The ancient city of Qingzhou located in Shandong is one of the ancient nine states. It has a development history of more than 7000 years, a civilization history of more than 5000 years, and twelve years of capital glory. In order to explore the rich history and culture of this ancient city, on the occasion of the Spring Festival this year, Beijing Target Action Cultural Tourism Group organized a four-day "Spring Festival Self-Driving Shandong Tour" activity. Among them, walking into the ancient city of Qingzhou and feeling the ancient charm and customs is the first trip.

Gathering in Majuqiao Service Area (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At 9 a.m. on February 2, 2022, under the leadership of Zhao Xiangjie, the head of the Beijing Target Action Cultural Tourism, the reporter was invited to accompany Zhang Qiuyue, Bai Yuechen, Wei Xu, Zhang Huailun, Luo Xiaofang, Wei Xiaoshun, Wang Minghe and other drivers and a group of 9 people, set off from Beijing on a self-driving journey to Shandong.

Binzhou Yellow River Bridge (Photo: Luo Xiaofang)

Perhaps due to the impact of the epidemic, there are few vehicles in the Dagang Service Area from the Beijing Majuqiao Service Area on the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway to the second stop of the journey, and there is an empty scene in view. It is in sharp contrast to the bustling scenes of car people during previous festivals. The road was smooth and unobstructed. The motorcade passed the Binzhou Yellow River Bridge at 13:30 and entered the ancient city of Qingzhou in Weifang Prefecture, Shandong Province after nearly six hours 'drive at 15:00, and stayed at the Canaan Date Boutique B & B Hotel.

The Canaan appointment where he stayed (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The reporters and his party arrived at the first stop in Qingzhou and entered the hotel. They put down their bags and went to the ancient city, which is close to the Canaan appointment. Walking into the city, the bustling passers-by and the scene of red lanterns hung high immediately made people feel a strong festive atmosphere.

Walking into the ancient city of Qingzhou (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Looking at the lively and festive scene of celebrating the Spring Festival in the thousand-year-old ancient city, I also reminisce from time to time about the strategy description of the ancient city of Qingzhou I made before coming. Scenes of interactive integration of ancient times and reality enjoy the fun of roaming the ancient city while constantly changing thinking.

Haidai Metropolis Stone Arcade (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Looking back at history, Qingzhou was one of the "Jiuzhou" in Yu Gong in ancient times, generally referring to the area east of Mount Tai to the Bohai Sea. Qingzhou was the land of Dongyi in ancient times. It is said that after Dayu controlled the water, the country was divided into Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou, Jing, Henan, Hebei, Yan, Yong and Liang Jiuzhou according to the direction of mountains, rivers and rivers. Qingzhou was the head of Jiuzhou.

Overlooking the ancient city of Qingzhou (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In China's oldest geographical work, Shangshu Yugong, it is called "Haidai is Qingzhou". The sea is the Bohai Sea, and Dai is Mount Tai. According to the "Zhou Li" records,"Zhengdong is called Qingzhou", and the annotation states: "It is the soil that lives in Shaoyang, and its color is blue, so it is called Qingzhou."

Shiban Road, Qingzhou Ancient City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Qingzhou is located at a transportation hub and has a superior geographical location. "On the right are the solid mountains and rivers, and on the left are the mountains and rivers that carry the sea." It controls the peninsula in the east, controls Yimeng in the south, and looks at the Bohai Sea in the north. It has been an important military town in the past. Political officials in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the early Tang Dynasties took care of military affairs. During the Tang and Five Dynasties, Qingzhou was the headquarters of Pinglu Jiedushi.

Corner of Ancient City Commercial Street (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Song and Jin Dynasty set up a town navy here, the Northern Song Dynasty set up a pacification envoy for Jingdong East Road here, the Jin Dynasty set up a unified army envoy for the east and west roads of Shandong, the Yuan Dynasty set up a commander's office and a marshal's office, the Ming Dynasty set up a Shandong commander and a commander's office, and the Qing Dynasty set up a Shandong governor, branch patrol roads, and coastal defense roads, and built eight banners garrison cities.

The dusk of the ancient city of Qingzhou (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

From March 1948 to April 1949, the East China Bureau was stationed in Qingzhou. Due to Qingzhou's prominent status, there were many princes assigned to Qingzhou in history. In the Han Dynasty, Ou was granted the title of Marquis Guang for the fifth generation, Liu was granted the title of Marquis Guang for the third generation. In the Yuan Dynasty, Mai Nu was granted the titles of King Zhongjing and King Yi, and in the Ming Dynasty, King Qi, King Han and King Heng.

