Lijin County, Dongying, Shandong — a "millennium-old county" on the Yellow River Delta, historically known as "Phoenix City." It integrates Yellow River ferry culture, ancient pass ruins, and folk customs, combining the grandeur of the great river with local vibrancy. A 3-day in-depth tour unlocks the historical code of the Yellow River ancient ferry, experiencing the unique charm of "Northern Water City · Ecological Lijin."
Watch the Yellow River rush, explore ancient pass ruins, taste intangible heritage food, visit ecological parks, and unlock the millennium cultural heritage and Yellow River charm of Lijin County
Morning: Climb Lijin Yellow River Bridge to watch the mighty river, stroll along the Yellow River Beach Park to get close to the river. Afternoon: Visit the Yellow River Ancient Ferry Memorial Hall to learn about ferry history. Evening: Watch the sunset glow on the Yellow River bank.
Morning: Visit Tiemenguan Ruins to trace Ming-Qing prosperity, tour Lijin Museum to systematically understand local history. Afternoon: Stroll through Phoenix Square to feel urban vitality, browse Old Street Folk Lane to experience traditional handicrafts. Evening: Enjoy the county night view.
Morning: Tour Dongjin Ecological Park to enjoy pastoral scenery, visit Linhemi Ecological Park for fruit picking. Afternoon: Explore Water-Fried Bun Culture Street to learn about intangible heritage food preparation. Evening: Shop for specialties before departure, ending the trip.
National intangible cultural heritage of Lijin County, originating in the Qing Dynasty. Classic filling is pork and chives. The dough undergoes three processes: fry-steam-fry. The bottom is golden and crispy, the top white and fluffy, and the filling juicy and tender, known as "the number one bun in Qilu."
A seasonal aquatic specialty of the Lijin section of the Yellow River. Named for its slender knife-like shape, it migrates from the sea into the river to spawn each spring. The meat is tender and delicious, suitable for steaming or pan-frying — a rare spring delicacy of the Yellow River Estuary, known as "ginseng in water."
A specialty of Beiling Township, Lijin. Made from fresh pork, hand-chopped, seasoned, and boiled. The texture is chewy and firm. Can be made into soup, braised, or served cold. A must-have dish at local banquets with a history of over a hundred years.
A traditional breakfast companion in Lijin. Slowly cooked millet or rice into a thick porridge, adding peanuts, soybeans, shredded seaweed, etc. The texture is smooth, the flavor savory. Eaten with water-fried buns, it relieves greasiness and warms the stomach — a representative taste of local life.