Qilu Grand Canyon

Qilu Grand Canyon

The Qilu Grand Canyon tourist area in Laiwu City has a planned area of 19 square kilometers. It is located in Luye Township in the northern part of Laicheng District, Laiwu City, surrounded by the mountains of the Taihang range extending from central Shandong. To its north is Jinan, the provincial capital known as the Spring City; to the east is Zibo, the ancient capital of the Qi State; to the west it borders Tai’an; and to the south it faces Qufu, the hometown of Confucius. Seven provincial highways run through the area, and National Highway 09 also passes by, making transportation very convenient. 　

The Four Eco-Tourism Zones of Qilu Grand Canyon 　

The tourist area includes four scenic zones: the Fanggan Eco-Tourism Zone, the Wangshimen “Heavenly Village” Tourism Zone, the Heilongtan Tourism Zone, and the Dulu–Grassland Tourism Zone. It is one of the key scenic spots forecasted by the Shandong Provincial Holiday Office. The area features dramatic mountain terrain with steep ridges, deep valleys, and crisscrossing gullies on a grand scale. There are multiple canyons within the area that are over 10 kilometers long, making it the largest canyon cluster in Shandong Province and even in East China. In particular, the “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl” landscape, formed by the Jiulong (Nine Dragons) and Jiutian (Nine Heavens) canyons, is majestic. The canyons are filled with oddly shaped rocks, murmuring streams, winding paths with countless turns, leaving visitors in awe. The area is surrounded by layers of green mountains covered with lush forests and wildflowers, where birds sing and the air is fragrant. The forest coverage rate exceeds 90%, and there are tens of thousands of acres of grasslands at the mountaintops. The summer climate is cool, the air is fresh, and the area is rich in negative oxygen ions, making it an ideal “natural oxygen bar.” Within the area lies the Wangshimen Folk Village, known as the “Heavenly Village,” which is the highest-altitude village in Shandong Province. The village retains its primitive charm and simple folk customs. The entire tourist area combines the rugged beauty of northern landscapes with the gentle elegance of southern gardens, making it a perfect destination for sightseeing, canyon exploration, summer retreats, and cultural experiences.

The Fanggan Eco-Tourism Zone is a national “AA”-rated tourist attraction, known for its beautiful mountains and clear waters, and picturesque scenery. Renowned for its natural ecological beauty, it is hailed as the “Green Paradise” and the “Jewel of the Mountains,” and has become a rising star in Shandong’s tourism scene. The area boasts a forest coverage rate of up to 95%, with nearly 100 plant species, over 20 types of wild animals, and more than 100 bird species. Attractions include the Jiulong Grand Canyon, Golden Mount Tai, Shiyun Mountain, and Riguang Peak, bringing together a variety of natural landscapes such as mountains, water, forests, springs, pools, waterfalls, canyons, caves, and rocks. The entire tourist zone is poetic, picturesque, and dreamlike—especially the Jiulong Grand Canyon with its winding paths and majestic, beautiful mountain and water scenery, which is truly captivating. The “Fanggan Eco-Tourism Festival” is held annually from July to August, where visitors can enjoy the natural scenery, experience rural life and customs, and watch cultural performances.

The Wangshimen “Heavenly Village” Tourism Zone is situated high in the mountains, surrounded by peaks. It features attractions such as the Jiutian Grand Canyon, Locust Flower Valley, Jiutian Lake, and Jiulong Lake. The Wangshimen Folk Village, with its typical style of the central Shandong mountainous region, is the highest-altitude small mountain village in Shandong Province. The village remains primitive with simple and honest folkways, often shrouded in clouds and mist, hence its reputation as the “Heavenly Village.” In summer, the climate here is cool, with average temperatures about 4°C lower than those at the foot of the mountain, and it is free of mosquitoes and flies, making it an excellent place for leisure and summer retreat. Every May, during the blooming of the locust flowers, the Locust Flower Festival is held. Visitors can admire the locust blossoms, smell their fragrance, take a “locust flower bath,” and enjoy a locust flower feast. The free-range chickens raised in the forests here mainly feed on pine and locust seeds and insects, producing eggs that are pollution-free, highly nutritious, and natural green foods, which are very popular with tourists. 　

