[2025 Qingzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Jingtang Ancient Town (Updated Apr)

🌈Attraction Highlights: Qingzhou Jingtang Ancient Village, a well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty village, feels like a place where time stands still.🏞️✨ Famous for its stone architecture, the village's houses, roads, and bridges are all made of stone, showcasing the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient artisans.🪨 Built against the mountains, the village is surrounded by hills, with clear streams and a tranquil environment, making it an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.🌳💧 Jingtang Ancient Village also attracts visitors with its rich folk culture, where traditional handicrafts, folk performances, and festive activities create a strong sense of rural life.🎭 Whether you're exploring ancient architecture or experiencing rural life, Jingtang Ancient Village offers a peaceful and nostalgic experience.🚶‍♂️🌾 📍Address: Jingtang Ancient Village, Qingzhou City, Weifang City, Shandong Province 🕐️Opening Hours: 08:00 - 16:30 🎫Tickets: Adult tickets are 39 CNY/person. Students and seniors enjoy half-price discounts with valid ID. 📝Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) offer mild weather and pleasant scenery.🌸🍂 🚘Transportation: 1. By Car: From downtown Qingzhou, take the G20 Qingyin Expressway for about 40 minutes.🚗 2. Public Transportation: Take a bus from Qingzhou Bus Station to Jingtang Ancient Village (approx. 1-hour ride).🚌 📅Tour Guide: ☑️Must-See Attractions: Stone architecture complex, ancient wells, ancient bridges, and the Folk Culture Exhibition Hall. ☑️Suggested Itinerary: - Morning: Explore the stone architecture complex → Visit the ancient wells → Stroll across the ancient bridges - Afternoon: Visit the Folk Culture Exhibition Hall → Experience rural life → Participate in folk activities (if available) ☑️Activities: 1. Folk Culture Experience: Engage in traditional handicraft making and folk performances to experience the charm of traditional culture.🎭 2. Farm Picking: Depending on the season, enjoy picking fruits or vegetables and connect with nature.🍓🌽 🍱Food Recommendations: 1. Qingzhou Shaobing: A crispy, soft, sesame-flavored local snack.🥮 2. Jingtang Tofu: Made with water from ancient wells, it has a delicate texture and rich bean flavor.🍲 3. Farmhouse Stewed Chicken: Made with free-range chicken, the meat is tender and the soup is rich.🍗 4. Wild Vegetable Buns: Filled with fresh local wild vegetables, they are fragrant and nutritious.🥟 💗Useful Tips: 1. Wear comfortable shoes as the village has many stone-paved roads, suitable for walking.👟 2. There is a significant temperature difference between day and night during spring and autumn, so bring a light jacket.🧥 3. Respect local folk culture and observe proper etiquette when participating in activities.🎎 4. Protect the environment by not littering and cherishing the ancient architecture and natural landscape.🌿🗑️

Qingzhou's 600-year-old Jingtang Ancient Village is like a hidden gem nestled among the mountains and rivers, quietly telling the stories of time. Walking into the ancient village, the cobblestone paths are flanked by rustic houses with white walls and black tiles, exuding a strong historical atmosphere. Each house in the village carries the wisdom and life of the ancestors, as if whispering to the visitors. In this 600-year-old ancient village, history and reality intertwine, making me feel the depth of culture and the warmth of humanity.

Jingtang Ancient Village, located about 15 kilometers southwest of Qingzhou City in Shandong Province, at the southern corner of Wangfu Street Office, is a Ming Dynasty village that has withstood over six hundred years of history and still retains its original appearance. It not only carries a rich historical and cultural heritage but also has been honored as a provincial-level historical and cultural village and one of 'China's Most Beautiful Ancient Villages' for its unique architectural style. Tracing its origins, Jingtang Ancient Village was founded in the seventh year of the Jingtai period of the Ming Dynasty (1456 AD). The name of the village embodies a beautiful story interwoven with nature and humanity—under Shamao Mountain in the southeast of the village, a clear spring flows continuously throughout the year, forming a pond. The wise villagers ingeniously built a well around the pond, making it convenient for water collection and adding to the scenery, thus the name 'Jingtang' came into being. This spring is the source of the Nanyang River, the mother river of Qingzhou, endowing this land with endless vitality and spirituality. Jingtang Ancient Village is built according to the mountain terrain, cleverly integrating the grand layout of the Hengwang Mansion, showcasing an ancient architectural complex that combines the elegance of Ming Dynasty architecture with the residential characteristics of the western mountainous area. The bluestone roads, rustic courtyards, and well-arranged dwellings together paint vivid historical pictures, making it a rare and well-preserved model of ancient villages in Shandong Province. It attracts countless tourists and scholars to explore its historical footprints and experience the tranquility and beauty that transcend time.

