Dongping, a county-level city of Tai'an, Shandong province and one of the venues in the ancient Chinese vernacular novel Water Margin, has a rich historical heritage.

Water Margin, also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, is one of China's Four Great Classic Novels and depicts the 108 heroes of peasant uprisings.

There are more than 30 scenic spots themed on Water Margin culture in Dongping.  Here is a rundown of some of them.

1. Dongping Lake Scenic Area

There are a total of 273 scenic spots in the Dongping Lake Scenic Area, among which five are national-level ones and seven are provincial-level ones, including Water Margin Movie Town, Liugong Mountain Fortified Village and Water Fortress, and Baifo Mountain.

The picturesque Dongping Lake, covering an area of 209 square kilometers, is the only remaining lake mentioned in Water Margin. It was named as a provincial-level scenic spot in 1985.

The Dongping Lake Scenic Area. [Photo/sdta.cn]

2. Water Margin Movie Town

With an investment of 360 million yuan ($52.18 million) and covering a combined floor area of 32,000 square meters, the Water Margin Movie Town is a comprehensive scenic spot where many people go on vacation, and where many films and TV shows have been shot. It is the shooting location of the new TV series adaption of the novel, The Water Margin.

Ticket price: 60 yuan per person

Water Margin Movie Town. [Photo/sohu.com]