Wudi County

Wudi County is located in the northernmost part of Shandong Province, on the southwest coast of Bohai Bay, under the jurisdiction of Binzhou City, serving as the northern gateway of Shandong. The county covers an area of approximately 1,990 square kilometers, with a permanent population of about 440,000 (2023). Wudi has a long history; it was established as Yanchi County in the Qin Dynasty and renamed Wudi in the Sui Dynasty, named after the Wudi Ditch within its territory. It is an important node of the Yellow River Delta High-Efficiency Ecological Economic Zone and the Bohai Rim Economic Circle, featuring a unique land-sea interface. Wudi is famous for its thousand-year-old mulberry garden, shell ridge islands, and wetland system, and is known as the hometown of Chinese dates and a high-quality production base of golden-thread dates. Jieshi Mountain within the county is the Jieshi recorded in the Tribute of Yu, with profound cultural heritage blending marine and farming civilizations, making it an important destination for exploring the ecology and culture of northern Qilu.

I. Core Attractions

1. Jieshi Mountain Scenic Area Located 30 km north of the county seat, with an altitude of 63.4 meters, it is one of the Jieshi mountains recorded in the Tribute of Yu. Cao Cao's poem "The Eastern Jieshi" refers to this mountain. The mountain features volcanic rock landforms, with attractions such as Guanhai Pavilion and Yuwang Temple. Ticket: 30 yuan, opening hours: 8:00-17:00. Take the bus from Wudi to Jieshishan Town.

2. Wudi Ancient City (Haifeng Ancient City) Located in the county center, built in the Ming Hongwu period, it preserves the Ming and Qing cross-street, Wu Shifen's Former Residence (Qing Dynasty epigrapher), and Confucian Temple. Wu Shifen's Former Residence has an epigraphy exhibition. Ticket: 20 yuan. Walkable.

3. Yellow River Island National Wetland Park Located in the northeast of the county, 40 km from the county seat, part of the Yellow River Delta wetland. Total area about 1,000 hectares, with reed marshes, wild bird observation areas, and wetland boardwalks. Free admission. Self-driving recommended; parking available.

4. Thousand-Year-Old Mulberry Garden Located in Chewang Town, 25 km from the county seat, it has ancient mulberry trees over a thousand years old, a rare mulberry ecological garden in North China. Mulberry picking available (May-June). Ticket: 15 yuan. Take the bus from Wudi to Chewang Town.

5. Shell Ridge Island and Wetland Nature Reserve Located along the coast in Chengkou Town, 50 km from the county seat, it is a national nature reserve. The shell ridge stretches 30 km long, 100-500 meters wide, formed by shell accumulation, rare in the world. Birdwatching, sea views, science education. Free admission. Self-driving or chartered car recommended.

II. Specialties and Shopping

1. Wudi Golden-Thread Dates: Dense flesh, high sugar content. Available at local specialty shops; recommended: Xinyulou Department Store. 2. Bohai Blue Crab: Plump in autumn; available at Chengkou Town seafood market for on-site cooking. 3. Guozi Pancake: Traditional Wudi snack, flour skin wrapped with fillings and pan-fried; common at night markets. 4. Winter Jujube: From nearby Zhanhua, available in autumn.

III. Transportation Guide

1. External Transportation: - High-speed rail: To Binzhou Station (about 50 km), then transfer to Binzhou-Wudi intercity bus (every 30 minutes, 1-hour ride). - Self-driving: From Jinan, take G18 Rongwu Expressway to Wudi exit, about 2.5 hours. - Air: Dongying Shengli Airport (about 90 km) or Jinan Yaoqiang Airport (about 150 km).

2. County Transportation: - Bus: County buses 1-6 cover main streets; fare 1 yuan. - Taxi: Starting fare 6 yuan; within county generally 10-15 yuan. - Chartered car: To Jieshi Mountain, Shell Ridge, etc., one-way about 100-150 yuan.

IV. Accommodation Recommendations Recommended to stay in the county center (around Haifeng Road), with chain hotels like GreenTree Inn, Thank Inn, priced 150-300 yuan. Also, farm stays in Jieshishan Town, priced 80-120 yuan.