Zhangqiu Qixing Mountain Scenic Area

Zhangqiu Qixing Mountain Scenic Area

The Zhangqiu Qixing Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Qixing Mountain Scenic Area is situated at the intersection of Zhangqiu, Licheng, Tai’an, and Laiwu, offering a destination that integrates ecological leisure with historical and cultural elements. With an average elevation of 680 meters and a forest coverage exceeding 85%, it features picturesque landscapes and a tranquil setting, with up to 2,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter of air, making it an exceptional natural oxygen bar. The area includes attractions such as the Qi Great Wall, Wusheng Gate, Four Borders Summit, Yaochi Pool, Magpie Bridge, Qixing Corridor, and a suspension bridge cableway.

The resort enjoys a prime location with convenient transportation. Provincial Highway 327 runs through it, linking Jinan to the west and Zhangqiu to the east, facilitating easy access for visitors.

The entire resort consists of three parts: the Qixing Terrace Hotel, the Ten-Thousand-Mu Botanical Garden, and the Qi Great Wall Scenic Area, which prominently features the Qi Great Wall.

Main Features:

(1) Ecological Leisure Characteristics. The resort has an average altitude of 680 meters and a forest coverage rate as high as 85%, offering beautiful scenery and a peaceful environment. The area experiences distinct seasons and notable vertical climatic variations. Especially during midsummer, the rustling pine forests and cool breezes make it an ideal summer retreat. With up to 2,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter of air, it is a perfect “natural oxygen bar.” The area boasts a rich variety of tree species and numerous rare flowers and plants. The Ten-Thousand-Mu Botanical Garden features everblooming locust trees that flower all year round, a truly rare sight. Additionally, 108 springs are scattered throughout the area, further enhancing the magical beauty of nature.

(2) Historical and Cultural Characteristics. The resort is rich in tourism resources and steeped in cultural heritage. The Qi Great Wall, Wusheng Gate, Four Borders Summit, Yaochi Pool, Magpie Bridge, Qixing Corridor, and Qixing Pavilion all tell the story of Qixing Terrace’s long history and splendid culture. Historically, this area was home to Sun Wu’s military training grounds, the Pingguan Pavilion built by Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period, and the Horse-Restraining Swing where Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, once galloped during his eastern campaign, among many other relics.

Major Attractions:

1. The Great Wall.

(1) Qi Great Wall: Legend has it that the Qi Great Wall was built during the Spring and Autumn Period by the Duke of Qi to defend against invasions from states like Lu and Chu. With a history of 2,500 years, it stretches 618 kilometers from Changqing in the west to Huangdao in Qingdao, where it meets the sea, making it the earliest Great Wall in Chinese history. The Zhangqiu section of the Qi Great Wall is 42 kilometers long. It is said that the legend of “Meng Jiangnu Weeping at the Great Wall” took place here.

(2) Newly Built Great Wall: A newly constructed section of the Great Wall modeled after the style of Beijing’s Badaling Great Wall. It is 2,000 meters long, including 800 meters of single-sided wall and 1,200 meters of double-sided wall, undulating majestically and impressively.

2. Wusheng Gate: Built in honor of the Martial Saint Sun Wu. Shandong history celebrates two saints—one of literature, Confucius, and one of martial prowess, Sun Wu. It is said that Sun Wu once gathered and trained troops here, demonstrating military strategies. The Wusheng Gate is 99.9 meters long and 27 meters high, featuring flying eaves and upturned roof corners in a unique design. Its grand scale and exquisite design are unparalleled among tourist attractions in Shandong Province, earning it the title “The Foremost Gate of Qi and Lu.”

3. Qinglong Temple: Legend has it that a little green dragon in Yaochi Pool often caused trouble and harmed local people. Once, while stirring up trouble, it was spotted by the Heavenly King Li Jing, who was on his way to the Penglai Peach Banquet in Yaochi. In anger, Li Jing pinned the dragon here. Since then, the dragon has reformed, converted to Buddhism, and used its dragon spring to irrigate the farmland across dozens of miles. To commemorate it, this temple was built and named Qinglong Temple.

