Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)
One valley has four seasons, and each season brings a different sky. In spring, flowers bloom among the trees and orioles flit about in flocks. In summer, mountain breezes bring refreshing coolness,…
Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley), Jinan
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥80; ¥100 (October–November)
- Opening hours
- 7：30—17：00
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Getting there
- Take the dedicated tourist bus to Hongye Valley from the terminus of bus route 88 at the Shandong Sports Center
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1331. Open in Google Maps
About Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)
One valley has four seasons, and each season brings a different sky. In spring, flowers bloom among the trees and orioles flit about in flocks. In summer, mountain breezes bring refreshing coolness, making it a rare retreat from the heat. In autumn, the mountains turn red as far as the eye can see, a magnificent sight. In winter, snow blankets the peaks and the trees glisten like jade and flowers of ice. It is an excellent year-round holiday destination.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley) cost?
Admission to Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley) is ¥80; ¥100 (October–November), as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)?
Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley) is open 7：30—17：00.
How do I get to Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)?
Take the dedicated tourist bus to Hongye Valley from the terminus of bus route 88 at the Shandong Sports Center
How long should I spend at Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)?
Plan on 1 day for Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley).
Where is Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley)?
Hongye Valley (Red Leaf Valley) is in Jinan, Shandong Province, in the East China of China.
More places in Jinan
Thousand Buddha Mountain
The famous Buddhist mountain, Thousand Buddha Mountain, lies on the south side of Jingshi 11th Road. Historical records show that during the Sui dynasty, Buddhism flourished in Shandong, and devout believers carved numerous stone Buddhas into the mountainside, giving rise to the name Thousand Buddha Temple. The Buddhist sculptures are concentrated on the Thousand Buddha Cliff behind Xingguo Temple and are well worth seeing. Major sights include Guanyin Garden, Xingguo Temple, Wanfo Cave, Longquan Cave, Jile Cave, the Dongtian Fudi Stone Archway and Duihua Pavilion. On the east side of Thousand Buddha Mountain, at the foot of the main peak of Fohui Mountain, a niche holds a carved Buddha head that stands 7 metres tall and over 4 metres wide. Commonly known as the “Great Buddha Head,” it is very rare.
Thousand Buddha Mountain ¥30; Guanyin Garden ¥5; Wanfo Cave ¥15; Xingguo Temple ¥5 · 2–3 hours
Jiuru Mountain Waterfalls
The Jiuru Mountain Waterfall Cluster lies on the northern foot of Mount Tai, with its main attractions being the Eight Pools, Nine Waterfalls, Twenty-Four Springs and Thirty-Six Peaks. Visitors come to Jiuru chiefly for the waterfall cluster: cascades and deep pools, with clouds and mist rising in glorious layers that together create a dazzling natural landscape. The scenic area also contains remains of the Qi Great Wall and stone-slab ancient paths once traveled by people of the Ming and Qing dynasties, where you can feel the vicissitudes of nature and history alike.
Admission ¥89; lifetime pass ¥198; sightseeing shuttle one-way ¥20, round trip ¥40; Free; Free · 4–6 hours; 1–2 hours
Wulongtan Park
Bordered by Baotu Spring to the south and Daming Lake to the north, Wulongtan has numerous famous springs around its pool, forming the Wulongtan spring cluster. The park is named after its main feature, Wulongtan (Five Dragons Pool). Legend says the pool was once the residence of Qin Qiong, a hero of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and that it later sank after heavy rain to become the Wulongtan of today.
Free · 1–2 hours
Baotu Spring
Baotu Spring Park is located in Lixia District, Jinan, and is a natural landscape park centred on springs. Within it is Baotu Spring, known as the “First Spring under Heaven.” Its most remarkable sight is that the water divides into three streams that gush day and night, rising several feet at high water. The south gate of Baotu Spring Park is especially worth seeing: it is magnificently decorated, and the horizontal plaque above the gate carries the characters “Baotu Spring” in gold on a blue background, written by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty. It is hailed as the “First Gate” of Chinese gardens.
¥40; night square for tea-tasting by the spring ¥20 · 2–3 hours
Daming Lake
“Lotus flowers on four sides, willows on three, mountain views across the city and half the city a lake.” Daming Lake has been covered with lotus since ancient times, and willows sway along its banks. The new Daming Lake scenic area adds eight new highlights: Seven Bridges Breeze and Moon, Autumn Willows in Mist, Mingchang Morning Bell, Bamboo Harbour Breeze, Jiaxuan Lingering Melody, Chaoran Distant Journey, Zeng Embankment Water Ripples, and Birdsong in Green Shade. Residents can admire this “lake within the city” from Daming Lake Road, and visitors can take a boat to see the lake's scenery in full.
Free entry; Chaoran Tower ¥40; sightseeing bus ¥10 per person; boat ride ¥10 per person · 4–5 hours
Lingyan Temple
Ranked first among the Four Great Buddhist Temples of China, Lingyan Temple has long been described as 'the most secluded spot on the back of Mount Tai; no tour of Mount Tai is complete without Lingyan.' Highlights within the temple include the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas, the Pizhi Pagoda and the Pagoda Forest.
¥40 · 2–3 hours