10-Day Beijing Jinan Tai’an Qingdao Tour
Embark on a 10-day tour from Beijing to Qingdao, exploring China’s imperial history, sacred mountains, and coastal charm. Visit Beijing’s top landmarks, sample Jinan’s famous springs, explore Confucian heritage in Qufu, climb Mount Tai—site of legendary emperor rituals—and unwind in Qingdao with its German architecture, beer museum, Laoshan mountain, and seaside beauty. A cultural and scenic journey through eastern China.
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Included with every escorted tour
Day 1: Beijing Arrival
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to the hotel
4-Star Hotels
None
Upon your arrival in Beijing, our professional guide will be waiting for you at the airport. You will be transferred comfortably by private vehicle to your hotel in the city center. After check-in, take some time to rest and adjust to the time difference. If you’re eager to explore your surroundings, our guide will provide practical suggestions.
As an international aviation hub, Beijing has direct flights connecting to many cities around the world. In addition, you can also choose to take the high-speed rail to reach downtown Beijing. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the city by taking the Airport Express, and the cost is about RMB 35-50 per person. The airport bus takes about 60-90 minutes and costs 40 yuan per person; taxis or online car-hailing take about 60-90 minutes and cost about 300 yuan (depending on the type of car).
At the same time, Beijing Airport is adjacent to various cities in China. For example, it only takes about 2.5 hours from Daxing Airport to major cities such as Shanghai, Xi’an, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.
Day 2: Beijing
Tian’anmen Square–Forbidden City–Summer Palace
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin at Tiananmen Square, Beijing’s symbolic heart. Pause at the Monument to the People’s Heroes to admire its Marxist-Leninist reliefs, then cross the golden-gated Chang’an Avenue to enter the Forbidden City. This 15th-century imperial palace complex, home to 24 emperors, unfolds like a living museum. Wander the Meridian Gate (Wu Men) into the outer court, where the Hall of Supreme Harmony—China’s largest surviving wooden palace—towers with its dragon-adorned roof. Don’t miss the Nine Dragons Screen near the Palace of Heavenly Purity, a marvel of Ming-era jade carving. For a unique perspective, rent an audio guide to hear tales of imperial intrigues, or join a guided tour to uncover hidden symbols in the Golden River Bridge’s marble balustrades.
After lunch, escape to the Summer Palace, a masterpiece of Qing Dynasty garden design. Glide across Kunming Lake on a traditional dragon-shaped paddleboat, passing marble bridges and lotus-filled coves. Wander the Long Corridor, a 728-meter gallery adorned with 14,000 vibrant paintings depicting folk tales and historical events. Ascend Longevity Hill via the Pavilion of Buddhist Incense for panoramic views, and sip pu’er tea at the lakeside Shifang Pavilion, once a retreat for Empress Cixi.
Evening Option:
In the evening, you may choose to enjoy a captivating performance of Peking Opera, a kung fu show, or acrobatics, immersing yourself in the charm of traditional Chinese culture. Performances usually run from 19:15 to 20:15.
Day 3: Beijing
Great Wall–Bird Nest (Exterior)
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin your day at the Mutianyu Great Wall, a Ming Dynasty marvel renowned for its lush surroundings and well-preserved architecture. Take a scenic cable car ride to Tower 14, where panoramic views of rolling mountains and watchtowers dot the horizon. For history buffs, join a guided tour to learn about the wall’s strategic role in defending Beijing, or wander independently to discover hidden gems like the Zheng Guo Tai watchtower, adorned with 16th-century stone carvings. Thrill-seekers can hike the “Stairway to Heaven” section (Tower 10–20), navigating original stone steps flanked by ancient pine forests. Capture Instagram-worthy shots at the “Sunrise Platform” near Tower 6, especially magical during autumn when maple leaves blaze crimson.
On your return to Beijing, marvel at the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium), a futuristic steel lattice designed for the 2008 Olympics. Snap photos of its interlacing curves, then stroll to the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), its bubble-like exterior glowing blue by day and neon-lit by night. For a deeper dive, visit the Olympic Park Museum to see relics like torches and athlete gear.
Recommended Activities
You can choose foot massage, houhai night bars or Sanlitun bar street at night.
Day 4: Beijng-Jinan
Beijing – Jinan – Baotu Spring – Black Tiger Spring
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin your journey with a 1.5-hour bullet train ride from Beijing to Jinan, dubbed “Spring City” for its 72 natural springs. Arrive at Jinan West Station, where your guide will greet you with traditional hospitality. Savor a Shandong-style lunch at a local eatery, sampling signature dishes like Dezhou Braised Chicken and Jinan Sweet and Sour Carp.
