How to Get to / Around Shandong Province

With the development of high speed rails, taking a high speed train is the most convenient, comfortable and popular way to travel China. Shandong is well equipped with high speed rails so that you can easily get to Shandong by high speed train from the northern or southern parts of China. Top gateway cities to Shandong by high speed train are Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Datong and Pingyao. It is recommended to take a high speed train to Qingdao, Jinan, Taian or Qufu to start your Shandong tour from these cities.

Besides, one high speed rail line in Shandong circles eight major cities (Jinan, Taian, Qufu, Feixian, Linyi, Rizhao, Qingdao, Weifang and Zibo) in a 6-hour journey, offering visitors a more efficient way to travel Shandong.

Qingdao is located in the southeast of Shandong Peninsula and near the Yellow Sea in the east and south. For travelers who are in interested in seascape, Qingdao is the first choice in Shandong. Flights and high speed trains are both available to get to Qingdao.

Flights to Qingdao

There are two international airports in Qingdao, namely Qingdao Liuting International Airport and Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (not open currently). Qingdao Liuting International Airport, available for the 144-Hour Visa Free Transit Policy, is the busiest airport in Qingdao and even in Shandong. It is located in Chengyang District, about 27 km (1 hour's drive) to Qingdao downtown area (May Fourth Square). You can get there by domestic flight from Beijing (1.5h), Shanghai (1.5h), Xian (2h), Luoyang (1.5h), Zhengzhou (1h45min), Chengdu (2h40min), Guangzhou (3-3.5h), etc. and international flights from Seoul (1.5h), Tokyo (3.5h), and Osaka (3h).

▶ Qingdao Airport & Flights to Jinan

High Speed Trains to Qingdao

There are many railway stations built in Qingdao and the most frequently-used ones for high speed trains are Qingdao Railway Station and Qingdao North Railway Station. Qingdao Railway Station, located near the downtown, is preferred by more travelers. It receive high speed trains from Beijing (4-5h), Shanghai (7h), Guangzhou (13h), Xian (9-23h), Tianjin (4-4.5h), Jinan (2-5.5h), Tai'an (3.5-6.5h), Yantai (1.5-2h), etc. Qingdao North Railway Station is the largest railway station in Shandong, able to be reached by high speed trains from Shanghai (7h), Guangzhou (30h), Xian (8-21h), Tianjin (4.5-10h), Jinan (1.5-5.5h), Tai'an (2.5-7h), Yantai (1.5h), etc. It is about 18 km away from the downtown, and it is convenient to get or leave there by metro Line 3.

▶ Qingdao Railway Stations and Train Scehdules

Get around Qingdao

Traveling in Qingdao, metro, taxi, public bus and ferry are also accessible. Most top attractions are located near the downtown of Qingdao, like May Fourth Square, Zhanqiao Pier, Xiaoyushan Park, Qingdao Beer Museum, Badaguan Scenic Resort, etc. You can get there easily by public bus and taxi.

If you want to visit Laoshan Mountain which is a little far from downtown, you need to drive about 1 hour or take a 1.5 hours' bus. If you want to visit Huangdao Island or Golden Beach, you can take a ferry (20~30 minutes). It is also available to enjoy sightseeing boat to visit Qingdao Bay, Zhanqiao Pier, Qingdao Nava Museum, etc.

▶ How to Get to & around Qingdao

Flights to Jinan

Jinan is the other popular landing point of Shandong together with Jinan. Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport is the only airport serving Jinan. It is located about 33 km (50 minutes' drive) away from Jinan downtown, and you can travel between them by shuttle bus, taxi, public bus or railway. This airport operates more than 140 airlines to more than 90 destinations. There are nonstop domestic flights to Jinan Yaoqiang Airport from Shanghai (2h), Xian (2h), Guangzhou (3h), Shenzhen (3h), Yantai (1h), Weihai (1h), Dalian (1.5h), Chengdu (2.5h), etc. and international (regional) flashlights to Jinan Yaoqiang Airport from Seoul (1h), Singapore (5h), Hong Kong (3), etc.

