Planning a trip to Ji nan
Getting There
Ji'nan is connected by air to many Chinese cities, including Beijing (1 hr.), Shanghai (1 1/2 hr.), Xi'an (1 1/2 hr.), Guangzhou (2 1/2 hr.), Chongqing (2 hr.), Zhengzhou (1 hr.), and Hong Kong (2 1/2 hr.). CAAC buses (1 hr.; ¥20) depart for the Yao Qiang Airport 40km (25 miles) to the east from Yu Quan Sen Xu Xin Hotel at Luoyuan Dajie 68 every hour from 6:10am to 6:10pm. Buses also meet incoming flights (last bus at 10pm) and end their run at the same hotel. Plane tickets can be purchased at the CAAC office (tel. 0531/8602-2338) from 9am to 5:30pm. China Eastern Airlines is at Jingshi Lu 408 (tel. 0531/8796-4445; 8:30am-5pm).
From Ji'nan's main railway station (tel. 0531/9510-5688) in the west of town, trains run to Beijing (16 trains daily, 4 1/2-7 hr.; 5 D-series trains daily, 3 1/2 hr.), Shanghai (6 trains daily, 9-14 hr.; 1 D-series train daily, 7 hr. 20 min.), Tai'an (1 hr.), Yanzhou (2 hr.), Qufu (3 hr.), Zibo (1 hr.), Weifang (2 1/2 hr.), Qingdao (5 hr., 2 1/2 hr. on D-series trains), and Xi'an (19 hr.). Train tickets can be bought 5 days in advance at the railway station.
From the long-distance bus station (tel. 0531/96369) in the northern part of town, buses depart for Tai'an (every 30 min. 6:30am-6:10pm; 1-1 1/2 hr.; ¥20-¥24, different types of buses), Qufu (every 40 min. 6:50am-6:30pm; 1 1/2-2 hr.; ¥39-¥43), Qingdao (various times; 6:50am-8:30pm; 5 hr.; ¥70-¥99), Zibo (every 30 min. 6am-7pm; 1 hr. 40 min.; ¥28-¥35), and Weifang (every 40 min. 7am-6pm; 3 hr.; ¥55-¥65).
Getting Around
Most taxis charge ¥7.50 for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.50 per kilometer until 5.5km (3 1/2 miles), after which the price rises to ¥2 per kilometer. From 10pm to 5am, the rates increase very marginally.
Tours
The China Shandong Travel Service (Zhongguo Shandong Luxingshe) at Lishan Lu 185 (tel. 0531/8260-8108) can arrange customized tours of other Shandong destinations like Tai Shan, Qufu, Weifang, and Zibo.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs -- The Bank of China at Luoyuan Dajie 22 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) is open for foreign exchange.
Post Office -- The main post office (8:30am-6pm) is in the old part of town at Jing Er Lu 162 (corner of Weier Lu).
Visa Extensions -- The local PSB is in the old part of town at Jing San Lu 145 just east of Wei Wu Lu (tel. 0531/8508-1088; Mon-Fri 8:30-11:30am and 1:30-4:30pm). The surly staff at counter 8 can process visa extensions; allow 5 business days.
