Hengtai Qilu Manor

Hengtai Qilu Manor

Hengtai Qilu Manor is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Hengtai Qilu Manor is located in the Tianchi River Valley of Fukang City, over 70 kilometers from Urumqi. With convenient transportation, it covers an area of nearly 100 acres and has a total investment of over 10 million yuan. Rooted in Shandong’s Qilu culture, it is a large-scale tourism enterprise integrating travel, catering, and entertainment. In 2004, it was rated as a national AAA-level tourist site, and in 2006, it was designated as a four-star “agritainment” destination by Changji Prefecture.

Nestled against mountains and by the water, the manor boasts beautiful scenery. The holy waters of Tianchi have nurtured the fertile lands on both banks, creating a lush, vibrant landscape filled with birdsong and floral scents. The manor features well-spaced attractions, with each guesthouse built along the mountain contours and every scenic spot designed to complement the terrain. Every step reveals a new view, and every tree contributes to the perfect harmony of natural and cultural landscapes. It blends traditional Shandong Qilu culture—such as grand archways, Confucius temples, folk residences, rural tools, and historical figures—with the vibrant customs of ethnic minorities in the Western Regions. This allows every visitor to not only enjoy the sights but also immerse themselves in the richness of Chinese culture.

The manor includes Shandong-style Qilu farmsteads, traditional Kazakh yurts, as well as reception areas such as conference rooms, multi-function halls, and caravans. There is a Confucius Temple commemorating the great ancient Chinese sage and founder of Confucianism, exhibition areas showcasing Shandong rural tools and a gourd water tower, and a variety of recreational and fitness activities including boating, swings, rocking chairs, revolving chairs, grass courts, chess and card rooms, foot baths, dry saunas, and archery ranges. Visitors can also explore gardens such as the Xiuguo Garden, Changshou Garden, Peacock Garden, and Stone Garden. The manor houses two halal restaurants—the Bamboo Pavilion and Dragon Boat Hall—capable of hosting large groups for meals and conferences. Eco-friendly toilets and well-equipped bathing facilities are available throughout the manor. The atmosphere is especially rich in tourism culture: in the Qilu farmsteads, guests can try their hand at traditional farm activities like drawing water, watering vegetables, harvesting, and tasting fresh produce. In the Changchun Courtyard, where the Taoist master Qiu Chuji once debated with Genghis Khan, visitors can sense the heroic spirit of the great conqueror. Inside the yurts shaded by green trees, guests can experience the warm hospitality of the Kazakh people. The manor’s ecological grounds feature leisurely roaming peacocks and ostriches, blooming horsehair lilies swaying in the wind, and century-old elm trees bursting with new life—each element reflecting the management’s commitment to environmental protection, health, and a return to nature.

Cultural Significance

Taoist Culture: In 1220 AD, the Taoist master Qiu Chuji, also known as Changchun Zhenren, set out from Laizhou, Shandong, with eighteen disciples on a three-year, ten-thousand-li journey westward to Tianchi in an effort to save people from war. He arrived at Tianchi to debate with Genghis Khan, the mighty ruler of his time, and stayed overnight in what is now Qilu Manor. His spirit moved heaven, and as a result, a stone formation resembling Changchun Zhenren appeared on the mountain behind the manor. His story has been widely passed down through generations and is celebrated to this day. Every spring, the manor’s owners hang a red ribbon on the stone figure in his memory and have erected a monument. A 14-meter-diameter “Tianjiao” (Heavenly Pride) yurt has been set up, and calligraphy by renowned artists has been inscribed.