Weifang Spring Cherry Blossom Viewing | Complete Guide to Kuiwen Gate + Shihu Garden
| Complete Guide to Kuiwen Gate + Shihu Garden. Weifang Spring Cherry Blossom Viewing | Complete Guide to Kuiwen Gate + Shihu Garden🌸
When cherry blossom season arrives, Weifang transforms into a scene straight out of an anime! Come for a weekend visit to Kuiwen Gate and Shihu Garden to experience the perfect blend of historical charm and gorgeous cherry blossoms—it's truly soul-healing~
🌸Kuiwen Gate
📍Address: 4th Floor, Taihua Xintiandi, Taihua City, 360 Dongfeng East Street, Dongguan Street, Kuiwen District, Weifang
🕙Opening Hours: Open all year round
🎫Admission: Free🆓
🚗Transportation:
• Bus: Take bus routes 2, 6, 17, etc., get off at Taihua City station, and it's just a short walk away. You can also enjoy the city views of Weifang along the way.
• Taxi: About 15 minutes from Weifang Station, costing around 20 yuan, convenient and quick.
• Self-driving: There's a Taihua parking lot nearby, but it might be a bit difficult to find parking on weekends due to crowds, so it's better to arrive early.
📸Photo Spots:
• Gate Tower with Cherry Blossoms: As a Ming Dynasty structure in Weifang, Kuiwen Gate features an impressive three-story pavilion with the inscription "Kites Flying, Fish Leaping." When cherry blossoms are in full bloom, standing under the gate with the ancient structure and pink blossoms as your backdrop creates perfect vintage-style photos, as if you've traveled back in time.
• Bailang Riverside Cherry Blossom Path: Bailang River runs right next to Kuiwen Gate. Take a stroll along the riverside with flowing water on one side and blooming cherry trees on the other. Sit on a bench by the river and capture photos with the water, cherry blossoms, and the gate in the background for a fresh Japanese-style aesthetic.
• Next to Kuiwen Pavilion: Climbing the stairs, you'll first reach Kuiwen Pavilion, which offers free admission and features stories about top scholars on its walls. The cherry trees beside the ancient pavilion create a beautiful contrast. Standing in the corridor with the blossoms and pavilion as your backdrop makes for a charming photo. You can also pay respects to Kuixing (the god of examinations) and pray for academic success.
🍜Food Recommendations:
• Rou Huoshao: With a crispy, flaky crust and juicy pork filling, one bite fills your mouth with delicious flavor. You can find authentic versions at small shops near Kuiwen Gate.
• Chaotian Guo: A steaming pot filled with various ingredients of your choice, paired with thin pancakes and dipping sauces—perfect for the slightly cool spring afternoons.
• Weifang Hele: Smooth and chewy noodles in a rich bone broth, topped with meat sauce, cilantro, pickles, and other condiments. Mix it all together for a truly satisfying meal.
🏯Shihu Garden
📍Address: 49 Hujia Paifang Street, Weicheng District, Weifang
🕙Opening Hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
🎫Admission: 22 yuan, half-price for students (tickets can be purchased online in advance for more convenient entry)
🚗Transportation:
• Bus: Take bus routes 22, 23, 62, 82, 150, etc., get off at Shihu Garden station and walk from there.
• Taxi: About 20 minutes from Weifang Station, costing around 25 yuan.
• Self-driving: There's no parking lot inside the garden, but you can park at nearby lots such as the Shihu Garden Cultural Block parking lot and walk to the garden.
📸Photo Spots:
• Sizhaoting Pavilion with Cherry Blossoms: Located in the center of the garden pond, this pavilion offers views in all four directions. Standing in the pavilion, you can see the mountain pavilion and cherry blossoms to the east, the winding corridor and blossoms to the west, the Yanxiang Building with cherry blossoms to the north, and Shihu Cottage with cherry blossoms to the south. Every angle is stunning, creating a strong classical Chinese atmosphere.
• Cherry Blossoms along the Corridor: The corridor on the west side of the pond has open seating with beauty-rest chairs on the east side and enclosed walls with lattice windows on the west. Walking through the corridor, you can view the cherry blossoms through the windows or use the corridor as a foreground for your blossom photos, creating images with great depth.
• By Yilan Pavilion: Yilan Pavilion stands with water on three sides, featuring a pointed roof in helmet style. Next to the pavilion stands an exquisite lake stone inscribed with the characters "Shihu Garden." Here, you can take beautiful photos with the lake stone, pavilion, cherry blossoms, and pond as your backdrop.
⏰Suggested Itinerary:
• Morning: Head to Kuiwen Gate first. Arriving early means fewer people, allowing you to take photos freely and experience the unique charm of the ancient city gate with cherry blossoms. You can also visit the city wall and Kuiwen Pavilion.
• Noon: Enjoy Weifang's special dishes near Kuiwen Gate, such as Rou Huoshao and Chaotian Guo, to fuel up for the afternoon activities.
• Afternoon: Visit Shihu Garden and leisurely explore this delicate northern garden built in southern Jiangsu style. Admire the beautiful scenery where historic architecture blends with cherry blossoms, take lovely photos, and immerse yourself in the historical and cultural atmosphere.