Ancient City Tourist Service Center (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

There have been six ancient cities here, including Guangxian County, Guanggu City, Nanyang City, Dongyang City, Dongguan Weizi City, and Qicheng. On November 18, 2013, Qingzhou was rated as a "National Historical and Cultural City" by the State Council. On February 25, 2017, the ancient city of Qingzhou in Weifang City was newly promoted to a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

Ancient City Wine Shop (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The reporter entered the ancient city from the stone archway in the ancient city of Haidai. In front of him was a stone road paved with bluestone leading to the gate building of Fucaimen. This Nanmen Street named the ancient city is about 200 meters long, and the end is east-west Wanshou Palace Street, and further north is Ouyuan Street. On both sides of Nanmen Street are Donghuamen South Lane, Wanshou Palace Street, Jiuqu Lane and other streets, as well as the Catholic Church, Yanzhi Well, Haidai Metropolis Square, etc.

Catholic Church (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Walking along Nanmen Street, you will see rows of small commodities, handicrafts stalls and restaurants selling various small commodities, and the business is very hot. There are countless red lanterns hanging high on both sides of the street, which is filled with the lively scene of the festival. The merchants on the street were very enthusiastic. The reporter bought a bag of local-style "sawdust sesame cakes". Unexpectedly, the young man grabbed a handful of sorghum syrup and stuffed it to me, which made the reporter feel a warm current in his heart.

Fucai Gate Tower (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

We quickly arrived at Fucai Gate along the short Nanmen Street and looked up at the tower engraved with the four characters "Guotai and Anmin". The two floors of the gate tower are inscribed on the plaques from top to bottom with the words "Yunkai Tianfu" and "Earth, Air and Sea State", very eye-catching and spectacular.

Dengcheng Horse Road (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Fucaimen, the Qingzhou Ancient City Tourist Area in Qingzhou City, is the south gate of ancient Nanyang City. The ancient city of Nanyang was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was originally a Tucheng. The Brick City was built in the third year of Hongwu. The city wall is 12 meters high, 6 meters thick, and 13 miles and 108 paces long. There are 1777 city-gate entrances. There are four gates: Haiyan, Daizong, Fucai and Zhanchen. Among them, Yamen offices, temples, churches, academies, mansions, halls, trade houses, shops, ticket numbers, and escort bureaus are among them. It is truly the "First Prefectural City in Shandong".

The reporter took a photo in the ancient city of Qingzhou (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Qingzhou is also commonly known as the "Woo Niu City" because the ancient Nanyang City looks like a lying cow. The now rebuilt Fucai Gate and Chengtai are designed and rebuilt in accordance with the historical original appearance. The city gate building is a brick-and-wood structure, with a width of five rooms and a depth of one room. The two-story double eaves and surrounding mountain style building is a brick-and-wood structure.

Corner of the ancient city house (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

There are two floors in the south gate and the city platform. In ancient times, it was used as a Tibetan soldier cave. There are three card cave doors on both sides of the bridge cave to enter the Tibetan soldier cave. You can go up to the city gate building through stairs. There are also east-west city boarding horse roads on the east and west sides of the city platform.

Colorful flags flying (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The reporter followed the gangway on the left side of the gate tower and climbed up the stairs to the tower. Looking around, there are red and black colored flags with the word "Qingzhou" written on the long city wall flying in the wind at each entrance. On both sides of the tower, there are tall statues of ancient warriors and several ancient iron cannons. Looking up at the tower with red pillars and cornices, you can see the scenery of the ancient city under the city.

Looking up at the ancient city tower (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

When you come to Qingzhou Ancient City, you must visit the "Memory Ancient City Cultural Exhibition Hall". In addition to a series of precious cultural relics showing Qingzhou's long history, there is also a "Memory Ancient City-Qingzhou Prefecture Old Photo Exhibition". Each weather-beaten ancient city is frozen, vividly telling a profound history in silent language for people.

Ancient City Culture Exhibition Hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Qingzhou City Museum is also the only county-level first-class museum in the country. It has more than 30,000 pieces of cultural relics, and more than 1,000 pieces of national precious cultural relics. Among them, it contains the palace examination scrolls of Zhao Bingzhong in the Ming Dynasty, jade jade pieces of the "Yi descendants" of the Eastern Han Dynasty, jade figures of the Warring States Period, and Buddhist statues of the Longxing Temple site. They are not only treasures of the town, but also unique in the country.

