A Tour of Linyi, Zaozhuang, Jining, and Tai'an

In early December, I set off from Qingdao and took a 5-day self-driving trip through Linyi, Zaozhuang, Jining (Weishan Lake, Qufu), and Tai'an, gaining a wealth of experiences. Linyi Linyi Museum: A must-visit, with countless treasures on display! The "Han Dynasty Pictorial Bricks" on the first floor feature a painting style that is both realistic and perfectly formal—truly beautiful. On the second floor, there are Han Dynasty pottery figurines that capture both spirit and form, and elegant black pottery. The core exhibition area showcases a national treasure: the Golden Thread Jade Burial Suit. Thin as cicada wings, jade pieces are meticulously stitched together with gold threads as fine as hair—an exquisite masterpiece. Zaozhuang: Tai'erzhuang Ancient City: Originally visited to trace the famous battle site of the Anti-Japanese War, what I found was a comprehensive ancient canal city. The ancient canal from the Ming and Qing dynasties is still well preserved, and the wide ancient wharf has been newly restored. There are also several small museums in the city. The Tianhou Palace, rebuilt on its original site, is magnificent and more grand in scale than the Tianhou Palace by Qingdao’s Zhanqiao Pier. Several old buildings riddled with bullet holes are relics of the fierce 1938 Battle of Tai'erzhuang. Unintentionally, in a narrow alley of the ancient city, I spotted a small sign: intense street fighting took place here in 1938. Close combat with blades, blood splattered everywhere... every inch of land soaked in blood. Jining: Weishan Lake Tourist Area: In December, Weishan Lake is vast and clear. Sitting on a yacht, you often unexpectedly encounter flocks of water birds. The "Railway Guerrilla" Memorial Park is on a small island in the lake, where smooth roads and rows of white-walled, black-tiled buildings stand neatly among greenery and fields. Climbing the "Wanghai Pavilion," the entire island comes into view, surrounded by lake waters, giving a true "paradise on earth" feeling. Qufu: Confucius Temple: Ancient cypresses tower, halls are majestic, and a solemn atmosphere pervades; massive ancient stone steles are heavy and profound. Among many imperial steles, the most famous is the Ming Emperor Xianzong’s "Stele for the Renovation of the Confucius Temple," expressing unparalleled reverence for Confucius: "...Confucius was born by heaven’s will, truly to establish the heart of heaven and earth, to set the destiny of the people, to continue the lost teachings of past sages, and to open peace for all generations." I watched a Confucius memorial ceremony in the temple—an extremely simple version lasting only about ten minutes, yet still dignified and solemn. The Confucius Temple gathers so many cultural classics that one must calm down and slowly "read" them. Tai'an: Dai Temple: The site where emperors of various dynasties worshipped Mount Tai, built entirely according to imperial palace city standards, grand and imposing. The Zhengyang Gate looks more like a city gate than a temple gate, tall and majestic. Deep inside Dai Temple stands the magnificent Song Dynasty Tiankuang Hall, built to the highest standards of ancient architecture, comparable to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. Inside the main hall is a huge Song Dynasty mural, "The Divine Procession of Mount Tai," depicting the grand scene of ancient emperors’ Fengshan sacrifices. This national treasure-level artwork is open to visitors free of charge. Dai Temple was first built during the Qin and Han dynasties. The first to perform Fengshan sacrifices here was Qin Shi Huang. Another enthusiastic participant was Emperor Wu of Han. At that time, Mount Tai was considered the highest mountain, connecting the divine realm. Fengshan sacrifices were essentially prayers to heaven. The temple is filled with steles and ancient trees. Wandering here feels like traveling through the long river of history—a rare spiritual enjoyment.