March Road Trip from Jinan: Explore the Southern Mountains

March breezes are like gentle poetry. In this beautiful season, pack your bags and drive to the southern mountains of Jinan for a romantic encounter with spring. Let your heart find a place to rest in the embrace of the mountains. First stop: Jiuru Mountain Waterfalls 🌊 Entering Jiuru Mountain Waterfalls is like stepping into a fairyland filled with greenery and the sound of water. The peaks are stacked, the valleys are crisscrossed, and the forest coverage rate is as high as 97%. It is a green kingdom carefully carved by nature. Walking along the mountain path, the sound of gurgling water is like a lively movement played by nature. Waterfalls of various shapes pour down from the mountains. Some are majestic, like the Milky Way falling from the sky, while others are graceful and beautiful, like silver threads. Standing under the waterfall, you can feel the refreshing and cool water vapor rushing towards you, as if all your troubles have been washed away by the waterfall. Looking up, the surrounding mountains are covered with new green, and wildflowers bloom, forming a beautiful spring picture with the blue sky and white clouds. Explore: Jiuchong Mountain Sixteen Turns 🚗 After leaving Jiuru Mountain Waterfalls, head deeper into the southern mountains to the mysterious and challenging Jiuchong Mountain Sixteen Turns. The mountain road here is winding and twisting, as if it were a curve casually drawn by nature. Every turn is an encounter with the unknown. Driving through it is like having an intimate conversation with the mountains and forests. Every inch of the scenery tells the story of time. Climb to the main peak of Jiuchong Mountain and stand at an altitude of 1,000 meters. Overlook the winding mountain road, which looks like a ribbon wrapped around the mountains. The continuous mountains are covered with lush vegetation, and wildflowers bloom, as if nature has overturned the palette. Such a stunning view will make you stop and capture the moment with your camera. Rest: Liubu National Forest Park 🏕️ Leave Jiuchong Mountain and head to Liubu National Forest Park. This green world hidden in the mountains is like a pearl lost in the world, quiet and beautiful. The park is densely forested, with green trees and the fragrance of trees in the air. Find a soft grassland, lay down a picnic mat, and sit down. The rustling of the wind blowing through the leaves and the occasional crisp bird song play a natural movement. At this moment, enjoy the food, relax your mind, and enjoy this rare quiet time. Seek Zen: Yijing Temple 🕍 In the afternoon, visit Yijing Temple. This ancient temple, located on Tongming Mountain in Zhangxia Street, Changqing District, was originally named Shuangquan Temple. It was named in memory of Master Yijing, one of the four great translators of Buddhist scriptures in the Tang Dynasty. The temple is built on the mountain, with layers of buildings. The Daxiong Hall, Dizang Hall, and other halls are solemn and majestic, exuding the atmosphere of time. Entering the temple, the smoke of incense lingers, and the sound of Buddhist music surrounds you, instantly dispelling the noise in your heart. If you happen to visit on a weekend, you can listen to the master’s lectures and feel the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism. From 11 am to 2 pm, you can taste a bowl of light vegetarian noodles and experience the Zen life in a bowl of porridge and rice. Explore History: Wangjiaquan Cliff Inscriptions 📜 The last stop is Wangjiaquan Cliff Inscriptions. This ancient site hidden in the mountains and forests carries thousands of years of history and the wisdom of the ancients. The wind and frost of time have not erased its brilliance. The words and patterns on the stone carvings are still clear and legible, as if silently telling the stories of the past. Standing in front of the stone carvings, time seems to stand still, and your thoughts travel through time and space, having a silent conversation with the ancients and feeling the vicissitudes of history. The lush mountains and forests around add vitality to this ancient simplicity. Notes ⚠️ The road to Jiuchong Mountain Sixteen Turns is rugged. Be sure to carefully check the brakes, steering, and other key components of your vehicle before departure to ensure driving safety and make this journey safe and comfortable. Remember to take away your trash when picnicking in Liubu National Forest Park and protect this beautiful natural environment. Yijing Temple is a pure land of Buddhism. Be sure to follow the temple rules, keep quiet, be respectful, and respect religious beliefs and customs when visiting. Let your heart be truly purified in this pure land. Come and leave a beautiful memory of your own this spring.