Shandong boasts the best transportation network in China. It takes a maximum of only five hours to travel between Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong Province, to anywhere else in the province. Even starting from Weihai, the city that is farthest from Jinan (more than 500 kilometres), the tourist can still make a round trip in one day.

Having developed quickly from 1996 to 2003, Shandong has been able to build a "one-day life cycle" that links its large and medium-sized cities. The length of Shandong's expressways totalled nearly 3,000 kilometres by the end of 2003. To date, Shandong has the greatest length of expressway of all the provinces in China, accounting for one-tenth of the country's total. At present, the province has more than 60,000 kilometres of highways. Quality asphalt roads link 141 counties and 98 per cent of Shandong's administrative villages connect with highways. All in all, the province has the best road system in China. Its first expressway, linking Jinan, Zibo, Weifang, and Qingdao, opened to traffic in December 1993. The expressway passes five cities, and took a total investment of 3.1 billion yuan (US $ 375 million) .

China-Football Birthplace

At the opening ceremony for the Third International Football Expo in Beijing on July 15, 2004, FIF A president Joseph S. Blatter said his organization concurs with the findings of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) , which has officially concluded football originated in Linzi, Zibo of China's Shandong Province . Football's origin dates back 2,300 years to when Linzi was the capital of the ancient Qi Kingdom. Although a great many countries claim to have "invented" football, historians point to the game of cuju in China as the origin of the sport. Many centuries before football appeares in Europe, the Chinese were already practising kicking the ball with their feet to score points in organized matches.

Liugong Island

Located at the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, Weihai is surrounded by the Yellow Sea to the north, east and south. It faces the Liaodong Peninsula to the north, the Korea Peninsula and Japan to the east and southeast. Encompassing 5, 4346 square kilometres, the city has a population of 2.48 million. Its city proper is 731 square kilometres with a population of 550,000.

Weihai has three county-level cities: Rongcheng, Wendeng and Rushan; and the district of Huancui under its jurisdiction. As an important open coastal city in East China, Weihai has a national-level high-tech industrial development zone, an economic and technological development zone and an export processing wne. As buoyant as it is, Weihai also has a long history. About 7,000 years ago, human beings inhabited it and 2,000 years ago, Emperor Qinshihuang visited it twice. In 1398, Ming Dynasty troops were stationed in Weihai. They called the place "Weihaiwei," which means to spread the dynasty's prowess among the coastal areas. In 1880s, the Qing Dynasty built the Imperial Chinese Navy on the Liugong Island , which was then the largest in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. In 1894 to 1895 the Sino-Japanese War broke out. In 1898 Weihai was forcibly leased to Britain, and was retrieved in 1930. In 1945 Weihaiwei was designated a city and was renamed Weihai in 1951. In 1987 Weihai acquired its current status as a municipal city. Lying at the convergence of China's Rim-Bohai Economic Circle and Northeast Asia Economic Circle, it is a beachhead and golden channel to Northeast Asia.

With increasing economic globalization, the city has been actively promoting its partnerships with Northeast Asian countries. To date, the city has established economic and trade links with more than 150 countries and regions from the world. More than 4,100 foreign-invested companies have been set up. As China's most comfortable living place, Weihai enjoys an agreeable climate and distinct seasons. Backed by mountains and facing the sea, the urban area boasts extraordinary surroundings. Its environmental quality index has reached or surpassed national standards, putting Weihai among the country's first hygienic cities and the first model city for best-preserved environment. For its outstanding efforts in habitat betterment, Weihai twice won the Dubai International Award for Best Cities to Improve the Living Environment. In October 2003, the city grabbed the habitat Scroll of Honour Award, the highest honour in the field. In urban planning, the city has adhered to the principle of blending natural conditions with urban works. It has built four national forest parks, 25 large parks and 12 green works. About 40 per cent of the city is covered in grasslands and per capita green space reaches 17 square metres. In the sound environment, wild animals are multiplying. There are now 800 species of flora and fauna in the city. The first China Weihai International Habitat Festival is the result of the city's dedication to ensuring a comfortable living environment for its citizens.

Encompassing only 3.15 square kilometres, the island lies 4 kilometres from the ci ty of Weihai (In 1996 Weihai was distinguished as one of the "100 Best Cities to Live In" by the UN) in the East China Sea. The northern slope is very precipitous, while in the south the slope is slow and sand flat. It is densely forested with flowers and trees, and the climate does agree with people. It used to be the place for Beiyang (the Qing-dynasty name for coastal provinces of Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong) Navy Commander's Office and other subsidiary buildings. In 1888, the Qing Beiyang Navy built naval fleet as a base on the island. Due to the corruption of the Qing court, during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 (launched by Japanese imperialism to annex Korea and invade China) the whole army was practically wiped out in the battle, and it became an eternal regret. In 1988, the State Council announced that the island Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 Memorial Site was listed as one of the important historical monuments under special protection .