Guangrao County 广饶县

History

A county named Guangrao was set up in 201 BC under the Han founder Emperor Gaozu. In 583 it took the name Qiansheng (千乘), in 1138 it became Le'an (乐安), and in 1914 it returned to Guangrao. It was placed under Dongying on 30 August 1983. Its neighbours are Dongying District (东营区) to the north, Linzi (临淄) in Zibo to the south, Shouguang (寿光) to the east, Qingzhou (青州) to the south-east and Boxing County (博兴县) to the west.

Lü opera originated in Shijia village (时家村) of Niuzhuang town (牛庄镇), which now belongs to Dongying District, and the county is also named as the place of origin of the Qi brush (齐笔).

What to see

The Guangrao Guandi Temple Hall (广饶关帝庙大殿) dates from 1128, in the Southern Song, and is the only surviving hall of the old temple. It faces south, is three bays wide and deep under a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, and stands 10.38 m high. In October 1991 every other building on the temple site except a Republican-era gate was demolished and the Sun Wu Shrine (孙武祠) was built on the site. The Dongying History Museum (东营市历史博物馆) opened there on 22 April 1994, and the hall, now called Wusheng Hall (武圣殿), holds a statue of Sun Wu. It became a national key protected site in 1996.

The county's other national protected sites are the Fujia site (傅家遗址), the Wucun site (五村遗址) and the Nanheya salt-making sites (南河崖盐业遗址群). Guangrao also has the Sunzi Culture Park (孙子文化园), which the county party secretary calls the country's first and largest theme park on military thought, and the Sunwu Lake (孙武湖) water scenic area.

The Sunzi Culture Tourism Festival (孙子文化旅游节) has been held since 2005. Its 18th edition opened on 11 September 2026 at the Guangrao International Expo Centre, with the eighth Shandong Lü opera showcase and a culture-and-tourism carnival on Dongying's intangible heritage among its events.

Highlights

• Guangrao Guandi Temple Hall 广饶关帝庙大殿: Southern Song timber hall of 1128, a national key protected site since 1996.
• Sun Wu Shrine and Dongying History Museum 孙武祠: Built on the old temple site; the museum opened on 22 April 1994.
• Sunzi Culture Park 孙子文化园: Theme park on military thought built by the county.
• Sunzi Culture Tourism Festival 孙子文化旅游节: Held since 2005; the 18th festival opened on 11 September 2026.