The Heilongtan Tourism Zone is located 40 kilometers northwest of Laiwu City and serves as the entrance to both the Jiulong and Jiutian Grand Canyons. Notable attractions include Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pool) and Qingtian Cliff. The water of Heilongtan is dark green and deep, clear as jade. During spring and autumn, around noon, if you stand by the pool and look up at the sky, you can see a bright star—this is the famous “Dragon Pool Star Appearance,” one of the ancient eight scenic wonders of Laiwu. Qingtian Cliff next to Heilongtan soars straight into the sky, steep and unclimbable. The cliff face features natural murals such as “Black Dragon Howling at the Sky,” “Jade Rabbit Gazing at the Pool,” and “Cosmic Nebula,” all formed by variations in rock color and light. These vivid images stir the imagination. Here, visitors can fully appreciate the wonders of nature’s creation. 　

The Dulu–Grassland Tourism Zone is adjacent to the Grand Canyon tourist area and close to the provincial capital Jinan, offering convenient transportation. Major attractions include the mountaintop “Grassland,” ancient chestnut forests, and Yunri Platform. The “Grassland” is located atop a mountain peak at an altitude of over 800 meters, covering an area of thousands of acres. The grass is fine, soft, and of high quality, dotted with blooming mountain flowers, creating a pleasant scenery. The chestnut forest also spans thousands of acres and consists of ancient chestnut trees that are around a thousand years old. They remain lush and bear abundant fruit during harvest season, earning the title of “No. 1 Chestnut Forest in Qilu.” Yunri Platform stands beside the cliff. Watching the sunrise here in the early morning allows one to feel the grandeur of nature and the beauty of life. 　

Tourism Features and Advantages　

The Qilu Grand Canyon tourist area is situated nearly a kilometer above sea level and belongs to the Taihang Mountain range. With its majestic mountains, beautiful rivers, birdsong, floral scents, and delightful scenery in all seasons, it has been praised by international environmental experts as a “Green Paradise.” The ecological environment is well-preserved, with forest vegetation covering 90% of the area. Efforts are underway to have it listed among the United Nations’ “Global Top 500 Ecological and Environmental Protection Sites.” The tourist area integrates mountains, water, forests, springs, pools, waterfalls, canyons, and caves, and encompasses folk legends about historical figures such as Huang Chao, Li Ben, Zhang Daoyi, Chen Gan Yu, and Old Li with the Bald Tail. It features eight major attractions: the Jiulong Grand Canyon, Golden Mount Tai, Heilongtan, Wanghai Peak, Immortal Cave, Motian Ridge, Dripping Water Cliff, and Five Elders Peak. With its unique charm of natural scenery, cultural heritage, and ecological preservation, it attracts both domestic and international visitors, making it an excellent destination for sightseeing, travel, vacation, and leisure.

The Qilu Grand Canyon eco-tourism area has undergone unified planning and comprehensive management of its mountains, water, forests, fields, roads, scenery, and villages after multiple investigations, analyses, and evaluations by experts. With the organization of manpower and resources, key development efforts have been focused on the scenic area. It has now taken initial shape, with the Jiulong Grand Canyon as the highlight among eight major scenic zones, covering a total area of approximately 20 square kilometers and featuring over 40 scenic spots. 　

The Qilu Grand Canyon tourist area is fully equipped with supporting facilities, including 18 types of lodging options. These range from mid- to high-end hotels suitable for vacation and leisure stays to farmhouse inns and holiday cabins for cultural tourism. The area has over 50 restaurants that can accommodate 1,500 visitors dining simultaneously. Guests can enjoy pollution-free, nutritious mountain delicacies such as free-range chicken, wild rabbit, wild vegetables, and wild fruits. They can also participate in farm work, stay in farmhouses, and experience the joy of rural mountain life while getting a taste of the local customs and culture of central Shandong. During festivals such as Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, international visitors can also enjoy a rich variety of folk activities, including making dumplings, setting off firecrackers, enjoying lantern displays, and visiting mountain fairs.