Travel China with "Water Margin"

Written by Shi Nai'an in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Water Margin is a full-length novel. It is based on the historical fact of the Song Jiang Uprising in the Northern Song Dynasty. Depicting the story of 108 Liangshan heroes led by Song Jiang, the book shows how they punish the wicked and help the weak to stand for justice. As a pioneer in China's theme study tours, China Educational Tours conducts an in-depth analysis of Water Margin. We take you to follow the legendary footsteps of the 108 heroes. Visit the real historical sites to feel the Song Dynasty’s bustling daily life, appreciate the heroes’ chivalrous spirit, and turn the book’s legendary stories and historical heritage into tangible experiences. This journey helps you deeply grasp the cultural essence of this classic work. Below are the main recommended destinations for Water Margin cultural tours, as well as a carefully crafted itinerary for our "China Water Margin Heroes Experience Tour".

Shandong

Shandong is where most stories of Water Margin take place. Influenced by its profound martial tradition and chivalrous spirit, people here highly praise tales of loyal and righteous heroes, making it one of the main sources of the novel’s stories.

Liangshan County

Located in Liangshan County, Shandong Province, Liangshan Marsh is the novel’s most important setting. It serves as the legendary site of the "800-li Liangshan Marsh" in the story, and the Chinese idiom "forced to go to Liangshan" comes from this very place. Today, a Water Margin-themed scenic area has been built in Liangshan County, with the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness reconstructed to let visitors immerse themselves in the heroism and loyalty of the Liangshan heroes.

Yanggu County

Two classic Water Margin stories—the "Fighting the Tiger at Jingyanggang" and "Killing Ximen Qing"—took place at Jingyanggang Hill and Shizi Tower in Yanggu County, Shandong Province. Jingyanggang was originally a small hill. It became famous for Wu Song’s tiger-fighting deed, and many tourists come here to take photos imitating Wu Song’s tiger-fighting poses.

Shizi Tower is where Wu Song killed Ximen Qing to avenge his elder brother Wu Dalang. The main building is a Song-dynasty double-eaved gabled-and-hip wooden structure. It stands 15.8 meters high with a floor area of 451 square meters. It features gray bricks, gray tiles, and carved beams and painted pillars. Two pairs of stone lions stand in front of the tower. Now it has also become a scenic spot. It sells Wu Dalang’s sesame cakes and Jingyanggang wine, allowing tourists to personally taste the food from Water Margin.

Wusong Fighting the Tiger at Jingyanggang

Yuncheng County

Yuncheng County in Shandong Province is a crucial turning point in Water Margin. It prompted many key characters in the book to make the important decision to join the Liangshan heroes. Hence comes the saying: "Among the 108 heroes of Liangshan, 72 hail from Yuncheng County".

Based on this story core, Yuncheng County has built the Water Margin Heroes City Scenic Area. It integrates ancient building complexes including the Zhongyi Tower, Yuncheng County Government Office and Chao Family Manor. It also features martial arts teaching and exchanges at the Song Jiang Martial Arts School, martial arts dances by the Gouwa Art Troupe and Water Margin-themed scene plays. It is the core scenic spot of the "Hometown of Water Margin" brand, a museum of ancient Chinese folk residences, a recommended diamond-level tourist route by CCTV and the source scenic spot of Water Margin stories.

Kaifeng: Where the Water Margin World Meets the Imperial Court

Known as Bianliang, the Eastern Capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, in Water Margin, Kaifeng serves as the novel’s most vital political and cultural stage. This is where a host of key plotlines unfold: Gao Qiu grabbed power and abused his position, Lin Chong was forced to join the Liangshan rebels, and major events—including Yang Zhi selling his prized sword and Song Jiang seeking official amnesty—all happened right in this city. Today, travelers can visit Daxiangguo Temple, Kaifeng Prefecture and the city’s relevant historical districts to feel the urban scenes and historical vibes portrayed in Water Margin. A range of Water Margin-themed tourism activities and displays have also been launched by local bodies, helping visitors gain a simpler, more direct understanding of this unique heritage mixing literature and history.

