Stand on Gongyuan Road in Laiwu District on a winter morning and the red rock of Redstone Park catches the low light, with Yuebo Lake, Hongshi Valley and Hongshi Waterfall folded into the middle of the city. Laiwu was a prefecture-level city in central Shandong until it became part of Jinan in 2019, and its sights sit in two registers: civic parks and museums in the urban districts, and mountains, lakes and forest parks to the north and south.
This guide suits travellers who are already in Shandong and want a day or two of lakeside food, forest walking and wartime history rather than a tick-list of monuments. It covers the parks and museums of the downtown district, the Xueye Tourist Area and the surrounding scenic areas, and the winter sports on offer at the lake.
Everything below is drawn from what is known about these places; where a detail such as an opening time or fare is not established, it is left out. Check the practical arrangements before you set out.
Top things to do in Laiwu
1. Xueye Tourist Area
An artificial lake north of the city, with fresh fish restaurants, large hotels, water sports venues, air sports venues and camping bases around its shore. It is the natural base for a longer stay, and the culinary specialties and scenery are the reason most visitors who have time beyond the downtown district come this way.
Take bus K204 from Laiwu Bus Terminal; the fare is ¥3. The area is also about half an hour's drive from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, which makes it a sensible first or last stop.
2. Redstone Park
In the centre of Laiwu District on Gongyuan Road, this is the largest open civic park in the district, covering Yuebo Lake, Hongshi Valley and Hongshi Waterfall. The red rock of the valley formed in the Mesozoic Jurassic, when crustal movement and a drying climate shaped the basin sediments that give the park its name.
It is open 24 hours and free. Take bus K16, K17 or K8 and get off at Hongzhi Park Station. Because it sits in the middle of the city, it works well as a first stop before or after the museums.
3. Laiwu Campaign Memorial Museum
A museum on Wenyang Street devoted to the Laiwu Campaign, a major military campaign of the Chinese Civil War. It is the most substantial historical stop in the district and pairs naturally with the downtown parks.
It is free and closed on Mondays. From May to September it opens 08:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:30; from October to April, 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-17:00. Bus routes 21, K8 and K10 serve it.
4. Fanggan Eco Tourism Area
In the Xueye Tourist Area in the north of Laiwu District, this is a mountain and valley site with four named places to visit: Jiulong Canyon, Jintai Mountain, Fantasy Lovers Valley and Shiyun Mountain. It suits a full day rather than an hour.
Tickets are ¥52 for Jiulong Canyon and Jintai Mountain, ¥52 for Fantasy Lovers Valley and Shiyun Mountain, or ¥82 for all four. It opens 07:00-17:00. Three express buses leave Laiwu Bus Terminal daily; if you miss them, take the K204 to Shangyou and a taxi from there.
5. Laiwu Lianhua Mountain Scenic Area
A scenic area south of the city at Liujialin Village in Gaozhuang Town, with ecological and Buddhist cultural highlights. Its main peak, Lihuajian, is the highest peak in Jinan, and the summit carries the Palace of Encountering Immortals, built after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty visited the site.
Tickets are ¥50 and it opens 8:30-17:00. Take bus 60 from the South Gate of Hongshi Park and get off at Lianhuashan Station; the fare is ¥2. Combine it with a morning in Redstone Park, since the bus starts there.
6. Huashan National Forest Park
A forest park in the northwestern mountains, belonging to a branch of Mount Tai and divided into three scenic spots: Bailongtan, Dazhouyuan and Yongning Gu. The highest point in the west is Xiangshan Mountain and the highest in the east is Dashan, and the dense cover makes it a good place for walking and wildlife.
Tickets are ¥20. It is roughly 40 minutes by car from the city, reached from Laicheng to Huashan Forest Farm or via Dawangzhuang and Dahuashu. Go by car rather than relying on public transport.
7. Qishan National Forest Park
In the east of Lixin Street in Gangcheng District, Qishan is known for its natural scenery and for its food culture, which together make it a stop that combines a walk with a meal. It is free to enter.
A taxi from Laiwu downtown costs about ¥60. Because the eating is part of the point, plan it around a meal rather than squeezing it between two other sights.
8. Shandong Xiangshan International Tourist Resort
A large scenic area at Dawangzhuang, northwest of the city, with winding mountains, dense vegetation and a long geological history. The rock formations are named for their resemblance to a Buddha looking up at the sky and to purple clouds around the moon, and the mountains are rich in fragrant herbs, flowers and fruits.
Tickets are ¥80 and it opens 08:00-18:00. Take the K206 bus from Laiwu Bus Terminal and transfer to the Longwei minibus. The Yunye Xingchen Camping Base is nearby if you want to stay overnight in the mountains.
