Furthermore, new tourism initiatives such as the "Qilu No 1" train and "Peninsula No 1" cruise employ affordable pricing and innovative models to invigorate the "ticket economy", connecting Shandong's diverse attractions and effectively boosting consumption.

A view of the "Qilu No 1" train, featuring a vibrant new livery that highlights its tourism focus. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The province has been actively promoting the development of its cultural and tourism industries. According to statistics, in the first half of 2025, the province received 410 million domestic tourist visits, generating 497.28 billion yuan ($69.3 billion) in domestic tourism revenue — an increase of 9.7 percent and 10.2 percent respectively, based on comparable standards.