▶ Jinan Airport & Flights to Jinan

At present, there are 4 train stations serving Jinan, including Jinan Railway Station, Jinan West Railway Station, Jinan East Railway Station and Daminghu Railway Station. Among them, Jinan Railway Station and Jinan West Railway Station are most used for high speed trains. Jinan West Railway Station, located in the west suburb of Jinan, is about 13 km (35 minutes' drive) to the city center. It can be reached by frequent high speed trains from Beijing (1.5~2h), Shanghai (3~4.5h), Tianjin (1~1.5h), Taian (20min), Qufu (30min), Qingdao (2.5~3.5h), Weifang (1.5~2h) and several high speed trains from Xian (5.5~6.5h) and Guangzhou (10~10.5h). Jinan Railway Station is quite close to the city center, needing only 20 minutes' drive. It receives high speed trains from Beijing (2~2.5h), Shanghai (4.5h), Xian (6.5h), Qingdao (2.5~4.5h), Weifang (1.5~2h) and some normal trains from different cities.

▶ Jinan Railway Stations Transportation & Train Schedules

Get around Jinan

Most of the highlights of Jinan, like Baotu Spring Park, Daming Lake, Dive Dragon Pool and City Square Center, are located in downtown area with short distance. So you can choose to accommodate in the downtown area and spend a few hours visiting these attractions by walking easily. If you want to travel farther, you can call a taxi or use other public transportation, like metro lines, public bus, rail and bus rapid transit. At present, only one metro line is available, but manly lines are under construction.

▶ How to Get to & around Jinan

Mount Tai (Taishan Mountain) in Taian City is another top tourist destination always traveled together with Qufu because of the short distance of only 85 km. You can travel between by car (1.5 hours) or by high speed train (just 20 minutes). Besides, it is also popular to travel to Mount Tai from Jinan for the convenient transportation in Jinan.

High Speed Train to Taian

Since there is no flight to Mount Tai, taking a high speed train is the most travelers-friendly way to get to Mount Tai. There are two railway stations in Taian, including Taian Railway Station and Taishan Railway Station. Taian Railway Station is the only high speed railway station. It is located about 6.5 km away from Taian downtown. There are available high speed trains to Taian from Jinan (about 20 minutes), Qingdao (about 2.5 hours), Qufu (about 20 minutes), Beijing (about 2 hours), Shanghai (about 4 hours).

Taian to Mount Tai: Almost all tourists visit Taian for Mount Tai which has 4 entrances located in different places, namely Taihuayu (Peach Blossom Valley), Tianwaicun (Tianwai Village), Hongmen Gate (Red Gate) and Tianzhufeng Peak (Heavenly Candle Peak), all of them can be reached by public bus from Railway Railway Station. Generally, there are most public buses running to Hongmen Gate and Tianwancun which are two most popular entrances.

Inner Transfer in Mount Tai Scenic Area: Tourist buses and cable cars are available to make your sightseeing easier in Mount Tai Scenic Area. You can take a tourist bus from Tianwaicun to Zhongtianmen or Taohuayu to Taohuayuan as well as a cable car from Zhongtianmen to Nantianmen, Taohuayu to Tianjie or Shihe to Betianmen.

▶ How to Get to/around Taian (Mount Tai)

Flights to Qufu

Jining Qufu Airport, the closet airport to Qufu, is about 80 km (1.5 hours' drive) to Qufu downtown. It operates only 18 airlines to about 25 big domestic cities, including Beijing (1.5h), Shanghai (2h), Guangzhou (2.5h), Shenzhen (2.5h), Chengdu (2.5h), Qingdao (1.5h), etc.

High Speed Trains to Qufu

There are two railway stations mainly serving Qufu – Qufu East Railway Station and Qufu Railway Station. Qufu Railway Station is a smaller and older one located near Jinan downtown.

Because several high speed rails passe through Qufu, people can easily get to Qufu by high speed train. Currently, it is available to get to Qufu by high speed trains from Beijing (2.5h), Shanghai (3~4h), Tianjin (2~2.5), Xian (5~6h), Jinan (30~40 minutes), Qingdao (2.5~3.5h), Taian (20 minutes), Weifang (2.5h) and Yantai (4~4.5h).

