Meals: Meals: N

Upon your arrival at Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, our local guide will greet you and arrange private transfer to your pre-booked downtown hotel. The rest of the day is free for leisure. You may settle in, wander nearby streets, sample local Shandong snacks and prepare for your 12-day spring cultural and floral adventure. Overnight: Jinan downtown hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Baotu Spring, Daming Lake Scenic Area, Baihuazhou, Wulongtan Park, Heihu Spring

Today you will dive deep into Jinan, reputed as “City of Springs”. Start with Baotu Spring, Jinan’s iconic natural spring site, where crystal-clear water surges out from underground karst caves all year round. Afterwards you can stroll to Daming Lake Scenic Area, a famous ancient lake featured in classic Chinese literature, with willow branches swaying along lake shores in gentle spring breeze. Next, you will walk to Baihuazhou Historic Block, a charming old-town water-lane neighbourhood preserving traditional Jinan folk-style courtyards. Move on to Wulongtan Park, the well-known local spots for spring flower appreciation. In spring, plum blossoms, crabapples and magnolias are in full bloom among gurgling spring pools, creating poetic scenes combining running water and colourful blossoms. Then you will finish sightseeing at Heihu Spring - the vigorous gushing spring water forms spectacular cascading waterfalls. After a full-day exploration of springs and flowers, you can return to hotel for rest. Overnight: Jinan

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Caozhou Peony Garden, Baihua Garden

After breakfast, you will depart by private air-conditioned coach and drive southward to Heze, China’s world-renowned hometown of peonies. Heze boasts centuries-old peony cultivation history. Every spring, thousands of peonies burst into full blossom, painting vast gardens with layers of red, pink, purple, white and yellow petals. First, you will visit Caozhou Peony Garden, the largest peony-themed garden in China, home to hundreds of rare peony cultivars. Wander through boundless peony flower seas, take photos and learn about peony planting culture. Then you can continue your visit to Baihua Garden, another outstanding peony viewing base with ancient peony trees dating back hundreds of years. Then spend your afternoon immersed in the fragrance and glamour of spring peonies. Overnight: Heze hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Temple of Confucius, Kong Family Mansion, Cemetery of Confucius, Yan Hui Temple

After breakfast, you will be driven to Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, the great ancient Chinese philosopher and educator whose thoughts shaped Chinese civilization for more than two thousand years. Your tour starts at the Temple of Confucius, a grand imperial-style memorial complex built to honour Confucius, boasting numerous ancient halls, steles and towering aged cypress trees. Next station is Kong Family Mansion, the residential compound for Confucius’ direct descendants. Then you can proceed to the Cemetery of Confucius, a huge tranquil wooded graveyard where Confucius and his generations of descendants rest. In the late afternoon, you will visit Yan Hui Temple, dedicated to Yan Hui, Confucius’ most beloved outstanding disciple. And gain thorough understanding of Confucian philosophy, traditional Chinese etiquette and ancient noble clan culture throughout the journey. Overnight: Qufu hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Mount Tai Scenic Area

After breakfast, you will transfer to Tai’an city, located at the foot of Mount Tai. Mount Tai is one of China’s five great sacred mountains, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for both natural landscape and cultural value. For thousands of years, emperors of many dynasties held grand worship ceremonies atop Mount Tai to pay tribute to heaven and earth. You will explore Mount Tai Scenic Area with mountain shuttle buses and hiking. Walk through time-worn stone steps, admire ancient stone inscriptions carved on steep cliffs, majestic Taoist-Buddhist temples and spectacular mountain-top vistas. Spring paints mountain slopes with fresh green plants and sporadic wild blossoms. You may choose to hike partly or take cable cars according to your physical condition. Overnight: Tai’an hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Zibo Ceramics & Colouredglaze Museum, Haidai Belltower Library, Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City

After breakfast you will set off for Zibo. Zibo is an ancient city famous for millennia-old ceramic and coloured-glaze craftsmanship, and became nationwide popular for its characteristic local barbecue culture. First stop is Zibo Ceramics & Coloured-glaze Museum, where you appreciate exquisite ancient and modern ceramic and coloured-glaze artworks, tracing the long-standing local handicraft inheritance. Afterwards you can visit Haidai Bell-tower Library, a landmark cultural building blending traditional Chinese architectural aesthetics with modern design. Then explore Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City, a well-preserved old business town dating back to Ming and Qing dynasties. Wander along flag-stone streets, time-honoured shops and old guild-halls, experiencing the prosperous ancient commercial atmosphere. In the evening, you can enjoy the highly-recommended authentic Zibo barbecue dinner, a signature local gastronomic experience. Overnight: Zibo hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City, China Ancientchariots Museum, Yangjiabu Folklore Garden , Weifang Kite Museum