Corner in the exhibition hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The museum is divided into twelve exhibition halls, namely: Qingzhou Brief History Exhibition Hall (divided into two exhibition halls: Prehistory-1840 and 1840 - 1949), Ceramics Exhibition Hall, Longxing Temple Buddhist Statue Group Exhibition Hall, Longxing Temple Buddhist Statue Boutique Hall, Ancient Painting and Calligraphy Art Hall, Bronze Mirror Exhibition Hall, Stone Carving Sculpture Exhibition Hall, Stone Carving Stele Exhibition Hall, Jade Exhibition Hall, Bronze Statue Exhibition Hall, Revolutionary Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall and Ancient Coin Exhibition Hall. The exhibition adheres to the principles of high-quality and thematic, highlights the characteristics of Qingzhou, integrates scientific, artistic and ornamental nature, and enjoys both elegance and vulgarity.

Ninety Hot Copper Pot Shuan (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

2022.02.02 On the evening of the second day of the Lunar New Year, the viewing of the ancient city of Qingzhou was over and night was approaching. Driving from the hotel for dinner, CEO Zhao Xiangjie first took everyone for granted to a barbecue restaurant that he had tasted good taste, but after arriving, he saw it. There was a notice hanging on the door stating that it would be closed until the fifth day of the lunar new day. I had no choice but to search the Internet and finally chose a "Ninety Spicy Copper Pot Shuan" restaurant. Although it was not the charcoal fire in old Beijing, it was indeed a copper pot. It tastes good.

Walking into Qingzhou's Sleepless City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After dinner, the reporter accompanied the "Target Action Spring Festival Self-Driving Shandong" tour team to the last stop of the ancient city of Qingzhou, and drove several kilometers to the Qingzhou Sleepless City, which is truly known as the Fire Tree and Silver Flowers Never Sleepless Sky. After about 20 minutes 'drive here, I saw a colorful and colorful scene coming into people's eyes, which made the reporters and his party unable to help but marvel.

Corner of the City that Never Sleeps (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Before coming, I heard from a friend here from CEO Zhao Xiangjie that Qingzhou Sleepless City takes exquisite national trend culture as its core theme, bringing together elements such as ancient customs, Qilu folk customs, and modern culture, and uses artistic lighting, creative interpretations, intangible cultural heritage performances, interactive entertainment, etc. Ways to show the charm of Qingzhou and the diversity of Shandong culture.

Photo taken in the city that never sleeps (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Walking into the City that Never Sleeps, you will find the colorful landscape reflected by the lights, which is dizzying. Various amusement facilities also attract countless tourists to enjoy the fun here. On a dry boat with dozens of people standing, people swayed back and forth in joy, and happy smiling faces echoed over the city for a long time along with Shu Lang's laughter.

Sleepless City Commercial Street (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Here, national style performance art, dream situation interpretation, technology shouts, giant transformers, Internet celebrity swing bridges, national trend parade floats, intangible cultural heritage cultural workshops, dozens of Internet celebrity entertainments, and more than 100 kinds of food experiences gather together., showing the experience of rich business formats and innovative culture. I heard that it achieved a blockbuster when it opened at the time, triggering the night travel economy of Qingzhou and Weifang. The reporter came here during the Spring Festival, the city that never sleeps in Qingzhou. Every night, the light and shadow are gorgeous, the people are surging, and the people are like running cars and dragons.

Scenery of the city that never sleeps (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

It is said that Qingzhou Sleepless City is based on Xi'an's Tang Dynasty Sleepless City. The overall food is still mainly based on food. With high-density interpretation output, coupled with cool lighting settings, etc., the overall feeling of prosperity is both ancient and new.

Beautiful night view (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The entire area of the city that never sleeps is not particularly large. Under the reflection of red lanterns on the streets, the streets and alleys are filled with the lively hustle and bustle of the market. The entire ancient city is saturated with a grand and festive atmosphere, giving people a way to pursue the legacy of the ancient customs of the Tang and Song Dynasties and show the ancient capital of Haidai. The beautiful scenery and its pleasing feeling are unforgettable. After ending the sightseeing of Qingzhou's Sleepless City, the reporters and his party had a lingering aftertaste. The first day of the Beijing Target Action Self-Driving Shandong Tour also came to a successful conclusion. (Photo and text: Feng Ganyong)