Post-lunch, dive into Baotu Spring, the “Number One Spring Under Heaven” since the Song Dynasty. Marvel at its three central jets, which have flowed continuously for 3,500 years, and snap photos by the Lezhen Pavilion, where Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty once inscribed “First Spring in the World”. Explore the adjacent Li Qingzhao Memorial Hall, dedicated to the Song Dynasty’s greatest female poet. Learn about her life through interactive exhibits, including replicas of her handwritten ci-poetry and a recreated study where she composed works like “Sheng Sheng Man”.
Head to Black Tiger Spring, named for its tiger-shaped stone spout carved during the Ming Dynasty. Watch locals collect spring water in jugs for cooking and tea, then join them to taste the crisp, mineral-rich water—said to cure ailments by local lore. Stroll the riverside promenade, where retirees practice calligraphy with water brushes on stone pavements and musicians play traditional erhu (two-stringed fiddle). For a hands-on experience, brew a pot of Longjing tea using spring water at a nearby teahouse.
Day 5: Jinan - Qufu
Confucius Temple & Cemetery
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin your journey with a high-speed train ride from Beijing to Qufu (2.5–3 hours), the birthplace of Confucius. Arrive at Qufu East Station, where your guide will greet you with a traditional welcome.
Explore the Confucius Temple, founded in 478 BCE and expanded over 13 dynasties. Wander through 9 courtyards lined with cypress trees and stone inscriptions. Marvel at the Dacheng Hall, a Ming Dynasty structure with a golden-tiled roof and 28 pillars symbolizing the 28 constellations. Pause at the Apricot Platform, where Confucius delivered his first lectures, and join a guided tour to decode the temple’s symbolic architecture—note how its layout mirrors the Forbidden City, reflecting imperial reverence.
For a deeper cultural immersion, participate in a Confucian tea ceremony at a nearby courtyard, sipping Lu Cha (Shandong green tea) while learning the “Three Rules of Courtesy”.
After lunch, venture to the Confucius Cemetery (Konglin), the world’s oldest continuously used family burial ground. Stroll through 3,000 tombs spanning 10 kilometers, including those of Confucius’ descendants. Discover the “Forest of Stone Steles”, where Ming/Qing Dynasty tablets record imperial tributes, and spot the “Flying Dragon” cypress tree, a 2,500-year-old giant believed to embody Confucius’ spirit.
Engage with locals at the cemetery’s entrance, where vendors sell calligraphy brushes made from cypress wood and herbal sachets to ward off bad luck. For a hands-on experience, join a stone carving workshop to etch Confucian proverbs onto jade tokens.
Day 6: Qufu-Mount Tai-Tai’an
Tai Mountain
4-Star Hotels
BreakfastBegin your spiritual journey at Mount Tai, a UNESCO geopark and one of China’s “Five Great Mountains,” revered since the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). Take a scenic cable car ride from Tianzhai Village to the Midway Gate to Heaven, where panoramic vistas of jagged peaks and ancient pines unfold. For adventurers, hike the “Imperial Path”—a 6,660-step stone trail used by emperors for millennia to perform Fengshan sacrifices, ceremonies believed to harmonize heaven and earth. Along the way, pause at the Dai Temple, a Ming-era complex with 1,500 stone carvings depicting deities and historic rites.
Reach the summit at Jade Emperor Peak (Yuhuangding), where the Yuhuang Temple houses a 2.6-meter jade statue of the Taoist deity. Capture the iconic “Sunrise from the East” view at the Sun Watching Pavilion, especially magical during autumn when maple leaves paint the valleys crimson. Descend via the “Six Dragons Valley” trail, passing the “First Sublime Rock” inscribed with Tang Dynasty calligraphy.
Spend the night in a boutique guesthouse near Dai Temple, where rooms feature Ming-style lattice windows and views of mist-shrouded peaks. Savor Shandong cuisine at a local restaurant—try “Tai’an Fried Chicken” (marinated in soy sauce and Sichuan pepper) and “Sweet Cat Ear Pasta” (named for its shape). For a deeper cultural experience, join a Taoist meditation session at a hillside monastery or watch a performance of “Mount Tai Legend”, a folk opera recounting the mountain’s myths.