4. Four Borders Summit: After unifying China, Qin Shi Huang implemented the commandery-county system nationwide. Boundary markers were erected between counties, and this location, at the junction of Zhangqiu, Licheng, Laiwu, and Tai’an, earned the name “Four Borders Summit.” To commemorate this unique geographical position, the Four Borders Platform was established here to demarcate the lands of Qi and Lu and the four regions. Standing here, you can literally “stand on four lands with one foot and cross two countries with one step.” A stele erected by the State Council remains on site.

5. Fairyland on Earth: This area features lush trees and fresh air, known as the “Xiling Oxygen Bar.” Along the way, attractions such as Tongtian Valley, Immortal Receiving Platform, Penglai Peach Peak, Heavenly Street, and Heavenly Gate are dotted around, each telling moving mythical tales.

6. Yaochi Pool: With a water storage capacity of 30,000 cubic meters, it is said to be the bathing place of the Queen Mother of the West. Twelve zodiac animal statues are arranged around the pool, symbolizing her compassion for all beings.

7. Magpie Bridge: Built in the style of the Dujiangyan Bridge in Sichuan, it is grand and spectacular. The entire bridge is 280 meters long, with the deepest point reaching 50 meters from the bridge deck to the bottom. The middle section is a suspension bridge, offering a thrilling walk—hailed as “the No. 1 Bridge in Chinese Scenic Areas.”

8. East Ridge Oxygen Bar: The East Ridge Mountain has good vegetation cover, fresh air, and a serene environment, with an extremely high concentration of negative oxygen ions, forming a counterpart to the West Ridge Oxygen Bar.

9. Cableway: Stretching 860 meters in total, with the deepest section being 180 meters, it features a 16-person gondola reversible system. It connects the East Ridge Oxygen Bar to the south and the Qixing Terrace Hotel to the north.

“Fresh and comfortable, the most pristine ecological mountain forest; majestic and grand, the most magnificent Qi-Lu Great Wall; seven stars shining, the most auspicious blessed land.” This is the true portrayal of Qixing Terrace.

Address: Sijiaocheng, Duozhuang Town, Zhangqiu City

Business Hours: 8:00–18:00

Visiting Time: Approximately 3 hours

Price: 30 RMB per person

Price Description: Scenic area entrance ticket

Featured Attraction: Suspension Bridge Cableway: The longest single-span sightseeing cableway in China.

Tour Route: Jubi Ding – Sijiaocheng Apartment – Observatory – Qixing Pavilion – East Ridge Natural Oxygen Bar – Ancient Great Wall – Heavenly Ladder – Yaochi Pool – Fairyland on Earth – Four Borders Summit – Qinglong Temple – Wusheng Gate

Tour guide fee: 30 RMB

Buses:

Zhangqiu Bus Station has a special tourist bus to Qixingtai Scenic Area at 6:00 AM (ticket price around 12 RMB); within the city, take bus routes 65, 312, or 325 to Xiyin, then transfer to a taxi to reach Qixingtai.

Self-driving Guide:

(1) Drive south along Jinan Yingxiongshan Road – Zhonggong Bridge – turn left to Xiyin then head east – Qixingtai;

(2) Drive along Ji-Wang Road to Ganggou – turn right to Xiyin then head east – Qixingtai.

Parking Information:

The parking lot is located in front of the scenic area entrance.

Address: Sijiaocheng Duozhuang Town, Zhangqiu City, Jinan

Type: Forest, Mountain, Historic Site

Opening Hours:

8:00–17:00.

Duozhuang Town: Administrative & Demographic Info: Located in the southwest of Zhangqiu, Duozhuang Town got its name from resembling the ancient Qi state’s earthen wall due to its location at the former border between the Qi and Lu states. The town covers an area of 129.7 square kilometers, with 1,245 hectares of arable land, governs 42 administrative villages, and has a population of 32,000.

Economic Status: Fixed asset investment reached 330 million RMB, various taxes totaled 11.8 million RMB, local fiscal revenue was 5.76 million RMB, and the per capita net income of farmers was 6,765 RMB.

Location Advantage: Duozhuang Town is situated in the southwest of Zhangqiu City, in the Tai-Yi... Detailed information about Duozhuang Town++