Weifang

The “Kite Capital of the World,” with skies full of kites at the April festival, Yangjiabu woodblock New Year prints and the Shihu Garden, plus Qingzhou's old town and Mount Yunmen.

Weifang sits in the middle of the Shandong Peninsula. It is the “Kite Capital of the World” and the home of Yangjiabu woodblock New Year prints. About 60 km to the west, Qingzhou was one of the legendary Nine Provinces of ancient China and is a National Historic and Cultural City. The two are linked by the Jinan–Qingdao high-speed railway: Weifang to Qingzhou takes about 20 minutes, and Jinan or Qingdao to Weifang about 1 hour. A visit falls into three parts: in Weifang city, see the Kite Museum, World Kite Capital Memorial Square, the Shihu Garden cultural quarter and the city museum, try woodblock print-making at Yangjiabu on the northeastern outskirts, and view century-old German and Japanese buildings in Fangzi to the south; in Qingzhou, stay near the old town, stroll Ouyuan Street, Zhaode Old Street and Zhenjiao Mosque, spend the day viewing Northern Dynasties Buddhist statues at the Qingzhou Museum, then climb Mount Yunmen and the Tuoshan Grottoes, with Jingtang Old Village, Huanghua Creek and Mount Yangtian in the southern hills; Laolongwan, Mount Yi and the Shanwang Fossil Museum in Linqu, and the Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum make good self-drive day trips. Spring and autumn are best: the Weifang International Kite Festival is held in mid-to-late April each year, and the southern hills turn red in late October. Allow 3–4 days. Local food includes Weifang chaotianguo (open-pot stew), meat-filled huoshao buns, gangzitou hard flatbread and hele noodles; Qingzhou is known for Longsheng pastries, mi san dao honey pastries and braised beef. The old town is crowded during the kite festival and public holidays, so book accommodation ahead; most museums require advance real-name reservations and are closed on Mondays.

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