Shandong · China
Heze travel guide
Heze is a city in Shandong, China, home to about 8,796,000 people.
- Best months
- April, May, September and October
- Nearest airport
- HZA28 km · Heze Mudan Airport
- Currency
- CNYrenminbi
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
- Language
- Chinese, Putonghua, Standard Chinese
About
About Heze
Heze (Chinese: 菏泽; pinyin: Hézé) is the westernmost prefecture-level city in Shandong province, China. The Peony Capital of China, formerly known as Caozhou, the city borders Jining to the east, and the provinces of Henan and Anhui to the west and south respectively.
Many people in Heze have never seen a foreigner. The local dialect is more widely spoken than standard Mandarin. Native Chinese speakers typically have no trouble with the dialect, as it is similar to the Beijing dialect, but it can prove challenging for non-native Chinese speakers. According to historical records, as early as 4,000 years ago in the Neolithic Age, the ancestors multiplied and lived in Heze City, retaining many historical relics of primitive society.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Heze
See
- Heze Museum
- Caozhou Peony Garden
- Caozhou hundred Gardens
- Sunbin Tourism City
- Zhaowang River Park
- Huandi Park
- Qilihe Wetland Park
- Tianxiang Park
- Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region Revolutionary Memorial Hall
Do
- Peony Garden Ski Resort
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Heze
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Heze are April, May, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; July is the wettest, with about 157 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Heze: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Heze Mudan Airport (HZA), about 28 km from the city centre in a straight line; Jining Da'an Airport (JNG, 127 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
It is possible to get around the city by bus, but they shut down on major holidays such as during the Chinese New Year. Cab rides are very inexpensive: about ¥10 will get you most places in town. If you are going to one of the surrounding villages, cab rides are often around ¥150. It is also possible to get around much of the city by walking.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
HZA · Heze Mudan Airport
JNG · Jining Da'an Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Heze
Eat
Dumplings are one of the specialties of northeast China, and are common in Heze. Heze also has a surprising number of Sichuan restaurants.
Drink
Heze Melon Juice (菏泽瓜汁): Heze is renowned for its melon production, and you can find freshly squeezed melon juices such as watermelon juice and cantaloupe juice.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Heze: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Heze?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Heze are April, May, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; July is the wettest, with about 157 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Heze?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Heze Mudan Airport (HZA), about 28 km from the city centre in a straight line; Jining Da'an Airport (JNG, 127 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Heze?
renminbi (CNY).
Nearby
Destinations near Heze
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.