Went to Qingdao train station early in the morning and got on the 7.50am T162 train to Jinan (55 Yuan~USD$8, 4.5 hours). There are also express trains with the letter D taking just 2 hours but it’s more expensive. China has an impressive railway system and is getting better. Just a summary, train without letters are usually slower, then faster with K (kuai),T (TeKuai),D(Dongche, with speed of above 200km/h),C(only took it once with a speed of 300km/h), G(GaoTie with speed above 300km/h).

Qingdao train station

Got to Jinan Train station around 12.30pm

Jinan is the capital for Shandong province and has a population of around 6 millions. During the Warring States Period (475 B.C – 221 B.C.), the area of Jinan was split between two states, the state of Lu in the west and the state of Qi in the east. Even today, Shandong still has a nickname of Lu.

Lunch, tofu with rice (8 Yuan~USD$1.2).

This is my second time in Jinan and I visited the city 6 years ago. Walked BaYi bridge,

JingShiYi road, the place where I stayed 6 years ago.

Outdoor pingpong

Took bus 2 to Shandong provincial museum.

Jinan is the capital of Shandong province. I noticed that the provincial museum of a city is sort of a good representative of its development. As the local government has more fund, they always try to develop a brand new museum along with other infrastructure projects. The city is constructing a new museum at the east side but the museum is still housed in an old building. Compared to other cities with brand new museums, the level of development of Jinan is just so so.

Took bus 139 to the east part of the city.

The brand new museum which will open later this year.

Park

A street with many Hui Chinese selling bbq meat

Swimming in the cold river

Jinan is famous for its spring. The city has 72 spring and is also called City of Spring, QuanCheng.

Jinan Incident, happened on 1928 May 3rd where clashes between kuomintang soldieres and Japanese troops caused the Japanese to occupy the city for 6 months.

One of Jinan’s famous tourist attraction is BaoTu spring. I went there few years back so I didn’t go in to the spring this time.

QuanCheng square.

Shandong produced a few famous strategists and thinkers such as ZhuGeLian, Confucius and Mencius.

Confucius, not sure if this is what he really looks like

The weather in Jinan wasn’t that cold. Bought some fried stuffs from the supermarket and ate it at the square.

DaMing lake

Took bus 11 and took the 9.51pm 1565 overnight train to Kaifeng (154 Yuan~USD$23, middle hard sleeping berth, 8.5 hours ride).