Weifang

About Weifang

Every April the sky over Weifang fills with dragons, centipedes and swallows made of silk and bamboo. This city in central Shandong has made kites its signature, hosting an international kite festival and a museum devoted to the craft, and its kite makers keep alive a tradition that goes back many centuries.

Weifang's older story shows in quieter places. The Shihu Garden in the old centre is a jewel of late Qing garden design, while the village of Yangjiabu still prints colourful New Year pictures from carved wooden blocks. In Fangzi District, buildings from the German railway era recall the early twentieth century, when foreign powers competed for influence in Shandong.

The modern city is spacious and green, with landscaped parks along the Bailang River that come alive in the evening. Local food is hearty: look for chaotianguo, a communal pot of pork broth eaten with thin pancakes, a Weifang breakfast tradition. High-speed trains link the city with Qingdao and Jinan, making it an easy stop on a Shandong journey.