Liaocheng Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 聊城 (liáo chéng)
Population: 6,098,300
Area: 8,715 square kilometers (10,425 square miles)
Location: in the west of Shandong Province, east China
Administrative Division: 1 district (Dongchangfu); 6 counties (Yanggu, Shenxian, Chiping, Dong'e, Guanxian, Gaotang); 1 county-level city (Linqing)
Area Code: 0635
Zip Code: 272000
GDP (2019): CNY 225.982 billion (USD 32.756 billion)  

Liaocheng City is situated in the west of Shandong Province on the north bank of the Yellow River. It is separated from Hebei Province by the Zhangwei River to the west and from Henan Province by the Yellow River to the south. Within Shandong, it borders on Jining, Tai'an and Jinan to the southeast and Dezhou to the north.

Water is the soul of Liaocheng. It has Dongchang Lake, the largest urban lake in the north of China. In addition, there are many rivers running through Liaocheng. Dong’e Donkey-hide gelatin, a kind of medicinal material that nourishes blood and protects the fetus, is also originated from here. As for Liaocheng travel, Visitors can go to the Canal Museum to learn about the history and function of the canal.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes through the hinterland of Liaocheng. It once connected the political center in the north of China and the economic center in the southern area, bringing Liaocheng 400-year of economic and cultural prosperity. In modern times, relying on the Beijing-Kowloon Railway, Liaocheng also plays a central role in driving the economic development of the cites in western Shandong. With the construction of many high-speed rails and airport projects, Liaocheng becomes a transportation hub city.

 Canal Culture Museum: China is one of first countries to use canals having one of the greatest projects in the world, the Grand Canal. Liaocheng was influenced by the canal culture long ago. The city constructed a museum in the Dongchang Lake Scenic Area to show the historical function and culture of the Grand Canal. 

 Jingyang Hillock: It is known throughout the country as the place where Wusong, a well known character in one of the four Chinese ancient classics the Water Margin (Shuiwu Zhuan), beat the tiger to death. The hillock is also the locality of Longshan Culture Site. 

 Shanshan Guild Hall: This is a magnificent old building group on the west bank of the Grand Canal. Shanshan refers to Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The Guild Hall that was built for merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi in 1734 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) is a combination of temple and assembly hall. 

 Haiyuan Pavilion: It is one of the most famous private libraries in Chinese history, holding 220 thousand books collected by four generations of the Yang Family.

The city is very accessible being a well developed transport hub in Shandong. Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport is one hour from Liaocheng by expressway. The Port of Qingdao is four hours drive away. It is also four hours to Beijing on the Beijing-Kowloon Railway.

At the intersection of Liuyuan Bei Lu and Jianshe Xi Lu, Liaocheng Central Bus Station is the largest passenger station of the city. Bus No.1, 7, S7, 8, 9, 11, 17, 18, 19, 23, 134, 138, 329, 330 and 436 can take visitors to the station.

The city is situated in the temperate monsoon climatic zone with a distinct semi-arid continental climate. Liaocheng weather is dry and windy in spring when the temperature turns warm rapidly. Summer here is torrid and rainy. It is cool and the sky is clear in autumn after which it cools quickly. Its annual average temperature is around 13C (55.4 F). It is favorable for visiting all the year round.

 History: During the late days of Prehistoric Times, the city belonged to Yanzhou. It subsequently partly belonged to several states before the Qin (221BC-206AD) Court brought it into the territory of Dong (East) Shire. In the early years following the liberation of China, it was brought into Shandong Province when the former Pingyuan Province was dissolved.   

 Physical Features: The terrain of Liaocheng is flat, mostly being an alluvial plain formed by the Yellow River, except for some fragmentary hills along the Yellow River in Dong'e County. The city slopes roughly from southwest to the northeast.             

 Special Local Products: Chinese dates, donkey-hide glue, dough sculpture, woodcut