Shandong

Shandong, an eastern Chinese province on the Yellow Sea, is known for its Taoist and Confucian heritage. It was also home to the ancient state of Qi, the last kingdom conquered by Qin Shi Huang, who proclaimed himself China's first emperor in 219 B. C. in a ceremony on Taishan Mountain. One of China's most sacred peaks, Taishan features shrines, stone tablets and pilgrimage trails.