Woyunpu Scenic Area

Woyunpu Scenic Area

Woyunpu Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Woyunpu Village is located at the foot of Moyun Mountain. Due to its high elevation and frequent cloud cover, the entire village appears to be nestled among the clouds, hence the name "Woyunpu." The village has been successively recognized as a Traditional Chinese Ancient Village, an International Beautiful Village, and a Shandong Provincial Tourism Characteristic Village. With its simple folk customs and outstanding people, the village has long been known as the “mountain that divides Qi and Lu,” making it a true geomantic treasure. It boasts heritage sites such as the Qi Great Wall beacon towers and Fengmen Pass, both World Cultural Heritage sites, as well as magnificent, terraced fields built along the mountainside during the Ming and Qing dynasties, covering thousands of acres. The village features over 200 unique stone courtyard homes, ancient in style and distinctly built. There are seven major family surnames in the village: Yan, Liu, Wang, Zhang, Li, Su, and Wu. Each family has its own main courtyard, a well, and a millstone, and the clans coexist harmoniously. Several ancient steles from the Ming and Qing dynasties still remain, including four well-preserved ones, among which the “Anti-Gambling Stele” is the most notable. The village is abundant in ancient crops such as millet and Jiashan white corn. Organic produce like wild yams, dried persimmon cakes, and mountain spring tofu are rich in flavor, while the red Chinese toon, a local specialty, is famous far and wide.

Lightning Peak

Lightning Peak, standing at an elevation of 850 meters, is situated at the junction of Laiwu, Boshan, and Zhangqiu, approximately 3 kilometers northwest of Woyunpu Village, making it the highest peak in the surrounding area. At its summit lies a man-made limestone wall, which is the site of a beacon tower on the Qi Great Wall. Local legend says it was the Heavenly Seal Platform of Jiang Ziya. On the western side of Lightning Peak, a naturally formed cluster of peculiar rocks depicts a grand scene: Meng Liang and Jiao Zan charge forward with their clubs; General Yang Sixian rides a horse, gripping the reins tightly as his steed rears up and neighs to the sky; Lady She, the matriarch, stands with a cane, bidding farewell with deep emotion, offering endless advice and shedding tears—this dramatic tableau is called “General Yang Sets Off to War,” symbolizing loyalty and patriotism frozen in eternal glory.

Guanyin Temple

Guanyin Temple was originally built in 1757 and renovated in 2016. The main walls on the east and west sides of the temple are from the early Qing dynasty, adorned with exquisite stone carvings and sculptures.

The Yan Family Courtyard

The Yan Family Courtyard is a centralized residential compound built by the Yan clan, commonly known as the “Big Courtyard.” It has a history of over 200 years. The building is constructed in two levels following the terrain: the ground floor is used for raising livestock, while the upper floor enjoys good ventilation, lighting, and dryness, staying warm in winter and cool in summer, making it ideal for living. According to descendants of the Yan family, their ancestor Yan Changshan was a skilled farmer. During the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle era, he and his three brothers, having offended the authorities, migrated from Qijia in Shaanxi to Shandong. The third brother, Yan Changshan, chose Woyunpu as the geomantically blessed land. He cleverly set fire to a bandit den and captured the bandit leader Zhao Mazzi, ridding the locals of the bandit threat at Lightning Peak and becoming a renowned hero.

The Liu Family Courtyard

During the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, the ancestors of the Liu family moved from Longtang Village in Zibo. Their descendants were hardworking and industrious, and within just a few generations, the family grew prosperous. The Liu Family Courtyard is adjacent to the Wang Family Courtyard, having been expanded from a house gifted by the Wangs, becoming the centralized residence of the Liu clan. Though the courtyard has fallen into disrepair over time, with parts collapsed, stepping inside reveals winding paths and small trails that run through the courtyard, ensuring easy access in all directions.

The Wang Family Courtyard

The Wang family was the first to settle in Woyunpu Village. The founding ancestor, Wang Sanli, was a stonemason. During the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle era, due to drought in his hometown of Zaoqiang County, Hebei, he fled here. Impressed by the local “eighteen layers of stone,” he used the stone materials to build houses, providing shelter for his family. Later, the Wang family generously took in the Liu family, who had come seeking refuge, even gifting them part of their home. The two families supported each other and thrived together. Eventually, five other families joined, and over generations, this stone-clad village took shape. The Wang Family Courtyard features upturned eaves and carvings of a “turning deer,” symbolizing the idea that no matter how far one goes, one should always look back at the path taken.

The Anti-Gambling Stele

Woyunpu Village currently has five ancient stone steles, most of which document the reconstruction of the Guan Yu Temple. However, one stele—the “Anti-Gambling Stele”—is particularly significant, serving as an early form of village rules. Erected in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty, the stele is inscribed with the words “Fame Lasting Forever” and features text carved in the Yan-style regular script. It records an incident during the Guangxu era when five or six thieves came to Woyunpu from elsewhere, gathering day and night to gamble. Disputes over gambling debts nearly led to murder. Influenced by the thieves, gambling became rampant in the village, leading to family breakdowns, bankruptcies, and even theft. Village leaders, including the virtuous Yan Wenqi and Wang Zhentai, gathered the community to establish rules against gambling and theft. These rules were inscribed on the stele as a set of communal regulations. This initiative effectively curbed vice and significantly improved the social atmosphere.

