Linqu

Introduction

Linqu is a county in the southwest of Weifang, in the middle of the Shandong Peninsula. It was originally known as Pianyi, and it also goes by the name Zhuxu County. Its territory takes in a wide stretch of countryside, with villages grouped into eight townships and two subdistricts.

For a traveller, that means a place to slow down and move between rural communities rather than a single built-up centre. Expect a landscape of many villages, and plan your time around the townships and subdistricts that make up the county.

Three days in Linqu

Day one: Start in Linqu itself, getting your bearings in the county town before heading out. From here you can travel on to Weifang, the larger city that anchors this part of the region, and use it as your base for the days ahead.

Day two: Head for Pianyi, a spot worth building a day around. Take your time rather than rushing between stops, and expect the pace of travel here to be slower than in the bigger cities.

Day three: Push on toward Zhuxu County, which sits within the broader sweep of the Shandong Peninsula. It makes a fitting final day if you want to see how the countryside and smaller settlements fit together with Linqu and Weifang.