Zibo
Zibo (淄博 Zībó) is a city of 4.5 million people (2010) in Shandong. It is a manufacturing center, particularly of ceramics.
Get in
By plane
Zibo is a 90-minute drive from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. The airport bus is available in front of the Zibo Rose Hotel near the railway station. There are eight buses daily, which make airport runs between 05:20 to 17:00. Jinan Yaoqiang Airport has also begun construction of the Luzhong Passenger Terminal in Zibo City which is located on the first floor of the Guomao Mansion in northern Liuquan Lu (Zhangdian District).
By bus
Zibo's long-distance bus station is at 22 Xingyuan Xi Lu, Zhangdian District. Buses to Tai'an, (where Mt. Tai is located) depart every 30 minutes.
By train
Trains provide the most convenient and inexpensive mode of transportation to Mt. Tai. About 15 trains run to and from the mountain, making stops in Zibo. The journey to Mt. Tai from Zibo takes about two hours, with tickets at ¥14-87.
- 1 Zibo Train Station (淄博火车站).
Get around
See
- 1 Zibo Ceramics Museum (淄博市陶瓷博物馆), 153号 Shangchang W St, Zhangdian Qu, ☏ +86 533 218 3902. A large ceramics museum in central Zibo containing a number of galleries with many interesting examples of Chinese ceramics, both ancient and modern. The central hall has some particularly interesting ceramic figures of Chinese heroes, real and fictional.
- 2 Pusong Ling Ancient Home (蒲松龄故居), Liaozhai Rd, Zichuan Qu. Home of ancient author of famous horror stories.
- 3 Yuanshan National Forest Park (southwest of the Boshan District). This is the only national forest in Zibo. The park consists of five scenic zones: the great wall of the Qi Kingdom, the grass skiing field, the Dinosaur Valley, and the folk custom garden.
- 4 [dead link] Zibo Art Museum (淄博艺术博物馆), 23 Yinzishi Street, Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City, Zhoucun District (周村区周村古商城银子市街23号) (near the south gate of Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City), ☏ +86 533 666666, +86 533 6401968, bwg@mail.zbysbwg.com. Free.
Linzi District
Linzi is a district of Zibo far to the east of the city centre; it is located where the ancient state of Qi once had their capital city.
- 5 [dead link] Qi Heritage Museum (齐文化博物馆), 308 Linzi Avenue, Linzi District (临淄区临淄大道308) (Bus routes 84, 200, 237, and k237), ☏ +86 533 7175778 (enquiries), +86 533 6074566 (group bookings), lzqwhbwy@163.com. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. This museum contains galleries about the ancient Qi State that once controlled half of modern Shandong Province. A second paid-for gallery contains relics from an ancient royal tomb; very much like the Terracotta Warriors in miniature. There is also some information about China's ancient football-like sport 'cuju' and a confirmation from FIFA that Zibo was the origin of professional soccer (really!). ¥30.
- 6 Linzi Ancient Chinese Vehicle Museum (中国古车博物馆), Qiling Town, Linzi District. This museum, which is constructed on both sides and underneath of a motorway, has galleries containing information about and full-scale replicas of chariots from various periods in Chinese history. The chariots are impressive. An archeological site displaying slain horses from an ancient Qi State royal tomb sits directly under the motorway and is the reason for the rather isolated location of this interesting museum.
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
48 Bar (四十八号酒巴) This bar is on LiuQuan Lu (六泉路) next to Brazilian Barbeque (巴西烤肉) . And is where Zibo's expats as well as locals head on Friday or Saturday Evenings to kick back. The beers are relatively cheap for a foreigner bar $10 yuan Qingdao big bottles. Liquor is a little more expensive at about $30 to $50 yuan for a single shot of your favourite Vodka, Tequila or Jack Daniel's. Zibo's small expat population make most patrons usually very friendly and if you bring your iPod or MP3 you can jam out to some of your favourite songs. There is also table football and draughts for those who love bar games.
齐王府-QiWangFu Night Club is a popular nightclub. Taxi drivers are all familiar so getting there should not be a problem. Entrance is usually free for ladies and ¥10-20 for men. Referred to as 'bouncy club' by foreigners in this city. It can be lots of fun if you like dancing. Bigger dance floor than the average Chinese nightclub lots of Chinese techno and drinks aren't too cheap but locals usually head there after they have already done most of their drinking. There are usually games or competitions in between the dancing hosted by the local emcees.