Zibo is a Chinese city in the eastern part of the country and offers ruins of ancient Chinese kingdoms and empires and a fascinating mountain environment. The town can easily be reached from Beijing by bullet train in about two and half hours and lies near Qufu, the hometown of Chinese religious leader Confucious and enchanting coastal cities, like Penglai.
In this article, we bring you the ten best things to do in Zibo, which include taking in some of its ancient history and its beautiful natural surroundings. Take a look and start planning your trip!
1. Zhoucun Ancient City
The Chinese are known for their fascination with the ancient and traditional and the Zhoucun Ancient City offers just that, with a glimpse into ancient Chinese culture through its historic buildings and narrow streets. You can buy some souvenirs from the shops or just stroll around and try some of the region’s delicacies.
Zhoucun Ancient City
Address: No.1 Xinjian Middle Road, Zhoucun District, Zibo 255300
2. Mount Tai
Mount Tai was popular with ancient Chinese emperors and leaders, who would climb the mountain and perform ceremonies here. The area is also popular as a pilgrimage site and the Taishan international Climbing Festival is held in the area, making it a paradise for trekkers and nature lovers. There is also a staircase that offers a steep climb to the mountaintop and a view of the Yellow River form the peak can be fascinating.
Mount Tai
Address: Mount Tai is located in the center of Shandong Province, about two and a half hours from Zibo, south of Jinan
3. Mount Yuanshan
This is a mountain in the scenic area of the city and it is lush with green vegetation, making it well known as a green hill in the city. The view of Baoshan District and the plains of the city from the mountain is a top draw for tourists and travelers to the region. There is also a big red bell at the peak and stairs leading up to it, with a lot of trees but you can also drive up to this area.
Mount Yuanshan
Address: Yuanshan Mountain National Forest Park is located in the suburban area of Boshan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province.
4. Lushan National Forest Park
Editor’s note: There’s no photo available at the time of writing
The Lushan National Forest Park area of the city is in the complete wilderness and offers some wild national park encounters, similar to the ones in the West. The forest also has the Qi Great Wall Ruins located nearby, offering a piece of important history in the region, as the wall is said to be the first Great Wall of the country, built during the Qi Dynasty, around 770 BC-476 BC.
Lushan National Forest Park
Address: Chishang Town, Boshan District, Zibo 255205, China
5. Zibo Keramik Museum
The Zibo Keramik Museum is a large museum in the city and is popular with foreigners, with signs and instructions written in English. The museum contains Chinese and international ceramics and ceramic modern art and is popular as the largest ceramic exhibition center in the country. There is a large collection of antique and historical items, which fascinate foreigners and locals alike.
Zibo Keramik Museum
Address: No.119 Xisi Road, Zhangdian District, Zibo 255000
6. Qi Dynasty Museum
This is a historical museum focused on the Confucian era and the works of the religious leader and the surrounding culture and philosophy are featured here. The museum reminds one of the heritage of Confucious in the country and the history of the first great wall of the country, which was also built in the area. The Jixia Academy is also located in the region, renowned as the first university in the East and possibly even the world.
Qi Dynasty Museum
Address: No.7, Zhanghuang Road, Zibo, Shandong
7. China Ancient Chariots Museum
The China Ancient Chariots Museum features the chariots and carts that were popular in the country and their history and use in the region, during the Qi Dynasty. The chariots that are presented in the museum are not real but replicas and there is a lot of signage in the complex in both Chinese and English.
China Ancient Chariots Museum
Address: Qiling Town, Linzi District, Zibo 255400, China
8. Zibo Zhoucun Daran Workshop
This is a workshop area in the ancient part of the city, with historical artifacts and lot of history and culture. There is not much workshop action that remains in the area and this is a calm and relaxing place to visit. There are also bakeries here, that manufacture and sell biscuits. There is an entrance fee but the price is moderate.
Zibo Zhoucun Daran Workshop
Address: Yinzishi Street 86, Zibo, Shandong
9. Linzi Football Museum
The Linzi Football Museum is a museum about football in the region and a testament to the World Football Federation recognizing Linzi as the birthplace of football. The museum contains specimens about the Qi Dynasty and the remnants of early football games in the era. There are also exhibits about the presidents of the world football body FIFA, as well as an exhibit on the FIFA World Cup. There is a coffee shop on site, where you can spend some time and relax.
Linzi Football Museum
Address: No.759, Linzi Avenue, Zibo, Shandong
10. Tanxi Mountain Scenic Area
This scenic area is close to a lake, which reflects the blue sky, making it the ideal place for painting and artistic endeavors. The landscape is breathtaking and beautiful, with hills and dense forests and the area is also popular as a natural oxygen bar because of the high amount of vegetation in the area, as well as some steep hill climbs where you can take in the grandeur of nature.
Tanxi Mountain Scenic Area
Address: East of Shigou Village, E'zhuang Country, Zichuan District, Zibo 255181
Zibo is not just an ancient city but also a natural mountain district in China
The area is popular for its remnants of the Qi Dynasty, as well as for its history surrounding the Chinese religious leader, Confucious. The mountains and naturally scenic areas add to the splendor of the place and there are also quirky places to stop, like the football, chariots or ceramics museums.