12 Hours in Weifang: A Comprehensive Guide to the Kite Capital

🚗 I never thought I'd have any connection to Weifang, but I happened to be traveling from Jinan to Yantai and stopped for a day to rest. 🚗 Weifang is the "World Capital of Kites," both in China and the world. The city is small, so a day trip is just right. —————— City: Weifang, Shandong Duration: One day in the city Mode of transport: Cycling, walking Attractions: Kite Museum, Kuiwen Pavilion, Shiwu Garden Food: Red House Chaotianguo —————— 🗺️ Itinerary: 👉 Arrive in Weifang the night before and stay near People's Park or Weifang Bus Station. 👉 Morning: Hotel breakfast - Kite Museum (P2) - World Kite Capital Memorial Square (P) - Kuiwen Pavilion (P) 👉 Noon: Have lunch in the business district near Kuiwen Pavilion or at Red House Chaotianguo. 👉 Afternoon: Shiwu Garden Cultural Street - Wenchang Pavilion - Palm Leaf Sutra Museum - Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall - Shiwu Garden Museum 👉 Evening: We went straight to Penglai, Yantai in the evening. Penglai is a food desert, so we recommend dining in Weifang before leaving. —————— ❤️ Travel tips: 1️⃣ The Kite Museum is closed on Mondays. You can make a "free" reservation on-site. Allow at least 1 hour for your visit. The museum showcases the history of kites and various groundbreaking inventions. Kites were the first step in humanity's exploration of the universe. 2️⃣ Kuiwen Gate and Kuixing Tower are "free" to visit. These Ming Dynasty buildings are among many "Kuixing Towers." Beyond Kuiwen Gate is a commercial district with many snacks. If you like shopping, you can dine here. 3️⃣❗️ There are many Chaotianguo restaurants. It's not hot pot, but "pancakes with vegetables." Chaotianguo refers to the cooking pot, which is open to the sky without a lid. Some say the name was given by Zheng Banqiao, who advocated moving cooking from outdoors to indoors, leading to today's elegance. 4️⃣ Shiwu Garden Cultural Street: Free to visit. It may take 2-3 hours to explore. The Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall is worth a visit and is free to enter. 5️⃣ Palm Leaf Sutra Museum: Located next to the Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall, it's relatively niche, but the collection is surprisingly impressive. If you like sutras, it's worth a visit. 6️⃣ Shiwu Garden Museum (CNY 20): A filming location for Gao Laozhuang in Journey to the West. You can still see many traces of it today. We recommend following the route provided by the scenic area, as the internal route is complex and easy to get lost.