Day 7: Tai’an-Qingdao
Tsingtao Beer Museum – the Former German Governor’s Residence
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin your Qingdao adventure at the Tsingtao Beer Museum, housed in a restored 1903 German brewery. Wander through interactive exhibits tracing beer’s journey from barley to bottle, including vintage fermentation tanks and a 1914 steam generator—a relic from the brewery’s colonial-era origins. Don’t miss the “Original Brewing Hall”, where oak vats and copper kettles reveal the German-inspired lager-making process. For a hands-on experience, join a beer-tasting workshop to sample fresh unfiltered brew and learn to pour the perfect pint like a Bavarian master.
After lunch, step into the Former German Governor’s Residence, a 1905 Baroque mansion overlooking Zhanqiao Pier. Marvel at its red-tiled roofs, stained-glass windows, and original Steinway piano—still playable today. Explore the “Hall of Governors”, where mahogany desks and silver tea sets evoke diplomatic meetings, and climb the octagonal tower for panoramic views of Qingdao’s red-roofed skyline. For a deeper dive, join a guided tour to uncover stories of the governors who shaped Qingdao’s destiny, from diplomat Alfred Meyer-Waldeck to Japanese occupiers during WWII.
Evening: Qingdao Seaside Delights
Spend the night in a 4-star hotel near Zhanqiao Pier, where rooms offer views of the lighthouse and crashing waves.
Day 8: Qingdao
Laoshan Mountains – Xiaoyushan Park
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin your spiritual journey at the Laoshan Mountains, a Taoist sacred site since the Han Dynasty. Marvel at the 36.9-meter bronze statue of Laozi, the founder of Taoism, perched atop a cliff—one of the world’s tallest effigies of the philosopher. Hike the “Nine-Palace Trail”, a scenic path winding through rivers, pine forests, and the otherworldly “sea bonsai” rock formations—miniature landscapes carved by wind and waves over millennia. Pause at the Dragon Pool Waterfall, where cascading waters create a misty oasis, and explore the Qinggong Temple, a Ming Dynasty sanctuary where monks still practice Tai Chi at dawn.
After lunch, ride the Laoshan Cable Car for a 15-minute descent overlooking the Yellow Sea. Capture photos of the jagged coastline and fishing villages below. Return to Qingdao and head to Xiaoyushan Park, where the Langchaoge Pavilion offers panoramic views of Zhanqiao Pier and the European-style villas of Badaguan. Time your visit for sunset, when the lighthouse casts golden hues over the harbor.
Stroll through May Fourth Square, illuminated by the “May Wind” sculpture—a 72-meter red spiral symbolizing China’s modern spirit. Join locals at the Olympic Sailing Center, where bars like The Sailor’s Lounge offer craft beers and live jazz overlooking the marina. For a lively finish, dive into Lover’s Wharf Bar Street, sampling Qingdao’s famed Tsingtao Beer and seafood skewers at Xiaoyushan Seafood Plaza.
Day 9: Qingdao
Qichangcheng Great Wall – Badaguan Scenic Area
4-Star Hotels
Breakfast
Begin your day with a drive to the Qichangcheng Great Wall, a 56-km earthen and stone marvel dating to the Warring States Period (475–221 BCE). Unlike its better-known Ming Dynasty counterparts, this section features rugged, unrestored ramparts and watchtowers built with local granite, offering a raw glimpse into ancient military engineering. Hike the “Wild Wolf Trail”, a 3-km path winding through pine forests to the “Cloud-Piercing Fortress”, where panoramic views of the Bohai Sea unfold. Pause at the “General’s Platform”, a stone terrace where commanders once surveyed invasions, and learn about the wall’s role in protecting the ancient state of Qi.
Return to Qingdao and wander the Badaguan Scenic Area, an open-air museum of 200+ villas blending Gothic, Byzantine, and Greek-revival styles. Explore highlights like the “Princess Residence”, a Spanish-Moorish mansion with arched courtyards, and the “Flower Stone Villa”, where German settlers carved floral motifs into basalt. Join a guided tour to uncover stories of diplomats, merchants, and artists who shaped Qingdao’s cosmopolitan identity. For a creative twist, participate in a watercolor sketching workshop at the “Maple Road” pavilion, capturing the area’s autumn foliage.
Evening: Coastal Relaxation & Sunset
Optional Summer Extension: Head to Second Beach, a crescent-shaped cove with powdery sand and calm waters. Time your visit for sunset, when the horizon erupts in hues of orange and purple—a perfect backdrop for photos.
Day 10: Qingdao Departure
Departure in Qingdao
None
Breakfast
Depending on your flight or train schedule, your driver will transfer you to the airport or station in advance and assist with check-in. Reflect on highlights—from Beijing’s imperial grandeur and Mount Tai’s sacred peaks to Qingdao’s coastal charm and beer culture. Take home memorable experiences and look forward to your next adventure!
