Experience the best of Qingdao with this three-day itinerary that captures the city’s unique charm. From the iconic Zhanqiao Pier and vibrant local markets to the serene beauty of Mount Lao, each day is designed to showcase a different facet of Qingdao. Whether you’re walking through historic churches, savoring local delicacies at Pichai Courtyard, or taking in the breathtaking coastal views, this itinerary ensures you make the most of your visit to this coastal gem.
Day 1: Zhanqiao Pier → Xiaoqingdao Island → Badaguan Scenic Area → Second Beach → Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center → May Fourth Square
First Stop: Zhanqiao Pier ⏱1H
Zhanqiao Pier has long been considered a symbol of Qingdao. This 440-meter-long pier stretches from the land out into the sea, ending at an octagonal pavilion named Huilan Pavilion, which houses an exhibition on the history of Zhanqiao Pier. Walking along the pier, you can watch seagulls soar, observe the tides, and gaze across the water at Xiaoqingdao Island. The pier is close to Qingdao Railway Station, a group of German Renaissance-style buildings built in 1899, worth a quick visit.
Tips:
- Huilan Pavilion is currently open for free, but only the first floor is accessible for heritage protection purposes. The number of visitors allowed is limited, so please follow staff instructions if you wish to visit.
- It’s best to visit Zhanqiao Pier early when there are fewer people for a better experience.
- The water quality near Zhanqiao Pier is average, so you don’t need to stay long as other beach visits are planned later.
- The sea breeze can be strong in spring and autumn, so dress warmly.
Second Stop: Xiaoqingdao Island ⏱1H
🚦 Zhanqiao Pier → Xiaoqingdao Island: About 30 minutes by bus, 10 minutes by taxi, or a 30-minute walk.
Xiaoqingdao Island is small, but it’s a great place for sightseeing and relaxation with its lush greenery and clear waters. The southern side of the island has a garden and a graceful statue of a violinist. At the highest point of the island, there is a lighthouse built by the Germans.
Tips:
- If you take the bus to Xiaoqingdao, you’ll pass by Lu Xun Park, which is worth a quick visit. The park is small but features large red-brown rocks along the coast.
- On the way from Xiaoqingdao to Badaguan, you can also visit the Naval Museum, Qingdao Underwater World, Xiaoyushan Park, and the First Beach, depending on your interest.
Third Stop: Badaguan Scenic Area ⏱3H
🚦 Xiaoqingdao Island → Badaguan Scenic Area: About 25 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by taxi.
Badaguan is a district composed of several roads lined with lush trees, offering different scenery throughout the year. It’s also home to a large number of Japanese and European-style villas, forming a harmonious and picturesque area ideal for photography.
Tips:
- Recommended villas: Princess Villa, Butterfly Villa, Huashi Villa. A combined ticket for Princess Villa, Butterfly Villa, and the Spanish Style Pavilion costs ¥40, or ¥20 for individual tickets. Huashi Villa’s entrance fee is ¥8.5.
- Badaguan is open all day without an entrance fee, but the three mentioned villas close at 18:00.
Fourth Stop: Second Beach ⏱2H
🚦 Badaguan → Second Beach: A 5-minute walk.
After exploring Badaguan, walk south along Ningwuguan Road to reach the Second Beach, located next to Huashi Villa. Although smaller than the First Beach, it has fewer tourists, a better environment, and fine sand with many seashells. It’s perfect for a leisurely walk, shell collecting, or splashing in the water.
Entrance Fee: ¥2 during peak season (April-October); free during the off-season.
Fifth Stop: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center ⏱2H
🚦 Second Beach → Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center: About 40 minutes by bus.
The Olympic Sailing Center hosted the sailing events for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It features a large Olympic torch and the Olympic Rings and is a great spot to watch the sunset. The golden sunlight shining on the white sailboats creates a beautiful scene. In the evening, enjoy the sunset from the Lover’s Dam, surrounded by bars, malls, and eateries.
Sixth Stop: May Fourth Square ⏱1H
🚦 Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center → May Fourth Square: A 15-minute walk.
