Dezhou Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 德州 (dé zhōu)
Population: 5,810,000
Area: 10,356 square kilometers (3,998 square miles)
Location: in the northwest of Shandong Province, east China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Decheng, Lingcheng); 7 counties (Pingyuan, Xiajin, Wucheng, Qihe, Linyi, Ningjin, Qingyun); 2 county-level cities (Leling, Yucheng)  
Area Code: 0534
Zip Code: 253000
GDP (2019): CNY 302.227 billion (USD 43.807 billion)  

Located in the northwest of Shandong Province, Dezhou City neighbors Hebei to the north and Shanxi to the west. It is 125 kilometers (78 miles) away from Jinan, the capital city of Shandong to the south and adjacent to the Shengli Oilfield of Dongying and Jiaodong Peninsular to the east.

The Sun Valley in Dezhou development zone is at the leading level in the field of solar thermal utilization in the world. Dezhou also produces exquisite black pottery with a history of more than 4,000 years. Under different lights, the black pottery has different luster such as purple, indigo and silver and full of metal sense. Many parks with green landscapes and fresh air are scattered over Dezhou. The Tomb of the Sulu East King is a must-see post.

In addition to sightseeing, if you want to taste the local specialties, the Dezhou Braised Chicken with gold skin and aromatic flavor is definitely the most worth trying. It tastes smooth and tender and not greasy at all. You can also bring packaged Braised Chicken back to your family or friends.

 Tomb of the Sulu East King is a remarkable scenic spot now under state protection in China. It is located in Beiying Village in the north of the city proper. Sulu Kingdom is an ancient Moslem emirate in Sulu Archipelago of the southwestern Philippines. The East King, who was the head of the kingdom, died of illness on his way back from Beijing through Dezhou in 1417. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) built the tomb for the king. 

 Other Scenic Spots: Yuwangting Museum, Qianfo Pagoda, Hongtansi Forest Park

Situated in the interleaving area between North and East China, the Bohai Sea and the Yellow River Delta, Dezhou boasts great traffic advantages for its location adjacent to the sea and the Yellow River.

It is only one hour's drive from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport and two hours' drive from the Port of Tianjin. Beijing-Shanghai, Shijiazhuang-Dezhou and Handan-Jinan railways run through Dezhou. Additionally, the highways of Beijing-Fuzhou, Jinan-Liaocheng, and Qingdao-Yinchuan run directly through the city. 
Bus Station: 30, Tiexi Nan Lu, Decheng District

 Major Rail Lines from Dezhou to

Enjoying a warm temperate continental monsoon climate, the city has four distinct seasons with cold and warm, wet and dry periods. Dezhou weather's annual average temperature falls around 13C (55.4F). Spring, summer and autumn are best seasons for sightseeing.

 History: The city's history can be traced back more than four thousand years according to the elaborate articles of black pottery that have been excavated in the area. Yu the Great dredged nine rivers to control flooding and five of the rivers run through it. Dezhou Region was established in 1950 and promoted to being a regional city in 1994.

 Physical Features: It is situated in an alluvial plain formed by the Yellow River. Historically, twice the river channels diverted, and it burst its banks over a thousand times. Therefore, the terrain here is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast. Uplands, sloping fields, and depressions are the main components of the city's landform.

 Special Local Products: black pottery, Dezhou Braised Chicken, Baodian Duckey Meat, golden thread jujube of Leling City, water melon