⛰️Name: Jingtan Ancient Village —— 🎫Ticket: 36.9💰/person (The price of electronic tickets may fluctuate) A simple ticket check is conducted at the entrance next to the ticket office. Upon entering the scenic area, there will be an old man checking tickets again when crossing the bridge, haha! —— 🚗Travel: As it is a relatively niche attraction located deep in the village, it is recommended to drive there, and there is a parking lot nearby🅿️～ —— 📮Preface: The second stop of my previous trip to Qingzhou, it was a place I chose after painstakingly researching. I always have an inexplicable fondness for such ancient and quaint attractions～ —— 🛠️Brief Discussion: Jingtan Ancient Village is located 15 kilometers southwest of Qingzhou city in Shandong Province, at the southern part of Wangfu Street Office. It is an ancient village that has undergone more than 600 years of historical changes and still retains relatively well-preserved ancient buildings with Ming Dynasty architectural style. • The ancient village is built against the mountain, relying on the Hengwangfu courtyard, forming an ancient architectural complex with Ming Dynasty architectural style and residential characteristics of the western mountainous area. The entire village is surrounded by ancient defensive walls made of green stones, with a castle (watchtower) built every 30 meters or so, providing self-defense capabilities. Centered around the seventy-two ancient houses of Wu Yibin, the son-in-law of the Prince of Heng during the Ming Dynasty, the village forms a unique group of ancient residential buildings with Zhang Family Courtyard, Wu Family Courtyard, and Sun Family Courtyard as the focal points. It also has well-preserved ancient stone bridges, wells, temples, and stone platforms. • The ancient village has a relatively weaker commercial atmosphere compared to other ancient towns I have visited before, with no internet-famous snack stalls or chain stores... There are a few restaurants and souvenir stalls at the entrance of the scenic area, and inside, there are mostly elderly residents living a leisurely life. Although there are also some small shops and stalls selling goods, they mainly offer food or handmade products, without many modern items... • The village is mostly paved with stone slabs, and the buildings are also mainly made of stone. My friend and I observed that the structure of the buildings is similar to the houses of the elderly in our village, but there are very few residences that are preserved as completely as here, most of which have been demolished or renovated, not to mention forming a unified style of architectural complex～ • Because it is not overly developed and promoted, there are relatively fewer tourists at this attraction, and perhaps because we went on a weekday, there were even fewer people～ This place is not suitable for special forces-style check-ins; it is recommended to take your time to explore and experience the slow life of the stone buildings and the village～ • Additionally, the ancient village was chosen as one of the filming locations for the TV series 'Red Sorghum' directed by Zheng Xiaolong, thanks to its simple mountain village charm and beautiful scenery. When I was searching for strategies, I also saw many friends' check-in photos 😆 —— 📚Conclusion: This is a forgotten village, where the elderly stay... Some gather at the bridge to chat, others sit on the wall to read a book～ You can sit down to eat a handmade pancake, drink a bowl of big bowl tea, or look at the bulk elm seeds and walnuts sold by the grandmothers～ It is a scenic spot, yet not a scenic spot 🪨～ Jingtan Ancient Village

Jing Tang ancient village is an ancient architectural complex with Ming Dynasty architectural style and residential characteristics of the western mountainous area, and it is one of the better-preserved ancient villages in Shandong Province. The entire village is surrounded by ancient defensive walls, which are made of bluestone, and several castles (gun towers) have been built with self-defense functions. The stone-built houses are the most characteristic buildings in the ancient village, mainly made of local bluestone. The craftsmen used local materials and skillfully applied primitive manual techniques to construct the stones in an orderly and interlocking manner. In the gaps, they would also patch with iron and stone pieces, making the entire building tight and seamless, not only aesthetically pleasing but also very practical. The architectural style of the stone-built houses also fully integrates the local folk customs and geomancy culture. You can see that these houses are built according to the mountain terrain, constructed to take advantage of the situation, reflecting the life philosophy of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In the 1980s, villagers had already moved out of the ancient village, so now, in addition to some houses that are still maintained for visits or used as shops, there are also many old houses that only have stone walls left, becoming dangerous buildings or ruins.