By the time you reach May Fourth Square, it will be evening. The square’s night view is stunning, with the fiery red sculpture “The Wind of May” being one of Qingdao’s landmarks. A walk around the square concludes the day’s coastal sightseeing, leaving you tired but fulfilled.
Tips: You can also rent a bicycle to visit the above attractions. However, Qingdao’s terrain is hilly, making cycling challenging, and there are few dedicated bike lanes, so proceed cautiously.
Accommodation: It’s recommended to stay near Zhanqiao Pier, which is convenient for transportation and offers a variety of accommodation options across different price ranges.
Dining Recommendations:
🍴 Lunch (near Badaguan):
- Wanxin Restaurant (万鑫餐厅): A seafood eatery known for its authentic stir-fried prawns with cabbage and spicy stir-fried clams.
- Huachun Restaurant (华春餐馆): A small yet popular Shandong cuisine spot with high value for money. Recommended dishes include iron plate egg tofu, cabbage stir-fried with shrimp, and oyster sauce scallops.
🍴 Dinner (near the Olympic Sailing Center):
- Yihaiwan Steamed Seafood & BBQ (依海湾蒸汽海鲜烤肉): Offers a variety of affordable seafood set meals with generous portions and good taste.
- Yanxiaoguan (宴小馆): A perfect fusion of seafood and Cantonese snacks. The black truffle foie gras bun is rich and flavorful, the drunken steamed large grouper is thick and tender, and the lemon cherry tomatoes are refreshing and appetizing.
- Lover’s Dam Bar Street (情人坝酒吧街): Offers Western food, desserts, barbecue, and beer. Enjoy a drink while taking in the sea breeze during an evening stroll on Lover’s Dam.
Day 2: Zhejiang Road Catholic Church → Pichaiyuan → Golden Beach in Huangdao
First Stop: Zhejiang Road Catholic Church ⏱1H
Located on Zhejiang Road, the Catholic Church is one of Qingdao’s most famous Western-style buildings and a popular spot for couples to take wedding photos. The interior of the church is bright and spacious, with stained glass windows casting a colorful glow. If you visit on a Sunday morning, you can observe a Mass and listen to the majestic sound of the pipe organ.
Tips:
There are many nearby attractions, including the Protestant Church, Signal Hill Park, Lao She’s Former Residence, and the former German Governor’s Residence, all of which can be reached by heading east along Zhongshan Road.
Second Stop: Pichaiyuan ⏱2H
🚦 Zhejiang Road Catholic Church → Pichaiyuan: 10-minute walk.
Pichaiyuan, with its name steeped in various historical tales, has now become a bustling commercial area combining dining and entertainment. After a morning of exploring, this is a great spot for lunch. Popular snacks include tofu pudding, Guozi stinky tofu, Qingdao old yogurt, potstickers, and grilled squid. Don’t forget to pair your meal with an authentic Qingdao beer. If you’re in the mood for seafood, be sure to choose a reputable restaurant. Pichaiyuan is also home to many artisans who create sugar paintings, dough figurines, and sugar sculptures. You can even watch a live performance at the Jiangning Guild Hall while enjoying your meal.
Third Stop: Golden Beach in Huangdao ⏱3H
🚦 Pichaiyuan → Golden Beach in Huangdao: About 1 hour by bus (Tunnel Line 3 or 7).
After lunch, hop on a bus to Golden Beach, which takes about an hour. While you may have already visited the Second Bathing Beach, Golden Beach offers even better sand quality and water clarity, with a larger area. It’s one of the top beaches in the country, making it a must-visit for beach lovers! There’s also Shilaoren Bathing Beach, so you can choose between the two, or visit both if you can’t get enough of the beach. The combination of sunshine, sand, and waves never gets old! After enjoying the beach, you can grab some seafood nearby, making for a perfect end to the day. Make sure to apply sunscreen when visiting the beach at midday!
Dining Recommendations:
🍴Lunch (Pichaiyuan):
Lunch will be at the Pichaiyuan Snack Street, so don’t forget to try the mentioned snacks.