Kaifeng

Jiujiang: The Place Where Water Margin Heroes Inscribed Their Poems

A key spot that shapes the core plot and a symbol of life-changing twists in Water Margin, Xunyang Tower stands in Jiujiang, Jiangxi. It was here that Song Jiang, leader of the novel’s heroic band, was driven to join the Liangshan rebels—a turning point that gave a huge push to the whole Liangshan movement. Travelers can now visit the rebuilt Xunyang Tower in Jiujiang. Modeled on the novel’s accounts and Song Dynasty architectural features, the tower displays murals and exhibits that tell tales from Water Margin. Gaze across the Yangtze River from the tower’s upper levels, and you will fully sense the conflicting feelings that filled Song Jiang as he wrote his poem there, along with the gripping legends of that time.

Suggestions for Travel Itinerary Planning

Day 1 Yuncheng County

Yuncheng County is the source of Water Margin stories, with the saying 'Among the 108 heroes of Liangshan, 72 hail from Yuncheng'. The Water Margin Heroes City Scenic Area here preserves a complete complex of Ming and Qing ancient buildings. You will travel back to the streets and alleys of the Northern Song Dynasty. At scenes like Yuncheng County Government Office and Chao Family Manor, you can personally feel the lofty spirit of the heroes' gathering through martial arts performances by Songjiang Martial Arts School and immersive night shows such as Outwitting the Birthday Gifts. Start your own rivers and lakes chapter.

Day 2 Yanggu County

Today is a day to follow in the footsteps of Wu Song, the tiger-slaying hero. In the morning, head to Jingyanggang. It is not only the legendary site where Wu Song killed a fierce tiger with his bare hands after drinking, but also a vivid Water Margin world. You can experience the immersive atmosphere at the 'Three Bowls Tavern', pay homage to the past in front of the Mountain God Temple and the stone tablet marking Wu Song's tiger-slaying spot, and enjoy a moment of peace by Jingyang Lake. In the afternoon, move to Yanggu County town and visit the Song-Dynasty-style Shizi Tower. This is the exact place where Wu Song avenged his brother by fighting and killing Ximen Qing. The stone lions in front of the tower stand majestically, and the stories inside seem to still echo around.

Day 3-4 Liangshan County

Spend the whole day immersed in Liangshan Marsh, the core stage of Water Margin. This is not just a simple mountain-climbing tour but a large-scale real-scene interactive experience. You can get a 'pass document' and pass the checkpoints set by NPCs of heroes like 'Resourceful Star' Wu Yong to climb the mountain. Along the way, you can watch situational plays such as Heroes Welcoming Guests and Yan Qing Competing in the Martial Arts Contest. When you reach the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness at the top of the mountain, you can appreciate the strategic importance of Liangshan stronghold where 'one man guarding the pass can hold off ten thousand'.

On the next day, you can visit the Water Margin Film and Television Cultural Experience Park at the foot of the mountain. You may meet 'Wu Dalang selling sesame cakes' in the Song-Dynasty-style streets, or go to the Water Margin Wine Culture Experience Hall to drink with a 'justice cup' and experience the boldness of 'eating big chunks of meat and drinking from big bowls'.

Day 5 Depart for Kaifeng

Take the high-speed rail to Kaifeng, the former Bianliang, capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the center where imperial power clashed fiercely with the rivers and lakes in Water Margin, and major turning points like Gao Qiu's abuse of power, Lin Chong's persecution and Song Jiang's quest for amnesty all took place here. After checking into the hotel and resting, you can go to the nearby streets at night to taste Kaifeng's local dishes, such as soup dumplings and spicy soup.

Day 6 Kaifeng

In the morning, first visit the Millennium City Park, a large-scale Song Dynasty historical and cultural theme park built based on Along the River During the Qingming Festival, the masterpiece handed down from Zhang Zeduan, a famous painter of the Northern Song Dynasty. Then go to Kaifeng Government Office to feel the solemnity of the ancient government office. With the guide's explanation, learn about the hierarchy of Song Dynasty officials and the legal procedures of the Song Dynasty as depicted in Water Margin. Next, head to Daxiangguo Temple, one of the top ten famous Han Buddhist temples in China. It's said that Lu Zhishen in Water Margin once pulled out a willow tree in the temple by himself. Finally, enjoy Kaifeng's local food at Gulou Night Market, where you can also watch traditional folk art performances such as Yu Opera and acrobatics.

