Weifang

Weifang (潍坊; Wéifāng) is a city in Shandong Province. Modern and new but still retaining its old-school charm, Weifang is a unique place to witness the "real China" (or the new China) where the past meets the future in an endless array of complete contradiction and awe-inspiring moments that truly is the essence of the People's Republic of China. Weifang is known as "Kite Capital of the World". Weifang and its fresh winds are well known throughout the province.

Understand
Weifang is in the center of Shandong province in between Jinan to the west and Qingdao to the east.

Weifang is located in the western part of Shandong Peninsula, connected with Qingdao and Yantai in the east, Zibo and Dongying in the west, Linyi and Rizhao in the south, and bordering on Bohai Sea's Laizhou Bay in the north, which has a warm-temperate monsoon type semi-humid continental climate.

Besides kites, Weifang, like many other Chinese cities, is forever under the constructor's crane with new buildings popping up seemingly overnight.

Weifang has a certain characteristic in its exceptionally wide and straight boulevards that make out a chess pattern for many kilometers, resembling some American cities and perhaps also Beijing. However, the boulevards are much too wide for its number of vehicles so they very rarely get too crowded. Traffic jams are most uncommon and, due to the city's flatness, one can sometimes look down a 10-lane boulevard stretching to the horizon without a single car on it.

Foreigners are a rare sight. If you are European-looking prepare to be stared at and given a lot of (friendly) attention.

History
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Communist Party of China established an anti-Japanese base in Shandong.

In 1948, Weixian County was liberated on 27 April, and Weifang Special City was set up on 29 April.

Demographics and geography
As of the end of 2022, Weifang had a resident population of 9.4 million.

Climate
Weifang's climate belongs to the temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons, with warm and humid summers and cold and dry winters.

By train
There are 2 train stations in Weifang. Weifang (main) and Weifang North.

Weifang North train station is newer (completed on 2018) and comfortable when compared to other cities in the province.

Weifang is on the main line from Beijing to Qingdao and by CRH, China Rail Highspeed (Bullet). It is about 4 hr 10 min to Beijing, 1 hr 50 min to Jinan and 1 hr 5 min to get to Qingdao

There's plenty of transport outside the station, however the immediate surrounding area is undergoing heavy construction (welcome to Weifang). From the station take bus 56 to get to the downtown spots.

All green and gold taxis are Beijing Hyundai Elantras. They are all correctly metered. The blue taxis, which are slowly being replaced, are Volks Wagon Santanas, they are also fully metered. There is no need walk away from the station to the road and catch a taxi who uses the meter.

When exiting Weifang train station, the taxis at the ground level are "long distance" taxis, i.e., more than 10 km distance for your travel.

The taxis at the upper (1st level) are the general taxis for Weifang downtown areas. As of April 2012, the fare starts at ¥5, plus ¥1 fuel surcharge, totalling ¥6. This will take you to almost all down town locations.

If departing there are many ticket agencies around the city that sell train tickets with only a ¥5 or ¥10 service fee, making it unnecessary to head back to the station and wait in the crowded lines. Agency operators (as with most citizens in this small city) most likely will not speak English. Booking your train up to 10 days in advance is advisable.

By bus
There are three main bus stations in Weifang,
 * 1) Across from the train station.
 * 2) Down the road from the train station - 1 km or so, adjacent to the "cheap market" in Quingnian Rd.
 * 3) The other long-distance bus station on Jiankang East Street

With the new China Rail Highspeed (CRH) trains, short-distance buses see much less passengers, however during holidays are sometimes the only way to go. As there is no pre-booking of bus tickets, simply show up the day (morning is better) you want to go.

Qingdao airport: if catching a flight from Qingdao it is cheaper and sometimes more efficient to take the bus from Weifang to Qingdao, the minibus, which is a Ford Transit 16-seater, stops at departures at Qingdao Airport. The cost is ¥70. Many Chinese people do exactly this. Taking a train to Qingdao will require taking either an airport bus or taxi, back the way you came, about 20 minutes outside of Qingdao to where the airport is located. Traveling from Weifang directly to Qingdao airport by bus takes about 2 hours and costs ¥70.

Buses in China generally do not have toilets on them and they sometimes go for hours (especially sleeper buses) without stopping.

