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| Qingdao Beer Street, Shandong, China |
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| Weihai (Formerly Weihaiwei) Shandong, China |
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| Yantai, Shandong, China |
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| Penglai - A Fairly Land on Earth Shandong, China |
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| Cultural Square, Longkou Shandong, China |
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| Nanshan Tourist Area, Longkou Shandong, China |
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| Weifang, Shandong, China |
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| Zhouguang Vegetable Expo Shandong, China |
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| Mt Taishan (UNESCO), Shandong, China |
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| Tian Di Square, Tianwai Village Tai'an, Shandong, China  Jinan, Capital of Shandong, China A City of Spring |
Due to the Iran War & rising oil / gas prices, 2026 is probably a turbulent year for travelling ! I was fortunate that together with a like minded travel buddy that both of us could able to complete a 19 days free & easy visit to South Vietnam from Jan 18 > Feb 5 2026 covering the cities of Phu Quoc Island, Rach Gia, Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh, Cu Chi, Phan Thiet / Mui Ne, Bao Loc, Dalat, Phang Rang & Nha Thrang (prior to the Iran War on Feb 28 2026) !
As for this Shandong, China visit in April 2026, air ticket prices had risen & it was quite challenging for us to book our tickets online due to daily fluctuation in air ticket pricing ! But we decided to go ahead & we were very pleased to be abled to complete this 16 days free & easy Shandong trip without much hassle on all our air & ground travels in China !
My last visits to Shandong were in Sept 2010, Aug 2015 & Dec 2015, these were mainly ad hoc visits from Beijing (by high speed trains) & Dalian (by ferry crossing) to cities like Qingdao, Yantai, Qufu & Taishan. So for this April 2026, together with my wife & my two travel buddies (Thompson & spouse), our travel itinerary covers a greater Shandong to major sightseeing places in the cities of Qingdao, Weihai, Yantai, Penglai, Nanshan, Longkou, Weifang, Shouguang, Tai'an, Taishan & Jinan. Each of these cities have their own character, beauty & worthy sightseeing places for tourists to admire & appreciate:
- Cherry blossoms in Zhongshan Park, Qingdao
- Scenic skyline by Night along the coastal park of Qingdao International Sailing Center & Torch Avenue
- Tsingtao Brewery Museum & The Beer Street of Old Qingdao
- Excellent exhibits in Sino-Japanese War Museum, Liugongdao, Weihai
- The scenic Houlu 8th Street, Weihai
- The historic Chaoyang Street by Night, Yantai
- The natural beauty of Yangmadao, Yantai
- The Water City / Fortress of Penglai Pavilion
- The Giant Buddha of Nanshan
- The giant pumpkins on show in Shouguang Vegetable Expo
- The World Kites Museum, Weifang
- Panoramic view of Taishan from Jade Emperor Peak
- Daming Lake & the Baotu Spring Park, Jinan
It is interesting to note that Shandong has a number of scenic sightseeing places with names ending in "Dao" which means island in English & "Shan" is mountain. The "Dao" & "Shan" of Shandong we joyfully visited were:
The "Dao" in Shandong:
- Liugongdao (Weihai)
- Qingdao (Shandong)
- Xioqingdao (Qingdao)
- Yangmadao (Yantai)
The "Shan" in Shandong:
- Fushan Bay (Qingdao)
- Laobeishan (Penglai)
- Laoshan (Qingdao)
- Nanshan (Longkou)
- Taishan (Tai'an)
- Xioyushan (Qingdao)
- Yantaishan (Yantai)
- Zhongshan Road (Qingdao)
- Zhongshan Park (Qingdao)
So when you land in Shandong, China, the "Dao & Shan" of Shandong (Mountain East) no doubt will greet you with abundant fresh air, crystal clear water & cool & pleasant Spring weather making your stay a pleasant one ! If you manage to show up in Weihai (a coastal city in north east of Shandong), as one of the words implies, you are really "Wei" !
Maybe for my near future trip to China, I could do a swing & focus on a visit to the northern province of Shanxi (Mountain West), known as a cradle of civilisation with a 3,000 years of history & rich cultural heritage ie Pingyao Ancient City, Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Mt Wutai, Tai Yuan (Capital), Qiao Mansion, Jinci Temple, Yanmenguan, Taihan Mountain Grand Canyon etc (although I had visited Shanxi in Sept 2009). KM, keep dreaming & I hope you could see a greater Shanxi in your next visit to this "Mountain West" province of China one more time !
