Section 1 — From Xi’an to Yuncheng: Another Rabbit Hole Across the Yellow River Travel northeast from Xi’an into Yuncheng and Chinese history does something slightly strange. Instead of asking you to remember another emperor or another battle, it asks a...

Section 1 — Take the Historical Rabbit Hole North From Xi’an Most international travelers come to Xi’an to meet China’s First Emperor. Travel north to Hancheng, however, and you’ll meet the man whose great historical work helped later generations remember Qin...

Section 1 — Travel Back More Than 3,000 Years to Shang China From Beijing, travel south to Anyang and you can stand inside the remains of a Chinese capital more than 3,000 years old — where archaeologists found royal tombs, magnificent...

We stopped overnight in Handan on our way from Beijing toward the UNESCO ruins of ancient Shang at Anyang. We visited Congtai, took our photographs and continued south. Only later did I realize just how badly I had underestimated this city....

From Baotu Spring 趵突泉 to Shandong Museum 山东博物馆 — Start Here Before Going Deeper Into Shandong Travel China. Let the places teach you Chinese history. See the place. Ask the bigger question. Understand China better. Section 1 — You Came to...

Five Stops, Five Big Questions — A China History Journey Through Jinan, Mount Tai, Qufu, Linzi and Dezhou Travel China. Let the places teach you Chinese history. See the place. Ask the bigger question. Understand China better. Section 1 — We...

Section 1 — You Came to Climb a Mountain. Emperors Came for Something Much Bigger. Take the train south from: Beijing (北京, Běijīng) toward: Tai’an (泰安, Tài’ān) in: Shandong (山东, Shāndōng), and one mountain begins dominating the historical landscape: Mount Tai...

Beyond Beijing: Go to Dezhou 德州 — and Discover How Ming China Connected an Empire With the Wider World From the Grand Canal 大运河 to the Sulu Royal Tomb 苏禄王墓 — One Shandong City Opens Two Very Different Doors Travel China....

Section 1 — You Learned About Confucius in Qufu. Now Meet the People Who Disagreed With Him. Take our Shandong journey from: Qufu (曲阜, Qūfù) toward modern: Zibo (淄博, Zībó), and specifically: Linzi (临淄, Línzī). Today: 临淄 is a district of...