By bus
Weifang buses much like the city itself are new and therefore quite comfortable when not peak travel times. Buses start around 06:00 ending at about 22:00 in the summer and 21:00 in the winter.

The two main roads are Dongfeng Jie and Shengli Jie which bus #16 and #56 both service. Bus 16 follows a circular loop along both of these two main streets while bus 56 starts at the train station and ends at the other side of the city at Weifang University.

By taxi
90% of the taxis in Weifang are now green and gold taxis, these are Hyundai Elantras. The older blue taxis are slowly being replaced: they are Volks Wagon Santanas. Taxis will go 3 km before adding about ¥1.6 per each extra kilometer. An extra ¥1 fuel fee is to be paid to the driver at the end of your voyage. Weifang proper is quite small so getting from end of the city to the other won't cost more than ¥20.

See
Weifang's claim to fame is its kites and a visit to Weifang should include some exposure to the kite culture here.



Buy
A shopping trip to Weifang would most definitely include a kite. For yourself or as a gift, put on a wall or fly it in the wind. Versatile, pretty, unique. Remember to bargain hard with the shop owner.

There are 3 places to buy computer and all types of electronic equipment and gadgets.


 * 1) near the Medical University, is Weifang Technology market, looking very old and run down. Take bus #16.
 * 2) adjacent to Bank Of China on Shengli West St.
 * 3) at Venice Plaza on Quingnian Rd.

Shopping on the old road is also an interesting time. Antiques, handicrafts, scroll-like wall paintings and many other nick-nacks are located in this tucked away part of town.

Cheap, tailor made suits, dresses, coats or fabric can be found on Tailor Street down the road from the Technological Market. Don't forget to haggle.

Eat
Shandong food comes in two flavors: spicy and salty and usually both. Bun-like white bread is more prevalent than noodles in the province and the seafood is generally quite fresh. Weifang has many restaurants on offer and for a random stab at it, try Si Ping Lu which is lined with eateries. Menus are generally not in English though most restaurants have picture menu's or food displayed in the entrance. Enjoy.


 * Xiang Jian Huan (Nice to meet you) (along 福寿东街与圣利岗交叉口). Great western food even by western standards. Recommended dish: Cheese Roasted Chicken, steaks. Call ahead to order the Tomahawk Steak and Beef Wellington (~3 hr)
 * Rune Ting 润庭-至臻佛跳墙海鲜姿造. Fabulous instagrammable hotpot buffet with tons of great food (buddha jump over the wall, large variety of meat, roasted durians, etc).

After 21:00, choices are severely reduced, the best options for late night chow being YonHo 永和豆浆 or McDonald's, both of which are open 24 hours.

Weifang radishes are re-known in Shandong for their nutrition and zesty flavor, a trip to Weifang should include a bite of radish. Head to the supermarket or bargain with a guy selling them on the sidewalk.

Some supermarkets in the city even offer fully cooked and prepared (though from packaged bags) dog meat. Woof! Woof!

Drink


The top choice among the younger locals seems to be Soho Bar, which is a nightclub with insanely loud music and a (for a foreigner) difficult to understand table/barchair reservation set-up.

Sleep
The Pullman Hotel is popular with foreigners on their business trips. Located next to Wanda Mall.

The Fairington is the only (thus far) 5-star hotel in Weifang. It is away from the city center - very near the Weifang Amusement park. Associated with the Fairington is 'Building B' a comfortable 3-star hotel across from the main building. Both wings have restaurants and shopping available. Both are often filled with businessmen as the convention center is nearby.

The Dongfeng Hotel is a well established 4-star hotel not too far from the Fairington on Dongfeng Lu. Like the Fairington, the Dongfeng has all the amenities, including its own building B, and is often full of business people.

The YuanFei is a luxurious 4-star in the heart of the financial district across from the Bank of China.

There are plenty of other hotels around the city however, the staff most likely will not speak English. The hotels listed above all have English speaking staff.

Go next

 * Qingdao - home of China's favorite beer
 * Yantai
 * Weihai - China's Cancun for Koreans
 * Mount Tai (Taishan) - climb the mountain, see the temples
 * Qufu - UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * Beijing
 * Suzhou
 * Shanghai