Welcome to Heze Tourism

Heze, an ancient city located in southwestern Shandong, may not have the hustle and bustle of first-tier cities, but it hides the most vibrant local life—it is the "Peony Capital of China," with a national feast of peonies in spring; the "Hometown of Opera," where you can hear a thousand-year story in bangzi opera; the "Hometown of Water Margin," where the hometown of Song Jiang holds heroic legends; and also a "City of Cuisine," where a bowl of mutton soup can warm your heart. If you plan a 4-day, 3-night in-depth trip with a budget of around 5,000 yuan (estimated for one person with moderate spending), this guide will help you avoid pitfalls, save worries, and pack all the "essence" of Heze into your memories. --- 📅 Itinerary Overview & Budget Allocation (Per Person) - *Total Budget*: About 4,800-5,200 yuan (flexible adjustment, core experience unchanged) - Transportation (round trip + local): 800-1,000 yuan - Accommodation (3 nights): 600-900 yuan (budget/characteristic homestay) - Meals (three meals + snacks daily): 900-1,200 yuan - Tickets (main attractions): 400-500 yuan - Others (experiences/souvenirs): 300-500 yuan - Recommended Season: Mid-April (peony blooming season, a must-see!), Autumn (September-October, cool and pleasant, perfect for slow travel) - Itinerary Keywords: Peony (spring exclusive), Water Margin culture, Yellow River wetlands, intangible cultural heritage cuisine, Yellow River old course scenery 🚗 Day 1: Arrive in Heze → City Exploration → Caozhou Peony Garden (spring must-see) → Old Town Night Market Morning: Arrive in Heze & adapt to the city - Transportation - If departing from nearby cities (like Jinan, Zhengzhou), high-speed rail is recommended (Heze East Station/Heze Station, second-class seat about 100-200 yuan); if from farther cities, fly to Jinan/Zhengzhou then transfer to high-speed rail (keep total transport cost within 800 yuan). - After arrival, take a taxi to the city hotel (about 15-20 yuan). Recommended to stay in Heze Old Town (Mudanyuan District) *close to attractions and food streets, convenient for travel. Accommodation Budget hotels (like Hanting, Home Inn) about 200 yuan/night, or choose characteristic homestays (like a retro courtyard by the Yellow River, about 300 yuan/night, booking early is more cost-effective). Afternoon: Head straight to "Caozhou Peony Garden" (core spring experience!) - Highlights: Heze is the "Peony Capital of China," the world's largest peony breeding base. Mid-April (around Grain Rain) is peak bloom, with over 1,300 varieties and over a million peony plants in the garden, covering nine major color series including red, pink, white, purple, and even the century-old Peony King! In off-season (other months), you can substitute with "China Peony Garden" or "Ancient and Modern Garden" (smaller scale but fewer people). Ticket: 40 yuan (off-season discounts possible, peak season about 50-80 yuan) Tips: Enter after 3 PM to avoid midday heat, visit the National Flower Hall first (to learn peony culture), then stroll along National Flower Avenue and the Twelve Flower Goddesses area east of the lake. Wearing Hanfu for photos is stunning! For elderly or children, electric carts are available (10 yuan/person). Evening: Eat your way through Heze flavors at the Old Town Night Market - Recommended places: Dongfanghong Street Night Market (popular with locals, full of life) or Zhonghua Road Food Street. - Must-eat list: - Shan County Mutton Soup (recommended "Old Place Mutton Soup Restaurant"): milky soup, tender meat, served with baked or fried flatbread, 15-20 yuan fills you up. - Heze Water-fried Buns (made and fried fresh at street stalls): crispy outside, filling of chive and egg or pork with vermicelli, 2-3 yuan each. - Caoxian Roasted Beef (cold sliced beef dipped in garlic vinegar sauce): firm meat, 30-40 yuan per jin. - Sugar-roasted chestnuts/roasted sweet potatoes (autumn and winter only): freshly roasted at street stalls, fragrant and sweet. Today's estimated cost: Transport 40 yuan + Accommodation 200 yuan + Ticket 40 yuan + Meals 80 yuan ≈ 360 yuan 🚣 Day 2: Water Margin Culture Tour → Song Jiang's Hometown → Sun Bin Tourism City → Yellow River Wetland Park Morning: Explore "Song Jiang's Hometown · Water Margin Heroes City" - Highlights: Yuncheng County in Heze is the hometown of Song Jiang and Chao Gai from "Water Margin." This 4A-level scenic area restores Song Dynasty architecture, including Yuncheng County Government Office, Sun Erniang Inn, Wulong Courtyard, and 36 other attractions, plus intangible cultural heritage performances (like Shandong Kuaishu storytelling, Zhuizi opera). - Ticket: 60 yuan (half price for students) - Tips: Walk through courtyards with blue bricks and gray tiles, listen to guides telling Water Margin stories (recommended to hire a guide to avoid superficial