Huashi Villa (花石楼), situated at the southern end of the Badaguan Scenic Area in Qingdao, faces the Second Bathing Beach, boasting unique scenery and beautiful surroundings. Constructed in 1932, it occupies an area of 800 square meters, with a main structure of 5 floors and an observation deck on the top floor, featuring an iron pointed roof. The exterior walls are constructed of granite stones, with a crenelated parapet wall on the top of the tower. It is a European-style castle-like building that integrates various Western architectural art styles, blending Greek and Roman styles with Gothic architectural features. With marble walls inside the building and cobblestone walls outside, it has been known as “Huashi Lou” (Stone and Marble Building) for many years.
After the October Socialist Revolution in the Soviet Union, a large number of Russians settled in Qingdao, some of whom were quite wealthy. In 1932, a Belarusian named Gratsimov built this seaside villa on the coastal corner. The steps under the entrance of the building are made of granite stones, which can be used for evening lighting or flower planting. The front of the building is a combination of circular and polygonal shapes, very unique. The stone steps downstairs are divided into 2 layers, with 6 steps on the upper layer and 9 steps on the lower layer. A stone path leads to the iron gate, and many roses are planted in the courtyard, with ivy climbing up the outer wall, making the entire Huashi Villa more vibrant.
Before the liberation, Chiang Kai-shek once lived here, and Dai Li, the head of the secret service, and the movie star Bai Guang also stayed here when they came to Qingdao. After the liberation, Huashi Villa became a reception place for domestic and foreign dignitaries. Leaders of the party and the country such as Dong Biwu and Chen Yi have stayed here. Huashi Villa has also been closely linked with film and television art. Movies such as “Sacred Mission,” “Murder Case on White Fog Street,” and “Presidential Action” were filmed here, both interior and exterior scenes.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | 8.5 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0532-83869357 |
Location and Transportation
Huashi Villa is located at 18 Huanghai Road, Shinan District, Qingdao. It is situated next to the famous Badaguan Scenic Area and faces the Second Bathing Beach. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 458, get off at Huanggai Road Stop (黄海路站), and walk about 400 meters to the southwest.
Metro: The closest metro station to Huashi Villa is Taipingjiao Park (太平角公园站) on line 3. After getting out of the station from Exit B, walk about 650 meters to the southwest to reach the villa.