Xintai

Introduction

Xintai is a county-level city in the central part of Shandong province, and it forms the easternmost county-level division of Tai'an prefecture. It sits roughly 50 kilometres southeast of downtown Tai'an, which makes it an easy extension of a trip based in the prefecture's main city.

Three days in Xintai

Day one: Start in Xintai, in Shandong, and get your bearings in the town before heading for the Tai range. Walk the streets, eat where the locals eat, and let the pace of the place set the tone for your stay. Keep the first day simple: you are in Xintai, on the edge of Shandong's hill country, with the Tai massif waiting.

Day two: Give the day to Tai. Head into the hills and walk, following the paths and ridgelines that give the range its character. The walking is the point here, so take your time, stop often, and let the views open up. Return to Xintai in the evening.

Day three: Use your last day to fill in what you missed in Xintai itself, then take one more look at the Tai hills before you leave. If you have time, revisit the part of town you liked best and eat a final meal there. It is a short itinerary, but Xintai and the Tai range reward a slow pace.