Today’s journey start with heading to Weifang - internationally known as the Hometown of Kites. In the morning you may continue exploring hidden corners of Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City. Then you can visit China Ancient-chariots Museum, displaying well-recovered ancient Chinese carriages and precious relics, presenting ancient transportation technology. Next you will arrive at Yangjiabu Folklore Garden, a living folk-culture village famed for traditional New-year wood-print paintings. Here you join an interesting hands-on DIY session: you can carve and print your own New-year wood-print artwork and take your finished craft as a unique travel souvenir. Afterwards you can tour Weifang Kite Museum, the world’s specialised museum for kites. View diverse kites of different shapes and sizes, learn about the thousands-year-long history of Chinese kite-making and folk-custom of kite-flying. Overnight: Weifang hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Penglai Pavilion

After breakfast, you will transfer approximately 200 kilometers toward the coastal city Penglai to visit the famous Penglai Pavilion, which is one of China’s four great ancient pavilions, widely celebrated in Chinese mythology as the legendary immortal’s dwelling place overlooking the sea. Roam through the grand ancient pavilion complex perched on seashore cliffs, listen to fascinating ancient legends about immortals, and overlook the merging blue Bohai-Yellow-sea waters. After finishing Penglai Pavilion sightseeing, continue your coastal journey eastwards to Yantai. Upon arrival, you will check-in at your seaside hotel. You are free to feel the gentle sea breeze and enjoy the peaceful coastal night. Overnight: Yantai

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Changyu Wine Culture Museum, Yantai Mountain Park, Liugong Island

You will start your day with a visit to Changyu Wine Culture Museum. Learn about China’s pioneering wine-making history, view century-old wine cellars and appreciate wine-making craftsmanship. Next you can visit Yantai Mountain Park, the symbolic landmark of Yantai. Standing on the hilltop, you can behold the spectacular panoramic view where mountains, sea, harbour and city buildings merge harmoniously into one gorgeous coastal picture. Later, you will transfer to Weihai. Take ferry boat to Liugong Island, a famous historical site carrying modern Chinese naval history. Visit exhibition halls, old warship relics and memorial sites, to understand important modern-period Chinese history. Then return to mainland and settle into your Weihai hotel. Overnight: Weihai

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Zhanqiao Pier, Badaguan Scenic Area, Tsingtao Beer Museum, Olympic Sailing Park, May Fourth Square, Zhongshan Park (Cherry-blossom viewing in spring)

After breakfast, you will be driven roughly 3.5 hours to Qingdao, the glamorous coastal metropolis of Shandong. Your first stop is Zhanqiao Pier, Qingdao’s most iconic landmark stretching into the sea. Then wander Badaguan Scenic Area, dotted with hundreds of exotic-style century-old villas shaded by lush trees. Continue to Tsingtao Beer Museum, where you trace the origin of China’s famous beer brand and learn about beer-brewing procedures. Move on to Olympic Sailing Park and May Fourth Square, representing modern Qingdao coastal urban landscape. In spring, Zhongshan Park becomes newly famous spot: thousands of cherry-blossom trees burst into bloom, creating dreamy pink flower tunnels for visitors to stroll and photograph. Overnight: Qingdao hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Laoshan Mountain Scenic Area, Qingshan Fishing Village, Coastal Ring-road

Today you will explore Laoshan Mountain, China’s only coastal mountain integrating steep mountain rocks and vast sea views. Travel by scenic shuttle bus across Laoshan, admire jagged granite peaks, clear mountain streams and seascapes. After mountain sightseeing, you can visit Qingshan Fishing Village, a quiet original coastal fishing hamlet with white-walled fishermen houses scattered on mountain slopes facing the blue sea. Drive along the picturesque coastal ring-road, stop at viewpoints to capture stunning sea-and-mountain panoramic views. Overnight: Qingdao hotel

Meals: Meals: B

After breakfast, enjoy some free time for last-minute souvenir-shopping or casual coastal walking. Private transfer service will take you to Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport according to your flight schedule. Tour ends.