Liaocheng

Liaocheng lies in western Shandong on the ancient Grand Canal and calls itself the Water City of Jiangbei, its old center almost entirely encircled by the broad Dongchang Lake. At the heart of the moated island stands the Guangyue Tower, a soaring wooden Ming-dynasty gate-tower built in 1374 without nails. The richly carved Shanshan Guild Hall recalls the merchants of Shanxi and Shaanxi who grew wealthy on canal trade. The surrounding plain is steeped in the legends of the classic novel Water Margin, with sites such as Jingyanggang, where the hero Wu Song is said to have killed a tiger. Agriculture, especially vegetables, and non-ferrous metals processing sustain the modern economy. Rail and expressways link Liaocheng to Jinan and Handan.