9. Xueye Ski Resort
Inside Xueye Aviation Sports Park, this is one of the better ski resorts in Shandong and the obvious winter activity at the lake. The season runs from 12 December to 8 March, opening 08:30-16:30.
Tickets are ¥140. Take bus K204 from Laiwu Bus Terminal and get off at Xizhanli Station; the fare is ¥3. It pairs directly with the rest of the Xueye Tourist Area, so you can ski and eat fish on the same day.
10. Aero China Helicopter Tourism Base
Also inside Xueye Aviation Sports Park, this is a private helicopter club offering aerial sightseeing, skydiving and other airborne activities, with custom routes available. It is the way to see the lake and the surrounding hills from above.
You need to book a time in advance. Take bus K204 from Laiwu Bus Terminal to Xizhanli Station; the fare is ¥3. Pair it with the Xueye Tourist Area rather than making a separate trip.
11. Laiwu Iron and Steel Museum of China
A museum recording the history of iron and steel smelting in China, presented as a picture of the country's steel development. It sits south of the intersection of Longtan East Street and Fenghuang Road, near the Longyuan Hotel.
It is free and opens 09:00-11:30 and 14:30-17:00. Take bus 101 from Laiwu Bus Terminal and get off at Qiansong Station; the fare is ¥1. The Laiwu Museum of Art is a short walk away, so visit the two together.
12. Laiwu Museum of Art
On Fenghuang North Road, this is an important venue for the Laiwu Bangzi Opera Troupe, performing the traditional folk drama of the area, and it also exhibits paintings, calligraphy and other works. It is the place to catch local performance rather than static display.
It is free and opens 09:00-11:30 and 14:30-17:00. Take bus 101 from Laiwu Bus Terminal and get off at Qiansong Station; the fare is ¥1. It is near the Longyuan Hotel, alongside the iron and steel museum.
13. The West Sea Park
On Shunhe West Street, south of Wenhe Avenue and close to the Wenhe River, this park provides rest and activity space for residents and passers-by. It is a straightforward green stop rather than a destination in itself.
It is open 24 hours and free. Take bus No. 7 or K9 to Xihai Park Station. Use it as a breather between the downtown sights.
14. Lianhe Park
On Wenhua North Road in the north of the urban area, built along the Lianhe River. Like the other civic parks, it is a place to walk rather than a sight with an admission charge.
It is open 24 hours and free. Take bus No. 101, K26, 7 or K19 and get off at Jianshe Mansion Station.
15. Laiwu International Convention and Exhibition Center
On Fenghuang Road, this is a large exhibition hall that usually hosts automobile exhibitions, animation exhibitions and similar events. Worth checking only if something is on while you are in the city.
Confirm what is scheduled before travelling out; the building itself is not the attraction.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Redstone Park on Gongyuan Road, walking Yuebo Lake and Hongshi Valley while the light is on the red rock. From there, take bus 60 from the South Gate of Hongshi Park to Laiwu Lianhua Mountain Scenic Area and spend the rest of the morning on the mountain.
Afternoon. Return to the city and visit the Laiwu Campaign Memorial Museum on Wenyang Street, then walk or ride to the Laiwu Iron and Steel Museum of China and the Laiwu Museum of Art on Fenghuang Road, which share the same opening hours and sit near each other.
Evening. Head north to the Xueye Tourist Area for fresh fish at one of the lakeside restaurants, with a walk by the water afterwards. If you are visiting between December and early March, the Xueye Ski Resort inside Xueye Aviation Sports Park is open until 16:30, so ski before the meal rather than after.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to the Xueye Tourist Area without a car?
Take bus K204 from Laiwu Bus Terminal; the fare is ¥3. The same bus continues to Xizhanli Station for the Xueye Aviation Sports Park, which is where the ski resort and the helicopter base are.
Which sights are free?
Redstone Park, The West Sea Park, Lianhe Park, Qishan National Forest Park, the Laiwu Campaign Memorial Museum, the Laiwu Iron and Steel Museum of China and the Laiwu Museum of Art are all free. Paid sites include Fanggan Eco Tourism Area, Laiwu Lianhua Mountain Scenic Area, Huashan National Forest Park, Shandong Xiangshan International Tourist Resort and Xueye Ski Resort.
When is the ski season at Xueye Ski Resort?
From 12 December to 8 March of the following year, opening 08:30-16:30. Tickets are ¥140, and the resort is inside Xueye Aviation Sports Park.
Which museums close on Mondays?
The Laiwu Campaign Memorial Museum is closed on Mondays. Its hours are 08:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:30 from May to September, and 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 from October to April.
Work out which of these fit your season and your transport, then start planning the days around the lake and the mountains.