Shandong province is ramping up its "transportation and tourism No 1" project to become a national example for integrating roads with scenic attractions.

Shandong has a strong transport network with 3,055 kilometers of high-speed rail, which is set to expand to a national-leading 3,400 km by the end of this year, over 9,300 km of expressways, and 11 airports. It has laid 3,300 km of tourist roads across five corridors that link over 190 scenic spots.

The province has also innovated travel modes. For example, the Jinan–Qingdao high-speed trains run every 15 minutes, similar to bus operation frequency; the Qilu No 1 tourism train, connecting various Shandong tourist spots, has carried over 1 million passengers since its launch last April, generating about 1.2 billion yuan ($176.84 million) in related consumption. Offshore, the Peninsula No 1 tourism cruise routes have welcomed 65,000 visitors since their launch last year.

The Peninsula No 1 tourism cruise. [Photo/WeChat account: sdswltwx]

Weifang created a 687-km "Shandong sky road" connecting 73 A-level attractions, boosting consumption by 2.77 billion yuan in 2025. Linyi upgraded 151 km of roads and developed 191 countryside homestays, receiving 8.33 million tourists last year, up 20.8 percent.

By integrating railways, waterways, and service areas with tourism, Shandong aims to create a model for national transport-tourism synergy.