- Zhangjia Tanzi Meat (张家坛子肉): A time-honored Shandong cuisine restaurant, known for its signature Tanzi meat.
- Wangjie Barbecue (王姐烧烤): A popular chain barbecue restaurant with a wide variety of tasty options.
- Republic Seafood Dumpling House (民国海鲜饺子楼): Famous for its fresh seafood dumplings, caramel pudding, and unique Xi Shi tofu.
- 1937 Qingdao Old Flavor (1937青岛老味道): Known for its rich Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup, stuffed with abalone, sea cucumber, quail eggs, and more. The highly praised Old Qingdao fried meat is also a must-try.
Other options include Hanghang Seafood Barbecue (航航海鲜烧烤家常菜), Zhangji Chaochao Seafood Dumplings (张记超超海鲜水饺), Baolong Big Pot Steamed Seafood (宝龙大锅蒸海鲜), and countless other well-rated seafood restaurants waiting for you to discover.
🍴Dinner (Golden Beach):
In the evening, find a seafood restaurant near Golden Beach. Dachao Live (大超活), Juxianfu (聚仙府), and No. 87 (87号) are all great seafood barbecue stalls. Don’t forget to try the local specialty: mackerel dumplings.
Day 3: Mount Lao (Laoshan)
Mount Lao (Laoshan) ⏱1 Day
🚦Transportation: (Recommended to start at Yangkou)
- Bus: Take bus routes 109, 110, 383, 615, or 616 to the Mount Lao (Yangkou) Tourist Service Center.
- Subway: Take Metro Line 11 to Puli Station, then transfer to the shuttle bus or bus routes 109, 620, or 926 to the Mount Lao (Yangkou) Tourist Service Center.
Mount Lao is a vast scenic area, and it’s impossible to explore it all in just one day—three days would be ideal. Therefore, if you have limited time, you’ll need to prioritize which areas to visit. If you have more time, consider purchasing a full pass and staying in the area for a couple of days to explore thoroughly.
The Mount Lao Scenic Area includes five main sections: Jufeng, Taiqing, Huayan, Yangkou, and Jiushui. Among these, the most popular choice for visitors is the Yangkou+Huayan+Taiqing route. Yangkou is particularly favored because it offers both mountain and sea views, so it’s highly recommended to visit even if it’s the only area you explore. Jufeng offers mountain climbing, and Jiushui is known for its small waterfalls. The official Mount Lao website also provides themed routes tailored to different visitor preferences, which can be a useful reference if you’re having trouble deciding.
Recommendation: Start with the Yangkou Scenic Area, as it has the best scenery. Shortly after entering the Yangkou Scenic Area, you’ll find the cable car ticket office. To save energy, you can take the cable car both ways or just buy a one-way ticket. Once you reach the top by cable car, you can explore sites like Mitian Cave and Tianyuan. Afterward, you can head back down the mountain. Huayan and Taiqing can be visited at your discretion, with a sightseeing bus available from Yangkou to Huayan Temple (the ticket price includes the bus ride). From Huayan Temple, you can easily take a bus to Taiqing Palace.
Tips:
- Keep your ticket safe, as you will need it multiple times.
- Bring your own water and snacks.
Accommodation
Consider staying in the Laoshan District, which makes it convenient to continue exploring on the fourth day. If you plan to continue exploring Mount Lao the next day, staying within the scenic area is also an option.
Dining Recommendations
🍴Lunch & Dinner (Near Mount Lao): There are several well-reviewed restaurants near the scenic area that you can consider:
- Yesterday’s Countryside Wooden Workshop (昨日乡村原木工坊): A place with a great ambiance, mainly offering Western-style light meals, where you can also enjoy the view while dining.
- Wenlong Farmhouse Banquet (文龙农家宴): Located near Beijiu Long, this restaurant offers fresh ingredients and a variety of wild mountain delicacies.
Food inside the Mount Lao Scenic Area tends to be expensive, so it’s advisable to bring your own.