Millennium City Park

Daxiangguo Temple's Zhonglou

Day 9 Depart for Jiujiang

Travel to Wuhan by high-speed rail and then transfer to Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province. The entire trip takes around 4.5 hours. Arrive in Jiujiang in the afternoon, take a good rest and recharge your energy for the next day's journey. In the evening, you can sample local Jiujiang snacks, including tea cakes and Dongpo pork.

Day 10 Jiujiang

First stop at Mount Lushan in Jiujiang. Sandiequan Waterfall is the scenic area's highlight, boasting an impressive 155-meter drop. The popular saying 'He who has not been to Sandiequan is not a true visitor to Mount Lushan' spreads widely across the mountains. Since ancient times, some 3,500 literati have lingered here, leaving behind over 16,000 remarkable poems.

Mount Lushan

Next, head to Xunyang Tower—the spot that changed Song Jiang's fate entirely. He composed a rebellious poem here in a drunken state, which shifted his life course and eventually led him to join the Liangshan heroes. The rebuilt Xunyang Tower stands by the river, its walls adorned with Water Margin-themed murals. Climb the tower and gaze at the rolling Yangtze River flowing east, and you can fully sense the mixed feelings Song Jiang had while writing the poem.

Day 11 Return

In the morning, plan your free time in downtown Jiujiang based on your return schedule and pick up local specialties like Jiujiang tea cakes and crisp candy as souvenirs. Then make your way to Jiujiang Railway Station or the airport to wrap up this memorable journey through the literary map of Water Margin.

Why Choose China Educational Tours' "Water Margin"?

Choosing the Water Margin Tour by China Educational Tours means having a professional guide to Chinese cultural travel. We are not only the planners of your journey, but also in-depth interpreters of the Liangshan world depicted by Shi Nai'an and the social dynamics of the Song Dynasty. We seamlessly link the book's tales of loyalty, the heroes' footsteps and real geographical spots, thanks to our firm grasp of historical context and lively explanation of literary metaphors. At every historical site, you can thus feel the noble aspirations of Water Margin heroes and the deep beat of Eastern chivalric culture.

In-depth Thematic Customization: Your journey is driven by your interests. Whether you are an observer who admires Song Jiang's leadership skills, a martial arts enthusiast exploring the origins of kung fu, or a cultural traveler obsessed with the urban life of the Song Dynasty—just tell us what you desire, and we can adjust the focus of the route, highlight heroes' hometowns, stronghold relics or historical ancient towns to carefully weave a unique Water Margin picture for you.

Expert-led Cultural Guidance: We invite Water Margin scholars, Song Dynasty history experts or martial arts inheritors to accompany and give explanations. They will deeply analyze the era logic behind the characters' fates, verify the fictional "Liangshan heroes' gathering" with real local chronicles, and reveal the multi-layered cultural connotations of each scenic spot—bringing ancient strongholds, restaurants and county government offices back to life with storytelling.

Exclusive Cultural Experiences: We go beyond "watching" and commit to "immersing". You will enjoy exclusive arrangements: Water Margin-themed banquets, Liangshan stronghold hero-swearing ceremonies, Jingyanggang martial arts short training, listening to Shandong clapper ballads about "Wu Song Fights the Tiger", or dressing up as "heroes" to complete interesting tasks in Song Dynasty-style streets. These multi-dimensional experiences allow you to truly step into that chivalrous world and feel the warmth and charm of righteous courage.

One-stop Journey Arrangements: From inter-provincial transportation connections and exclusive vehicles to characteristic inn accommodation and local food tasting, we provide comprehensive and thoughtful logistics support. All scenic spot reservations, special explanations and activity arrangements are fully handled by us, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this journey of chivalry and vendetta without any worries.

China Educational Tours sincerely invites you: With Water Margin as your compass and professionalism and enthusiasm as your bridge, join us on this heroic, in-depth and resonant rivers and lakes journey to find the heroic feelings deeply rooted in everyone's heart.