The Fuxiang Former Residence + Ancient Theater Stage

Fuxiang (1885–1966), originally named Teng Xianxiang, was a master of traditional opera culture in Chaye Kou Town. His ancestral home was in Chaicheng Village, Loude Town, Tai’an. At age 10, he joined the “Laiwu Clapper Opera” troupe Shengchun Ban and adopted the stage name Fuxiang. In the spring of 1915, the troupe disbanded due to war, forcing him into business. That winter, while transporting porcelain to Boshan, he got caught in a heavy snowstorm near Woyunpu and was stranded for days. To pass the time, he performed for villagers and travelers. At the time, gambling and theft were rampant among the local youth. Seeing that opera could redirect their attention, the villagers encouraged the youth to learn opera and pleaded with Fuxiang to stay and teach. Moved by their sincerity and his love for the art, Fuxiang remained for 50 years. He dedicated himself to teaching over 120 operas and never married. He was invited to teach in more than 40 villages along the Qi Great Wall, spanning Laiwu, Zhangqiu, Boshan, and Zichuan, spreading the fame of Laiwu Clapper Opera across the region, with over 3,000 disciples. In Woyunpu alone, he taught six generations, with over 300 students. On the 20th day of the first lunar month in 1966, Master Fuxiang passed away at the age of 81, and his grave lies on the western hillside of Woyunpu Village.

During the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty, gambling was rampant in Woyunpu. To eradicate the vice, the village erected the “Anti-Gambling Stele.” To prevent its return and enliven cultural life, a local amateur drama troupe was established upon the initiative of virtuous village leaders. They hired Master Fuxiang to teach opera, and the community built this theater stage together. Performances were held during festivals, transforming the once-infamous gambling village into a culturally vibrant and honorable one. This stage has seen performances every year for over 130 years without interruption.

The Li Family Courtyard + Former Site of the Taishan Times Printing Department

During the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, the ancestors of the Li family moved from Zibo. The Li Family Courtyard is a centralized residential compound built by the Li clan, featuring a well-arranged layout with a cozy second floor. Local lore says that in the spring of 1857, after the Eastern Route Nian Army was defeated by the Qing forces under Zeng Guofan, their leader Su Tianfu and his troops retreated to the mountainous areas of northern Laiwu, regrouping south of Huangshi Pass on the Qi Great Wall. To fund their army, Su Tianfu ordered the minting of counterfeit copper coins. After scouting, they chose the Li Family Courtyard, hidden deep in the mountains with a basement, as their secret minting site. Locals called it the “Underground Bank.” During the War of Resistance, due to the strong presence of the Tai Shan District Committee of the Communist Party in Woyunpu and its strategic location, the printing department of the Taishan Times temporarily relocated here. Newspapers printed here were distributed to party organizations and anti-Japanese resistance groups under the committee, playing a crucial role in promoting central policies, boosting morale, and supporting the war effort.

The Su Family Courtyard

Before leaving the area, Su Tianfu, the Black Flag leader of the Nian Army, sensing a bleak future, entrusted his 8-year-old son Su Quan to Wang Zhong, a merchant in Woyunpu. When Su Quan grew up, Wang Zhong built him a house and arranged his marriage next to the Li Family Courtyard. The Su family has had single-line descendants who have lived in Woyunpu ever since. From the Su Family Courtyard, one can enjoy a distant view of the tranquil mountain scenery.

The Zhang Family Courtyard

The ancestor of the Zhang family, Zhang Zhengqi, was an orphan from Xixiang Village in Boshan. During the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, he married into the Ren family in Woyunpu and his descendants retained the Zhang surname. The Zhang Family Courtyard is a quadrangle structure with a five-room main house built against the mountain using local “eighteen layers of stone.” The side and southern rooms each have three rooms, and the western room is a two-story structure. As the family grew, additional stone houses were built around the courtyard like stars surrounding the moon. The family shared one millstone, one grindstone, and one well. A unique feature is the “bumping-into-the-mountain” architectural concept: a single residence divided into two courtyards for separate yet harmonious living.

The Wu Family Courtyard

In 1953, Wu Guangjin, the first-generation member of the Wu family, moved from Dongxiang Village in Boshan to join the Li family after his mother’s remarriage. He was only 14 at the time. He had five sons, all now living in Boshan, so the Wu Family Courtyard was only home to Wu Guangjin and his children for two generations. In summer and autumn, the courtyard is covered in green by creeping vines.

Former Site of the Taishan Times Management Department

During the War of Resistance, the management department of the Taishan Times not only had to secure funding and supplies for the newspaper but also took on the role of a wartime post office, escorting manuscripts and newspapers under armed guard, constantly facing enemy threats. For this purpose, the department had seven warhorses to ensure newspapers reached all seven counties under its jurisdiction within two days. Li Zaiyong from Woyunpu Village joined the department and, through life-and-death experiences, grew into a heroic wartime mail carrier.

Catalpa tree

The catalpa tree, also known as catalpa ovata, golden catalpa, or Chinese catalpa, belongs to the Bignoniaceae family and the Catalpa genus. Native to China, it is one of the country’s precious tree species. It boasts high-quality timber, wide applications, and significant economic value, often referred to as the “mahogany of the north.” In ancient times, people had the custom of planting catalpa trees as assets to pass on to their descendants. This is the only remaining catalpa tree in Woyunpu Village, with an age of over a hundred years.

Couple’s Locust Tree

This ancient locust tree shares a single root but has two separate trunks. The two trees lean affectionately toward each other, lush with branches and leaves. Legend says they were transformed from a devoted couple who endured hardship together. It embodies the timeless wish expressed in the line “May we be like lovebirds in the sky and intertwined branches on earth.” The “Couple’s Locust Tree” also symbolizes people’s hopes for conjugal love, peace, safety, growing old together, and an unbreakable bond.