Chinese Name: 莱芜市 (lái wú shì)

Population: 1,248,600  

Area: 2,246 square kilometers (867 square miles) 

Nationalities: Han 

Administrative Division: 2 districts (Laicheng, Gangcheng) 

Seat of the City Government: 1, Wenhua Bei Lu, Laicheng District, Laiwu City

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0634-6221271 
                                          Weather Forecast: 121
                                          Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Laiwu Branch: 7, Luzhong Dong Jie, Laicheng District, Laiwu City

China Post Laiwu Branch: 1, Wenhua Nan Lu, Laicheng District, Laiwu City  

Location: Laiwu City is located in the center of Shandong Province at the south foot of the Mt. Taishan, neighboring Zibo in the east and Tai’an in the west. Downtown Laiwu is about 112 kilometers (70 miles) south of Jinan, the capital city of the province.       

History: During the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), this area was ruled by the Lu and Qi kingdoms. In the Han Dynasties (206BC-240AD), Yingxian, Muxian and Laiwu counties coexisted there, and the name of Laiwu was derived from the Laiwu Valley in the county. Laiwu County was later abolished, but then restored again in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Since then, the administration of Laiwu County has been dispensed from present Laiwu City.     
 
Physical Features: Laiwu is surrounded by mountains in the north, east and south, with the terrain being gentler in the south and steeper in the north. The central area of the city is made up of gently undulating plains. Relatively, western Laiwu is occupied by vast open land.                 

Climate: Bearing a warm temperate continental monsoon climate, Laiwu has four distinct seasons with an annual average temperature falling around 12.5 degree centigrade (54.5 degree Fahrenheit). The coldest and hottest weather usually occurs in January and July.   
     
When to Go: Visitors can visit the city at any time of the year.

Special Local Products:
Agricultural products: ginger, garlic, shallot, honey peach, chestnut, persimmon
Handicrafts: Laiwu Xidiao (Tin Carving), sallow stone (trilobite) articles

 Attractions:
Qilu Great Canyon Scenic Area covers an area of 27 square kilometers (10 square miles) and rewards visitors with a spectacular valley landscape. Jiulong Canyon, Jiutian Canyon and Jiumen Canyon, together with nearby forests and brooks constitute the largest valley grouping in Shandong, and even in the whole East China. 

Other Scenic Spots: Fanggan Ecological Scenic Zone, Xueye Lake

Travel Tips:
The distance between Laiwu and Jinan is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) as the crow flies. However, shuttling between the two cities should pass through Tai'an, where the great Mt. Taishan stands. The actual distance may reach 120 kilometers (75 miles), about two hours' drive. With the Qingdao-Laiwu expressway being completed at the end of 2007, it now takes only forty minutes' to drive from Laiwu to Jinan. 

Laiwu central bus station is situated at the convergence of Daqiao Lu and Shunhe Jie in Laiwu Development Zone. It is the largest bus station in the city.