of Zhu Yuanzhang. There are two existing stone archways, 7.5 meters high and 11.5 meters wide, with exquisite carvings, which are among the few remaining stone archways of the Ming Dynasty princely mansions in China; Ouyuan of the Qing Dynasty was the private garden of Feng Pu, a grand secretary of the Hanlin Academy during the Kangxi period. It combines the styles of Jiangnan gardens and northern architecture. The layout of rockeries, ponds, pavilions in the garden is exquisite, and it is one of the representatives of northern classical gardens.
Religious culture has left a deep impression in the ancient city. Longxing Temple, founded in the Northern Wei Dynasty, was once the Buddhist center in Shandong. A large number of Buddha statue cellars unearthed in the temple (including painted stone-carved Buddha statues, Bodhisattva statues, etc.) are known as one of the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China in 1996". The existing site and some restored buildings show the brilliance of ancient Buddhist art.
Folk culture is rich and diverse. Qingzhou folk paper-cutting, cuoqin (a kind of musical instrument), and shuttlecock kicking have been included in the national intangible cultural heritage. The intangible cultural heritage experience hall in the ancient city displays these traditional skills all year round. Activities such as the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month and the temple fair on the 8th day of the fourth lunar month, which have been held for hundreds of years, continue the folk traditions and attract many citizens and tourists to participate.
Main Attractions
Fucai Gate (South Gate)
Fucai Gate is the main gate of Qingzhou Ancient City, founded in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The existing building was rebuilt in 2013, 20 meters high and 35 meters wide, adopting the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. There is a city tower on the gate, from which you can overlook the whole view of the ancient city. Inside the gate, there is the Qingzhou Ancient City Museum, which displays the historical evolution and cultural relics of the ancient city, including physical objects such as Ming Dynasty city wall bricks and ancient weapons, helping tourists understand the development process of the ancient city. Fucai Gate Square is the entrance sign of the ancient city, with an archway engraved with "Qingzhou Ancient City" on the square, which is a popular photo spot for tourists.
Ouyuan
Ouyuan is located in the south of the ancient city, covering an area of about 33,000 square meters. It was the private garden of Feng Pu, a grand secretary of the Hanlin Academy during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Also known as "Feng Family Garden" because it is near the former site of Hengwang Mansion. There are four major rockeries of "Fu (fortune), Shou (longevity), Kang (health), Ning (peace)" in the garden, all piled up with Taihu stones left over from the Ming Dynasty Hengwang Mansion, with the highest point reaching 8 meters; there are also pavilions and buildings such as Jiashan Hall, Lüge Pavilion, and Songfeng Pavilion in the garden. The pond area is about 1,500 square meters, planted with lotus, water lilies and other aquatic plants, with pleasant scenery in summer. Ouyuan is a rare well-preserved classical garden in northern China, reflecting the artistic achievements of garden architecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Hengwang Mansion Stone Archways
Hengwang Mansion Stone Archways are located at the north end of Ouyuan Street, which are the landmark buildings of the Ming Dynasty Hengwang Mansion. Built in the 23rd year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty (1487), they consist of two four-pillar and three-gate stone archways, 43 meters apart from east to west. Each archway is 7.5 meters high and 11.5 meters wide, with a gable roof on the top, carved with auspicious animals such as dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns, as well as patterns of flowers, figures and stories. The carving techniques are exquisite with strong three-dimensional sense. They are among the best-preserved and most exquisitely carved stone archways of the Ming Dynasty princely mansions in China, with extremely high historical and artistic value.
Zhaode Ancient Street
Zhaode Ancient Street is one of the best-preserved ancient streets in Qingzhou Ancient City, with a total length of 1.5 kilometers. It is named after the Zhaode Pavilion in the street. It is mainly composed of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, mostly brick-wood structure quadrangles. This ancient street was once a Hui inhabited area, retaining a large number of Hui cultural elements. There are mosques (founded in the Yuan Dynasty, the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters), Hui characteristic shops, etc. along the street. The old shops on both sides of the street (such as "Dongguan Sauce Garden" and "Old Silversmith Shop") still retain traditional business methods, showing the diverse ethnic culture of the ancient city.
