Dongying 3-Day Itinerary Guide, Yellow River Estuary, Catch a Primitive and Vast Autumn

In late autumn, I made my way to Dongying, Shandong, and for the first time entered the estuary of the Yellow River that stretches for thousands of miles, eager to witness the confluence of river and sea, the spectacle of 'distinct yellow and blue'. The Yellow Dragon entering the sea, where river meets ocean, is nature's most beautiful fusion. The new wetland at the junction of sea and land, following the surging Yellow River, brings the vastness and majesty of the Northwest, and is the most beautiful existence of the Yellow River Delta. Autumn is the most beautiful season here. The autumn at the Yellow River mouth is vast. This place is not a frontier, without deserts and solitary smoke, yet it feels like the end of the sky, the edge of the earth, open and vast, primitive and wild. 🚙 Traveling in Dongying Dongying is conveniently accessible by water, land, and air, with direct flights from cities like Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Nearby cities can be reached by bus or train. However, the attractions in Dongying are far apart, so it is recommended to drive from nearby cities. For visitors from farther places, it is suggested to rent a car after arrival. 📜 Itinerary Details D1⃣️ Yellow River Culture Museum ➡️ Kenli Rice Field Art ➡️ Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area (River-Sea Confluence—Bird Island) ✅ Yellow River Culture Museum (2h) This is the first venue we entered, and if I had to choose one museum in Dongying to slowly explore, I would not hesitate to pick it. Here, you can understand Dongying and comprehend the Yellow River. ✅ Kenli Rice Field Art (1h) On the way to the Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area, passing through Yong'an Town in Kenli, the journey is filled with golden rice fields, coloring the entire autumn yellow. ✅ Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area (5h) Take a boat out to sea to see the Yellow River flowing into the sea, where river and sea meet. In Bird Island, get up close with the red-crowned cranes and listen to the stories of Xiao Xue the crane and Old Li. D2⃣️ Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area (Bird Museum—Release Area—Mudflat Crab Catching—Red Carpet-like Grass—Reed Catkins Flying) ✅ Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area (8h) Learn about bird species systematically in the largest bird-themed museum in the country, the Yellow River Delta Bird Museum. At the Red Carpet-like Grass and Reed Catkins Flying, witness the colorful autumn of the Yellow River Estuary wetland, where reeds and saltwort compose white poetic verses and red romance. Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area Address: Dawenliu Management Station, Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve, Kenli District, Dongying City Ticket Price: Peak Season (April-November) 90 RMB/person; Off-Season (December-March) 70 RMB/person; Yellow River Cruise: 100 RMB/person Opening Hours: 8:00—17:00 Recommended Visiting Time: 2 days Other: Private cars are not allowed inside the scenic area, but visitors can take a free bus tour. 【Bus Route】 Visitor Center - Bird Island West - Bird Island East - Natural Willow Forest West - Natural Willow Forest East - Bird Science Park - Mudflat Crab Catching - Distant View Tower D3⃣️ Sun Tzu Culture Park ➡️ Old Site of the Communist Party Liuji Branch ➡️ Dongying Electric Culture Experience Hall ➡️ Dongying Salt Culture Museum ✅ Sun Tzu Culture Park (4h) Dongying is the hometown of Sun Wu, the great ancient Chinese military strategist, where the martial spirit still lingers. It is the most direct place to understand the sage of war, Sun Tzu, and to delve into the ancient culture of military science. The Sun Tzu Culture Park by the lake of Sun Wu is the first and largest military culture park in China. Every brick, tree, garden, forest, and building here subtly displays the meticulousness, breadth, and depth of Sun Tzu's culture. By entering the park and interacting with the exhibits, one can glimpse the mysteries and wonders of the 2500-year-old military classic. ✅ Old Site of the Communist Party Liuji Branch (1h) Liuji is located in the southeastern part of Dawang Town, Guangrao County, Dongying City, a sacred place of revolution. It was one of the earliest rural party branches in the country, the Liuji Branch, which spread, used, and preserved the first full Chinese translation of the 'Communist Manifesto'. The preserved red relics still bear vivid memories. ✅ Dongying Electric Culture Experience Hall (1h) Dongying Electric Culture Experience Hall is one of the important industrial tourism attractions in Dongying. Here, one can personally feel how 'electricity has changed the world'. The entire hall uses dozens of multimedia interactive technology exhibits, each interactive experience not only attracts the attention of young people but also has the same appeal to us 'big kids'. ✅ Dongying Salt Culture Museum (1h) The Dongying Salt Culture Museum is the first salt culture-themed museum in Dongying. Here, one can not only learn about the profound knowledge of salt culture but also watch ancient 'brine refining and salt frying', 'salt drying' and other sea salt production and salt workers' life through wax figures and sculptures. Moreover, one can enter the salt fields and experience the labor of the salt fields.