Pingdu 平度市

History

The Western Han set up a Pingdu county in what is now the north of the city; it was abolished under the Eastern Han. The south of the modern city then belonged to Jimo (即墨), seat of the princes of Jiaodong (胶东王), and its county town, southeast of present-day Pingdu, is described as the largest city on the peninsula before the Northern and Southern dynasties. The Northern Qi carved out Changguang County (长广县), which the Sui renamed Jiaoshui (胶水县). In the Ming, Jiaoshui was merged into Pingdu Prefecture (平度州), which became a county in 1913.

Pingdu County passed from Weifang (潍坊) to Qingdao in August 1983 and became a county-level city in July 1989. In Guxian town (古岘镇) lie the remains of ancient Jimo, listed nationally together with the Liuqushan tombs (即墨故城及六曲山墓群). The outer city was a rectangle 5 km from north to south and 2.5 km from east to west, and a stretch of its rammed-earth east wall about 1,000 m long still stands 5 m high.

What to see

Mount Daze (大泽山), also called Jiuqing Shan (九青山), rises to 737 m and holds a provincial scenic area and forest park. Three national protected sites lie on it: the Tianzhu Mountain cliff inscriptions (天柱山摩崖刻石), a Yueshi culture (岳石文化) site, and the Dazeshan inscriptions with the Zhizang Temple pagoda forest (大泽山石刻及智藏寺墓塔林). The Tianzhu inscriptions, on the northern boundary with Laizhou (莱州), are the handwriting of Zheng Daozhao (郑道昭), a noted Northern Wei calligrapher, and his son Zheng Shuzu (郑述祖).

Food and local products

Mount Daze is known for its many grape varieties, and a grape festival is held there at the end of every August. Pingdu straw weaving (平度草编), on Shandong's provincial intangible heritage list, has a history of about 150 years and works wheat straw, cattail and maize husks among other materials. Zongjiazhuang woodblock New Year prints (宗家庄木版年画), another provincial heritage item, began in the Daoguang reign of the Qing and lean heavily on bright reds, greens, purples and yellows. The folk tales of the Dazeshan range (大泽山民间故事) are on Qingdao's municipal heritage list.

Highlights

• Mount Daze 大泽山: A 737 m mountain with three national protected sites, including the Tianzhu cliff inscriptions.
• Ancient Jimo city and Liuqushan tombs 即墨故城及六曲山墓群: Remains of a walled city in Guxian town whose outer city measured 5 by 2.5 km.
• Pingdu straw weaving 平度草编: Provincial intangible heritage craft of about 150 years, using wheat straw, cattail and maize husks.
• Zongjiazhuang woodblock New Year prints 宗家庄木版年画: Provincial heritage prints dating from the Daoguang reign, in strong reds, greens, purples and yellows.