Longxing Temple Site
Longxing Temple Site is located in the northwest of the ancient city, founded in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and went through the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties, gradually declining in the Ming Dynasty. In the 1990s, a large number of Buddhist statues were excavated here, totaling more than 400, including stone Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats, with a time span from the Northern Wei to the Northern Song Dynasty. Among them, the painted Buddha statues are well-preserved with bright colors, which is an important discovery of Chinese Buddhist art. The existing site park covers an area of about 15,000 square meters, with exhibition halls, Buddha statue groups, etc., restoring part of the temple's architectural layout, allowing tourists to feel the scale and momentum of ancient Buddhist temples.
Food
Qingzhou Pancake
Qingzhou Pancake is a local traditional snack, made from millet and corn through grinding and spreading, as thin as paper, with a crispy taste. It can be eaten with green onions, pickles or fried dough sticks rolled in it. The "Old Qingzhou Pancake Shop" in the ancient city has inherited three generations of skills, using traditional griddles to make pancakes. A pancake (including ingredients) is priced at about 8 yuan, which is a must-try food for tourists to experience the local flavor.
Longsheng Pastry
Longsheng Pastry was founded during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a famous time-honored brand in Qingzhou, known for its high-quality materials and traditional craftsmanship. Its main varieties include Misandao (three knife-shaped pastries coated with honey), cakes, and peach cakes. Among them, Misandao is made of flour, honey, sesame, etc., through frying and glazing. The outer skin is crispy, the inner part is soft, sweet but not greasy. A box (about 500 grams) is priced at about 35 yuan, which can be bought at Longsheng Pastry Shop on Ouyuan Street in the ancient city, and is a good gift for relatives and friends.
Dongguan Braised Beef
Dongguan Braised Beef originated in the Qing Dynasty, named after it was produced in Dongguan (around Zhaode Street) of the ancient city. It uses hind leg meat of local yellow cattle, made through more than 10 processes such as marinating and braising. The meat is firm with a rich sauce flavor, and can be eaten directly after slicing or with pancakes. The "Ma's Braised Beef" shop in the ancient city has a history of 100 years, and 500 grams of braised beef is priced at about 80 yuan, which is loved by tourists.
Surrounding Food
Qingzhou Songcheng Food Street, about 2 kilometers away from the ancient city, gathers characteristic foods from Weifang and surrounding areas. "Weifang Meat Baked Cake" is a common local snack, made with flour as the crust, filled with pork filling and fried. The outer skin is crispy, and the inner filling is fresh and tender, priced at about 5 yuan each; "Linqu Whole Lamb Soup" uses local goats, and the soup is milky white after boiling, served with chopped green onions and coriander, priced at about 25 yuan a bowl. It is especially warming to eat in winter, and is a good place for tourists to experience local food culture.
Tickets
It is open for free, but some attractions in the scenic area charge separately.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "青州古城旅游景区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours a day (shops in the block are generally open from 8:00 to 21:00); Ouyuan is open from 8:00 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00); Qingzhou Museum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:00, closed on Mondays, except legal holidays); Longxing Temple Site Park is open from 8:30 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30).
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Enter the ancient city from Fucai Gate at 8:30 am, climb the city tower to visit the Ancient City Museum (about 1 hour); visit north along Ouyuan Street at 9:30 am to enjoy Hengwang Mansion Stone Archways (about 30 minutes); enter Ouyuan at 10:00 am to visit the garden landscape and ancient buildings (about 1.5 hours); taste Longsheng Pastry, Qingzhou Pancake and other snacks on Ouyuan Street at 11:30 am; go to Zhaode Ancient Street at 13:00 pm to visit the mosque, Hui dwellings and experience ethnic customs (about 1.5 hours); go to Longxing Temple Site Park at 14:30 pm to learn about Buddhist culture and archaeological discoveries (about 1 hour); walk to Qingzhou Museum at 15:30 pm to visit the cultural relics exhibition (about 2 hours); return to the ancient city at 17:30 pm to taste characteristic foods such as braised beef in Dongguan; enjoy the night view of the ancient city at 19:00 pm (the lights on the main streets are on until 22:00), and end the trip at 20:00 pm.
