Calling all adventurers, nature enthusiasts and history buffs — this DreamTrip is for you! Get ready to be wowed by spectacular landscapes, inspired architecture and ancient cultural traditions and more as you traverse Shandong province. Don’t forget your camera! You’ll want to capture every moment of the fun during the 3 different outings that take you from Jinan to Tai’an city and Qufu and back to Jinan, the provincial capital city.
Kick things off with a journey to Tai’an’s world-famous, UNESCO-protected mountain. But first, you’ll enjoy lunch and a performance of Chinese shadow puppetry. Food and art — what better way to appreciate a region’s culture? Continue to Tai’an where you’ll take a shuttle to the cableway station for your adrenaline-pumping cable-car ride* to the top of Mt. Tai (or Taishan). As the most sacred of Taoism’s 5 holy mountains in China, this is truly a special destination. Once you check into your mountaintop lodgings, you’ll be treated to a final tour before dinner. Set off on foot to check out Heaven Street, Bixia Temple, the soaring Jade Emperor Peak and more. You’re sure to be impressed by this serene setting and the mountain’s staggering beauty.
The following day, check out Dai Temple, a magnificent temple complex dating from the Song dynasty before heading to Qufu. In this ancient city, you’ll visit the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion, a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Centre around which the city has further developed. While you’re here, take in a live show that illustrates aspects of the life and philosophy of this sage man. End your day in the “Confucius Forest,” the cemetery containing the tomb of Confucius, his leading disciples and descendants.
Your final tour brings you to Heihu Spring which feeds into Jinan’s moat. From there, you’re off to Daming Lake in the historic center of the city, before returning to the hotel to enjoy some relaxing downtime on your own.
*Please note: In the case of bad weather, the cable car will be closed and you will need to hike up and down the mountain on foot.
What we love:
• Mt. Tai is not the highest of China’s Taoist holy mountains, but it is the most significant. It’s where an estimated 72 emperors over millennia had performed sacrifices and ceremonies of dedication and thanks to the gods.
• The cemetery of Confucius contains the graves of more than 100,000 of the famed philosopher’s descendants, the Kong family.
• To maximize your enjoyment, download the DreamTrips™ app to access DreamTrips Local — then earn points on dining, entertainment, spa experiences & more at select spots recommended by DreamTrippers just like you!
Transportation
Airfare is not included in the trip price! The closest commercial airport to the hotel is Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA), approximately 22.5 miles (36 kilometers) away. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for any trip.
Required Identification and Airport Transfer Information
Round-trip airport transfers are included from:
Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA) to the hotel on October 25 at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.
The hotel to Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA) on October 29 at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.
Reminder: Due to some travel restrictions currently in place within China, regional authorities require that all guests provide personal/passport information as part of the
country’s real-name identity registration system.
Please submit your required personal/passport information (and your flight details if you are arranging airport transfers) HERE by October 11.
Please note: Transfers are provided only for the airport(s), dates and times listed above.
Day 1 (Jinan)
Arrive at the airport and transfer to Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.
Check into Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza at any time after 2 p.m.
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Visit the welcome table in the hotel lobby.
6 p.m.: Set-menu welcome dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza.
Day 2 (Tai'an)
8-8:45 a.m.: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Full-day Taishan and Tai’an tour; includes lunch, dinner, a cable-car ride*, transportation and gratuities for the tour guide and driver.
• 9 a.m.: Depart from the hotel and transfer toward Tai'an; enjoy a performance of traditional Chinese shadow puppetry along the way and learn about the process for making puppets.
• Noon – 1 p.m.: Chinese-style, set-menu lunch at a local restaurant.
• 1 p.m.: Transfer to UNESCO-protected Taishan (Mt. Tai) at Tai’an.
• From Tai’an, transfer to Taohuayu cableway station.
• 2:30 p.m.: Ride the cable car to the summit.
• 3 p.m.: At the top, enjoy a walk along Heaven Street, visit Bixia Temple and see the Moya stone carving dating from the Tang dynasty along with Jade Emperor Peak.
• 4 p.m.: Descend the mountain by cable car.
• 6 p.m.: Set-menu dinner at a local restaurant.
• Transfer to Wanda Realm Taian and check in.
The rest of the evening at your leisure.
Overnight at Wanda Realm Taian.
Day 3 (Qufu)
7-7:45 a.m.: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Check out of the hotel.
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Full-day Qufu tour; includes lunch, dinner, transportation and gratuities for the tour guide and driver.
• 8 a.m.: Depart from the hotel and transfer to Dai Temple.
• 8:10 a.m.: Arrive at and tour Dai Temple, a Taoist temple complex.
• 9 a.m.: Transfer to Qufu.
• 10:30 a.m.: Arrive at Qufu and visit Kong Family Mansion —the home of Confucius and part of a massive complex of monuments, tomb, temple and more.
• 11 a.m.: Enjoy a live show illustrating the life and philosophy of Confucius.
• Noon – 1 p.m.: Chinese-style, set-menu lunch at a local restaurant.
• 1:30-6 p.m.: Spend time exploring the Confucius family cemetery known as “Confucius Forest.”
• 6 p.m.: Set-menu dinner at a local restaurant.
Transfer to Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu and check in.
The rest of the evening at your leisure.
Overnight at Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu.
Day 4 (Jinan)
8-8:45 a.m.: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Check out of the hotel.
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Half-day excursion to Heihu Spring and Daming Lake; includes lunch, transportation and gratuities for the tour guide and driver.
• 9 a.m.: Depart from the hotel and transfer to Heihu Spring.
• 11 a.m.: Arrive at and visit Heihu Spring.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Chinese-style, set-menu lunch at a local restaurant in Jinan.
• 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Visit Daming Lake.
Transfer to Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza and check in.
The rest of the day and evening at your leisure. Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight at Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza.
Day 5 (Jinan)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
The rest of the morning at your leisure until checkout and your flight.
Check out of the hotel by noon.
Transfer to the airport at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.
*Please note: In the case of bad weather, the cable car will be closed and you will need to hike up and down the mountain on foot.
Itinerary subject to change.
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