There is an ancient village here with Ming Dynasty architectural style which is more than 600 years old and is still well preserved. The ancient village is built against the mountain, with well-arranged levels. The houses in the ancient village are mostly made of bluestone and wood. After hundreds of years of wind and rain, they are still standing firmly, showing a simple and elegant style. Walking through the streets of the ancient village, it feels like traveling through time and space. There was a clear spring at the foot of Shamao Mountain in the southeast that never dried up, forming a pond. The villagers built a stone wall around the pond to make it a well, and the village got its name from this. The ancient village is located in the southwest of Qingzhou, Shandong, about 15 kilometers from the city center. All the residents of the village have already moved out and settled elsewhere. After renovation and planning by the government, a unique ancient residential complex is left for tourists. What makes Jingtang Ancient Village well-known is that the 2014 TV series "Red Sorghum" was filmed here, depicting a heart-wrenching love story in rural China in the 1930s. Many scenes in the drama were shot in Jingtang Ancient Village. The original appearance and profound cultural heritage of the ancient village added more historical authenticity to the TV series. Ancient village attractions: Mainly include Wu Family Courtyard, Sun Family Courtyard, Zhang Family Courtyard, folk courtyard, etc. There are well-preserved ancient stone bridges, ancient wells, ancient temples, ancient stone platforms, primitive granaries, etc. in the village. You can visit the wedding customs museum, winery, and folk cultural heritage exhibition hall. The entire village is surrounded by the ancient village defense wall, which is made of bluestone. A castle (watchtower) is built every 30 meters or so, which has self-defense function. Folk customs: At the entrance of the village or on the roadside, there are villagers selling local specialties, such as honey, fruit wine, freshly harvested vegetables and fruits, small baskets woven with corn husks, and wooden artworks. In the village, there are hand-ground tofu and freshly baked pancakes, as well as traditional restaurants. There are also farmhouses outside the village. Ticket price: The ticket is 40 yuan at the door, and it should be 35 or 36 yuan if you book online in advance. Transportation: You can drive or take a taxi. Parking lot available. It is best to book a car in advance because the ancient village is located in a remote area and there are few cars nearby. Attention to clothing: It is recommended to wear casual sportswear and non-slip sports shoes. In addition, after entering the village, the road is paved with bluestone and the steps are all bluestone, so it is not recommended for young children to ride in strollers. If it rains, it is best to cancel the trip because the stone ground will become very slippery when it comes into contact with water, making it inconvenient to walk.

📍 Jingtan Ancient Town is located in Qingzhou City, under the jurisdiction of Weifang. This is a small village with ancient charm, famous for a young woodcutter with the surname Wu from the village who became the son-in-law of Prince Heng during the Ming Dynasty. 📍 Surrounded by mountains on all sides, Qingzhou has an inexhaustible supply of stones, hence the locals invented stone houses that are well adapted to the environment. The stones are hard and thick, which keeps out the cold in winter and the heat in summer, making the houses warm in winter and cool in summer. 📍 The number of young people in the ancient village is dwindling, and many stone houses are in disrepair due to age. It seems as if the village is being forgotten by time. I sincerely hope that more people will come forward to ensure that every stone here can exude vitality. 📍 The preserved houses in the ancient town include the Wu Family Courtyard, Sun Family Courtyard, Zhang Family Quadrangle, Folk Customs Museum, Wedding Customs Museum, Botanical Museum, Zoological Museum, Tofu Workshop, Black Bean Cake Workshop... 📍 When visiting the ancient town, you can bring some walnuts, hawthorns, persimmon cakes, black dates, wild dates, sophora flower tea, wood carvings, odd stones, and hand-woven baskets.