Transportation
- Public transportation: Take buses No. 1, 2, 8, 11 in Qingzhou to "Qingzhou Ancient City" station, walk about 50 meters to Fucai Gate; take bus No. 2 from Qingzhou Railway Station (ordinary speed station) directly to the ancient city, with a journey of about 30 minutes and a fare of 2 yuan; take bus No. 11 from Qingzhou North Station (high-speed railway station) to the ancient city, with a journey of about 40 minutes and a fare of 3 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from Jinan, go east along Qingyin Expressway, get off at Qingzhou East Exit, navigate to Qingzhou Ancient City Parking Lot, with a total distance of about 150 kilometers and a driving time of 2 hours; starting from Qingdao, go west along Qingyin Expressway, get off at Qingzhou Exit to the ancient city, with a total distance of about 200 kilometers and a driving time of 2.5 hours; the parking fee around the ancient city is 5 yuan per hour, and parking spaces are tight during holidays.
- Taxi/online car-hailing: It is about 15 kilometers from Qingzhou North Station to the ancient city, with a driving time of 20 minutes and a cost of about 30 yuan; it is about 8 kilometers from Qingzhou Nanyuan Airport to the ancient city, with a driving time of 15 minutes and a cost of about 15 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Fucai Gate (South Gate): The main gate of the ancient city, you can climb the tower to overlook the whole view of the ancient city and learn about the history of the ancient city, open for free (the tower museum is included in the ticket).
- Ouyuan: A Qing Dynasty classical garden with an area of 33,000 square meters, with four major rockeries and Ming and Qing buildings, ticket price 20 yuan per person, it is the core attraction to experience northern garden culture.
- Hengwang Mansion Stone Archways: Relics of the Ming Dynasty princely mansion, 7.5 meters high, exquisitely carved, open for free, showing the superb level of Ming Dynasty stone carving art.
- Zhaode Ancient Street: A 1.5-kilometer-long ancient street, retaining Hui cultural characteristics and traditional shops, open for free, suitable for feeling the local customs.
- Qingzhou Museum: It has a rich collection of cultural relics, including precious collections such as Longxing Temple Buddha statues and Ming Dynasty top scholar's papers, open for free, and is an important window to understand the history of Qingzhou.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 1 day visiting, which can fully experience the historical buildings, folk culture and characteristic food of the ancient city.
- Most of the streets in the ancient city are stone-paved roads, so it is recommended to wear comfortable flat shoes. Pay attention to sun protection in summer and keep warm in winter.
- For food, you can choose time-honored shops on Ouyuan Street and Zhaode Street, such as Longsheng Pastry and Ma's Braised Beef, and avoid high-priced restaurants at the entrance of the main street.
- It is recommended to choose regular shops when buying specialties (such as Longsheng Pastry), pay attention to checking the production date and shelf life, and some shops support express delivery services.
- The best places to take photos of the ancient city's night view are Fucai Gate Tower and the north section of Ouyuan Street. The lights are on until 22:00, and it is recommended to take photos from 19:30 to 21:00 to avoid the peak crowd.
Matters Needing Attention
- Motor vehicles are prohibited in the ancient city (except special vehicles). Tourists need to visit on foot and pay attention to avoiding bicycles and electric sightseeing cars.
- Take good care of ancient buildings and cultural relics. Climbing stone archways and city walls, touching exhibits are prohibited. Please abide by the regulations of the scenic area signs.
- There are many tourists during holidays (May Day, National Day, Spring Festival). It is recommended to travel during off-peak hours (before 8:00 am or after 17:00 pm), take good care of personal belongings and be alert to pickpockets.
- Some sections of Zhaode Ancient Street are narrow, and the stone-paved roads are slippery on rainy days. Pay attention to walking safety and take good care of the elderly and children.
- Respect the customs and habits of the local Hui people. When entering the mosque, you need to abide by relevant regulations (such as being neatly dressed, taking off hats, etc.).