Complete Guide to Visiting Simen Pagoda

Jinan Simen Pagoda is a hidden gem that combines historical culture with natural scenery. Here is a travel guide: Basic Information • Address: No. 55 Sujiazhuang, Liubu Street, Southern Mountain Area, Jinan City. • Admission: 30 RMB per person • Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00 in the first and fourth quarters; 7:30-18:00 in the second and third quarters. • Transportation: Take bus routes 67, 812, 815, or 821 and get off at Simen Pagoda Station; for self-driving, navigate to "Simen Pagoda Scenic Area Parking Lot." Tour Route • After entering the scenic area, start by visiting Simen Pagoda, the only existing ancient pagoda from the Sui Dynasty in China, named for its small arch gates on the east, west, south, and north sides. • Next, head to the Nine-Top Pine beside Simen Pagoda, an ancient cypress said to have been planted during the Han Dynasty, where you can pray for blessings. • Climb the steps and turn right to see the Little Song Pagoda, then proceed to the Tomb Pagoda Forest, which contains tomb pagodas of abbots and monks from the Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. • After leaving the Tomb Pagoda Forest, visit the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda, known for its unique style of a Tang Dynasty body with a Song Dynasty hat, featuring exquisite carvings on the pagoda body. • Continue forward to reach the Thousand Buddha Cliff, where the cliff carvings feature one Buddha per niche, including the famous statue of Princess Chang of Nanping. • From the Thousand Buddha Cliff, walk about fifteen minutes along the path to reach the Yongquan Bamboo Forest, home to Yongquan Spring, one of Jinan’s seventy-two famous springs, where you can enjoy watching the spring and playing in the water. Special Experiences • Cultural Relics Exploration: The scenic area is scattered with many ancient stone carvings that are not marked. Bring a small magnifying glass or a phone macro lens to search for Tang Dynasty stele fragments in the corners of the Shentong Temple ruins, discover hidden small Buddha statues on the edges of the Thousand Buddha Cliff, and observe the Qing Dynasty restoration inscriptions on the base of Simen Pagoda. • Ancient Tree Blessing: Walk three clockwise circles around the Nine-Top Pine to make a wish and experience the local blessing culture. • Immersive Experience: Bring your own Hanfu or plain-colored clothing, perform three bows with palms together in front of the pagoda to simulate the ancient ritual of worshipping the pagoda, and you can also bring paper and brush in advance to copy the relief carvings on the pagoda gate with a brush. Notes • There are many wild and stray cats around the scenic area; do not touch them casually and keep a safe distance when feeding. • There is a less-traveled hiking path on the back mountain of the scenic area. If you choose to hike, wear non-slip shoes, go with companions, and avoid hiking on rainy days.