visits); afternoon timed performances like "Heroes Welcome Guests" and "Wu Song Fights the Tiger" live shows. Afternoon: "Sun Bin Tourism City" to experience military strategy wisdom - Highlights: A themed area commemorating the Warring States military strategist Sun Bin (from Juancheng), including Sun Bin Memorial Hall, Yicheng Temple (Buddhist culture), Yangzuo Joint Tomb (heroic legend), suitable for history lovers or quiet visits. - Ticket: 40 yuan (combo tickets may be cheaper) - Tips: Climb high to overlook the ancient-style buildings, visit the ancient weapons exhibition in Sun Bin Memorial Hall, and in the evening buy handmade coarse cloth or paper cuttings (Heze intangible cultural heritage) at Juancheng Old Street outside the scenic area. Evening: "Yellow River Wetland Park" to watch sunset and migratory birds - Highlights: Heze is the first stop of the Yellow River entering Shandong. The wetland park preserves the original ecological reed marshes and mudflats. In autumn and winter, migratory birds like wild geese and wild ducks rest here, perfect for walking and photography. - Ticket: Free (some areas require reservation) - Tips: Walk along the wooden boardwalk to the riverside viewing platform to see the magnificent confluence of the Yellow River and wetlands, or rent a bike to circle the lake (10 yuan/hour). Today's estimated cost: Transport 50 yuan (local taxi/bus) + Tickets 100 yuan + Meals 70 yuan ≈ 220 yuan --- 🌾 Day 3: Yellow River Culture Experience → Caozhou Calligraphy and Painting Academy → Return to City for Shopping Morning: "Yellow River Culture Museum" + "Yellow River Old Course Village" - Highlights: Heze is on the Yellow River alluvial plain with deep Yellow River culture. First visit "Heze Yellow River Culture Museum" (free) to learn about Yellow River management history and folk customs; then drive 30 minutes to "Yellow River Old Course Folk Village" (like Juancheng Old Town), see traditional stone mills, old wells, experience grinding and making coarse grain bread (DIY available, about 30 yuan/person). Afternoon: "Caozhou Calligraphy and Painting Academy" & city shopping - Highlights: Heze is the "Hometown of Calligraphy and Painting," the academy houses many local masters' works (like meticulous peony paintings), free to visit, perfect for art lovers. Afterward, visit "Heze Ginza Mall" or "Jiahe City" to buy souvenirs—recommended are **Peony Seed Oil** (nutritious), **Caozhou Geng Cake** (top-quality persimmon cake), **Juancheng Lu Brocade** (handwoven fabric). Evening: Free time (optional to watch a show or enjoy hot springs) - If budget allows, experience Heze "Maple Leaf Red Hot Springs" (winter only, 150 yuan/person); or watch a Shandong bangzi opera at "Heze Grand Theater" (tickets 30-80 yuan). Today's estimated cost: Transport 60 yuan + Experience 30 yuan + Meals 80 yuan + Souvenirs 100 yuan ≈ 270 yuan --- 🛍️ Day 4: Slow Travel Wrap-up → Heze Morning Tea → Return Trip Morning: Experience "Heze Morning Tea Culture" - Heze people take breakfast seriously. Recommended places: "Peony Hotel Morning Tea" or "Old Heze Porridge Shop," order **Oven-baked Flatbread with Beef** (crispy flatbread + braised beef), **Eight Treasure Porridge** (mixed grains), **Savory Tofu Pudding** (Heze specialty, savory style more authentic), about 15-20 yuan per person. Noon: Last meal before departure - Go to "Heze Old Street" for **Water-fried Buns + Spicy Pepper Soup** (local daily staple), or take away some **Chenji Yam** (Heze specialty, great for stewing or steaming, very soft). Today's estimated cost: Meals 50 yuan + Transport 30 yuan ≈ 80 yuan --- 💡 Practical Tips & Notes 1. Peony Blooming Season: Mid-April is the best viewing time (around Grain Rain). If visiting other times, substitute Peony Garden with "Fulong Lake Ecotourism Area" (lake view + hot springs) or "Fangshan Tourism Area" (spring and autumn ancestral worship culture). 2. Transportation: Heze attractions are scattered; local taxis (starting fare 8-10 yuan) or ride-hailing apps are recommended; for distant spots like Yellow River Wetlands, car rental (about 200 yuan/day, carpooling cheaper) is advised. 3. Accommodation: Old Town offers good value; book homestays early in off-season for discounts; beware of mosquitoes in summer and bring warm clothes in winter. 4. Food Pitfalls: Avoid "internet-famous" shops at scenic spots; prioritize local-favorite stalls (like mutton soup shops where many local elderly queue). 5. Souvenirs: Peony-related products (flower tea, essential oils), Juancheng Lu Brocade, Cao County Hanfu (Heze Cao County is the largest Hanfu production base in China, prices lower than online!). Heze is a city to savor slowly—its beauty lies not in grand attractions, but in the steam rising from a bowl of mutton soup, the morning dew on peony petals, and the shouts in the old street alleys.