My Travel Buddies: My wife, Thompson & spouse
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| Laoshan, Qingdao, Shandong, China |
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| Xionmaidao, Qingdao, Shandong, China |
Travel Itinerary: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) > Qingdao (Shandong, China) > Weihai > Yantai > Penglai > Longkou / Nanshan > Weifang / Shouguang > Taishan / Tai'an > Jinan > Kuala Lumpur (approx 1,100km)
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| Qingdao > Weihai > Yantai > Penglai > Longkou > Weifang > Tai'an > Jinan Shandong, China (approx. 1,100km) |
Total Expenses incurred (15 Nights): Rm2,800 (US$700)
- Air Tickets: Rm494 + Rm644 = @Rm1,138
- Travel Insurance: @Rm100 (pro rata, annual plan)
- KLIA1 Grab: @Rm36
- Qingdao Airport Taxi: @Rm12
- Hotels (15 nights): @Rm651
- High Speed Train Tickets (7 rides): @Rm225
- Long Distance Bus (1 ride): CNY31 = @Rm19
- Car Hire: @Rm39
- Ferry: @Rm19
- Shuttle bus / buggy: @Rm45
- Cable Car (2 rides): @Rm78
- Didi: @Rm142
- Metro: @Rm3
- Food: @Rm236
- Groceries: @Rm25
- Sim Card: @Rm17
- Luggage Storage: @Rm15
Exchange Rate: US$1 = Rm4.04. CNY$1=Rm 0.592
Travel Highlights:
1) Qingdao, Shandong
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| May Fourth Square by Night Qingdao, Shandong, China |
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| Giant Torch Statute Torch Venue, Qingdao Sailing Center Shandong, China |
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| Nigh Scenery, Olympic Sailing Center Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Cityscape of Qingdao by Night Shandong, China |
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| Laozi Statute, Laoshan Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Xiaomaidao, Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Fantasy Palace of Jelly Fish, Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Seal Pavilion, Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Luxun Park, Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Xioqingdao Park, Qingdao, Shandong |
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| The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Museum, Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Tsingtao Brewery Museum, Old Qingdao, Shandong |
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| Qingdao Beer Street Old Qingdao, Shandong |
2) Weihai, Shandong
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| Huoiu 8th Street, Weihai, Shandong |
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| Weihai Beachfront, Shandong, China |
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| Sino-Japanese War Museum, Liugongdao,Weihai, Shandong |
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| Xingfumen Square, Weihai Shandong, China |
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| Wego Plaza Pedestrian Street Weihai, Shandong, China |
3) Yantai, Shandong
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| Beacon of Yantai Hill Shandong, China |
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| Yantai Coastline, Shandong, China |
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| Changyu Wine Culture Museum Yantai, Shandong, China |
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| Qin Cliff (Galloping Horses) Yangmadao, Yantai, Shandong, China |
4) Penglai, Shandong
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| Penglai Pavilion, Shandong, China |
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| Boundary Landmark of Yellow Sea & Bohai, Laobeishan, Shandong |
5) Longkou, Shandong
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| Giant Buddha, Nanshan Tourist Area Shandong, China |
6) Weifang, Shandong
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| Yang Jia Bu, Weifang, Shandong, China |
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| Shouguang Vegetable Expo, Weifang, Shandong |
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| Weifang World Kites Museum Shandong, China |
7) Taishan, Shandong
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| Jade Emperor Peak, Taishan Shandong, China |
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| Tianwai Village Tian Di Square Tai'an, Shandong, China |
8) Jinan, Shandong
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| Black Tiger Spring, Jinan Shandong, China |
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| Kouhouli, Jinan, Shandong, China |
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| Joy City Square, Jinan, Shandong |
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| Daming Lake, Jinan, Shandong, China |
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| Baotu Spring Park, Jinan Shandong, China |
My Good Old Days free & easy visits to Shandong Province, China (Sept 2010, Aug 2015 & Dec 2015) - building up my China Travel Dream !
Dec 2015 (visited Qingdao, Shandong together with my wife)
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| Zhangqiao, Qingdao, Shandong, China |
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| Huilan Pavilion Zhangqiao Pier, Qingdao |
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| St Michael Cathedral Qingdao, Shandong, China |
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| Luxun Park, Qingdao, Shandong, China |
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| Tsingtao Brewery Museum, Qingdao Shandong, China |
August 2015 (solo visits to Yantai & Qingdao, Shandong)
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| Luxun Park, Qingdao, Shandong, China |
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| Tsingtao Brewery Museum Shandong, China |
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| Qingdao Beach, Shandong, China |
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| Laoshan, Qingdao Shandong, China |
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| Coastline, Yantai, Shandong, China |
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| Yantai Hill Park, Shandong, China |
Sept 2010 (visited Mt Taishan & Qufu, Shandong together with my younger brother)
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| Confucius Temple, Qufu Shandong, China |
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| Mt Taishan, Shandong, China |
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