This route highlights time-honored canal towns and ancient cities across three cities: Jinan, Jining and Zaozhuang.

Four core stops:

(1) Weishan Lake Lotus Festival (Weishan County) Held every July and August when lotus flowers are in full bloom. Centered on the philosophy "Take lotus as a messenger, culture and tourism as a platform, trade and economy as the main performance to fuel development", the festival highlights the themes of ecology, harmony and growth. It facilitates integration between cultural and economic sectors, creating a platform to promote Weishan, boost tourism, expand opening-up and advance sound scientific development.

(2) Red Lotus Festival (Tengzhou City) Launched in 2004 and held annually in August when the wetland opens to visitors, it has run for multiple sessions. The wetland offers free admission on opening day, accompanied by grand theatrical performances. Regarded as Tengzhou’s hometown festival, the whole city is decked out in decorations with nonstop shows and activities throughout the month-long celebration. Held: Every August

(3) China (Tengzhou) International Mozi Culture Festival Aims to further excavate local historical and cultural resources, carry forward the culture of Mozi and Lu Ban, build their cultural brands, popularize their philosophies to the general public and introduce them to the world. With the theme "Approach Mozi & Lu Ban, Trace the Source of Innovation", the event fully showcases Tengzhou’s contemporary spirit of universal love, inclusiveness, integrity, openness, innovation and forging ahead. It enables domestic and overseas merchants to gain in-depth understanding of Tengzhou, encouraging investment and collaborative development. Held: April – May

(4) Tengzhou Pear Blossom Festival Every April, pear trees burst into full bloom across Li Village Pear Garden, creating a sea of silvery blossoms like snow and jade. Visitors may admire the breathtaking natural scenery of thousands of pear trees draped in white flowers and appreciate the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. As spring arrives, Chaihudian Town, known as the "Hometown of Pears", hosts this grand annual festival. Held: April Venue: Chaihudian Town, Tengzhou City

The expo features nine core activities: opening and closing ceremonies, trade fairs, investment signing ceremonies, performances of outstanding traditional operas, folk art street parades, international cultural forums, and the opening ceremony of the Intangible Heritage Expo Park. It adopts diverse display formats including physical exhibits, sales booths, photo galleries, multimedia screenings, live craftsmanship demonstrations by heritage inheritors and theatrical shows to fully present the unique charm of intangible cultural heritage.

Taierzhuang Ancient City is home to a permanent 400-mu Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park. It will serve as a national hub for centralized exhibition of intangible heritage items, display of conservation achievements, gathering of inheritance studios, apprenticeship training for inheritors, research and training facilities, an intangible heritage museum, and a platform for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.