General Introduction

Shandong (East of the Mountains) takes its name from the fact that it lies to the east of the Taihang range. It is situated on the eastern coast of China, in the lower Huanghe River valley. The Shahdong Peninsula in the east protrudes between the Bohai and Huanghai seas from the land mass and faces the Liaodong Peninsula in the north across the Bohai Straits, forming the maritime outpost of the nation's capital, Beijing. The province has an area of more than 150,000 square kilometers and a population of 72.96 million, of which 86 per cent live in the rural areas and 14 per cent in the cities. Shandong's mainland coastline totals 3,000 kilometers.

Scenic Spots

Taishan -- First of the Five Sacred Mountains
Jinan -- City of Springs
Mt. Laoshan
Qingdao -- Coastal Resort
Qufu -- Hometown of Confucius
Yantai -- Fishing Port


Topography

Shandong with its peninsula and main- land parts may be divided into four topographical zones: 1) The Northwestern Shandong Plain, formed mainly of the deposits of the Huanghe River, is part of the North China Plain. Crisscrossed by the Huanghe River' and the Grand Canal, it is an important farming area. 2) The Jiaolai Plain between the central-south Shandong and the Jiaodong hilly regions is hounded by sea bays on its northern and southern tips and is traversed by the Jiaolai, Weihe and Dagu rivers. 3) The Central-South Shandong Hilly Area is elevated in the middle and slopes gently in four directions. Over 1,000 metres above sea level, it is composed of the Taishan, Lushan, Yishan and Mengshan mountains. Taishan Mountain, whose main peak is 1,545 meters in elevation, is one of the five sacred mountains in China. 4) The Jiaodong Hilly Area is the main part of the Shandong Peninsula.

The Huanghe River and the Grand Canal are the major waterways. The section of the Huanghe River in Shandong runs more than 600 kilometers long, flowing northeast until it empties into the Bohai Sea east of Lijin. The section of the Grand Canal in this province totals about 500 kilometers in length. It flows from north to south across the plain in the west where it meets the Huanghe River.

Climate

Shandong has a warm-temperate monsoonal climate, with hot, rainy summers and dry, sunny winters. In winter, it is more humid and warm in Shandong than in north China. Its coastal and inland regions experience a sharp difference in climate. Shandong has a mean annual temperature of 12ºC-14ºC, increasing from the northeastern seaboard to the west and the south, and a mean annual precipitation of 500-900 mm. or more, increasing from northwest to southeast.





Communications

The Beijing-Shanghai Railway, which crosses the west from north to south, and the Qingdao--Jinan Railway, which runs through the central part from west to east -- both with Jinan as the junction -- are Shandong's transportation arteries. The Lancun-Yantai Railway links the two main ports, Qingdao and Yantai, with the remote areas of Shandong. Shandong is also served by the Shijiazhuang-Dezhou Railway and a few branch rail lines. With a highway mileage of 35,139 kilometers, it is one of the provinces with the most highways. Qingdao and Yantai are domestic and foreign trade ports. The Xiaoqing River is the major inland shipping route. The section of the Huanghe River downstream from Luokou is navigable.