▶ Qufu Train Station Transportation & Trains

Get around Qufu

Qufu is just a small county-level city, so it's quite easy to get around. Driving or taking a taxi is the best way to travel in Qufu and usually it take no longer than 1 hour to reach the main attractions in Qufu. Like Temple of Confucius, Confucius Family Mansion, Cemetery of Confucius, Confucius Six Arts City, Confucius Museum, etc. There is no metro line accessible in Qufu, but you can take a public bus easily.

▶ How to Get to & around Qufu

Yantai is located in the eastern part of Shandong Peninsula, adjacent to Weihai and Qingdao. As an important port city in Shandong, it is quite convenient to reach Yantai from many tourist cities as well.

Flights to Yantai

Yantai Penglai International Airport is the only airport serving Yantai at present. It is located in Penglai District, about 45 km (1 hour's drive) from Yantai downtown and 40 km (1 hour's drive) from Penglai Pavilion. You can get to this airport by international flights from Seoul (1.5h) and Osaka (2.5h) and domestic flights from Beijing (1.5h), Shanghai (2h), Xian (2.5h), Chengdu (3h), Guangzhou (3h), Shenzhen (3.5h), Chongqing (2h45min), Kunming (3h10min), etc.

High Speed Trains to Yantai

Yantai Railway Station and Yantai South Railway Station are two main railway stations serving Yantai. Yantai Railway Station located in Yantai downtown operates both high speed trains and normal trains in Yantai. You can transfer to Yantai from Beijing (6-14h), Xian (8.5-24h) Shanghai (8.5h) and cities with in Shandong like Qingdao (1.5h), Jinan (2.5-6.5h), Taian (4-8.5h), Qufu (4-8h), and Weihai (1h). Yantai South Railway Station is a high speed railway station receiving only high speed trains from Beijing (5h), Xian (9-10h), Shanghai (8h), Taiyuan (6.5h), Qingdao (1.5h), Jinan (2.5-3.5h), Taian (4h), Qufu (4h).

Weihai is a coastal city located in eastern part of Shandong. Just as its neighbor – Yantai, it is also features in beautiful seascape and relaxing atmosphere. Travelers can easily reach Weihai from some domestic cities of Shandong.

Flights to Weihai

Weihai International Dashubo Airport is the only airport in Weihai. It is located in Wendeng District, about 44 km (1 hour by car, 2 hours by bus) to Weihai downtown (Weihai Xingfu park), 50 km (1 hour by car, 2 hours by bus) to Weihai International Bathing Beach. You can take a taxi, airport shuttle bus or public bus from the airport the Weihai downtown. It receives international flights from Seoul (45mins) and domestic flights from Beijing (1.5h), Shanghai (2h), Xian (2.5h), Jinan (1h), Shenyang (1.5h), Chengdu (3h), Harbin (2h), Changchun (1.5h), etc.

High Speed Trains to Weihai

There are 2 railway stations in Weihai mainly used for passengers, namely Weihai Railway Station and Weihai North Railway. Weihai Railway Station is the major railway stations operating normal trains and high speed trains to/off Beijing (5.5-15h), Shanghai (8.5h) and cities within Shandong like Qingdao (1.5h), Jinan (3-4h), Taian (4.5h), and Qufu (4.5h). Weihai North Railway Station is a high speed railway station serving high speed trains to nearby cities, including Shijiazhuang (6.5h), Qingdao (1.5-2h), Yantai (20min-1h), Jinan (3h), Rongcheng (20min), etc.

How to Get around Weihai

There is no metro line serving Weihai at present, so you can travel around only by taxi, public bus and ship. The hundreds of bus lines can easily take you the main blocks and scenic spots in the city area. If you want to visit Liugong Island, a big highlight of Weihai, you can only take an about 20 minutes' cruise from Weihai Tourism Wharf. There are frequently buses running to Chengshantou Scenic Area from Weihai Bus Station, with duration of about 90 minutes.

▶ How to Get to & around Weihai