Qingdao Zhongshan Park (青岛中山公园), originally known as Forest Park, was established in the early 20th century. In 1929, it was renamed in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of the Chinese democratic revolution, becoming Zhongshan Park. Covering an expansive area of 743,000 square meters, it stands as one of China’s earliest parks and is . Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea to the south, the park boasts lush vegetation and stunning natural landscapes.
The most renowned feature of Zhongshan Park is the Cherry Blossom Avenue, particularly during the springtime when the annual cherry blossom festival takes place. This picturesque avenue leads directly to the zoo within the park, serving as its main thoroughfare. With thousands of cherry blossom trees on either side, the avenue forms a beautiful cherry blossom corridor. Around 20 days before and after the May Day holiday, Qingdao hosts its annual cherry blossom festival, attracting crowds to witness the spectacle of pale pink single-petal and light red double-petal cherry blossoms adorning the branches, creating a breathtaking scene reminiscent of rosy clouds.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Zhongshan Park
- Vlog about Zhongshan Park
- Attractions near Zhongshan Park
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0532-82870564 |
Location and Transportation
Zhongshan Park is located at 28 Wendeng Road, Shinan District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 26, 31 Loop Line, 202, 206 Loop Line, 219 Loop Line, 223, 228, 304, 316, 317, 370, 458 Loop Line, 604 Loop Line, or 605, and get off at Zhongshan Park Stop (中山公园站).
Metro: The closest metro station to the park is Zhongshan Park (中山公园) on line 3. After getting out of the station from Exit A, walk about 300 meters to the northwest to reach the park.
Highlights of Zhongshan Park
Summer Lantern Festival
Another highlight of Zhongshan Park is the annual summer lantern festival, which attracts numerous visitors. On midsummer nights, the park is adorned with colorful lanterns from Chengdu, Zigong, Nanjing, and other places, as well as traditional flower lanterns from the park itself. The dazzling display of lanterns creates a mesmerizing atmosphere, captivating visitors with enchanting lantern riddles. The lantern festival began in 1979 and has since grown into a major park event, comparable to the cherry blossom festival in popularity.
Chrysanthemum Exhibition
Since the 1950s, Zhongshan Park has hosted an annual chrysanthemum exhibition. In 1957, over 700 varieties were showcased. Despite interruptions during the Cultural Revolution, the exhibition resumed in 1977 and has continued annually since then. Today, the exhibition features over 700 varieties, including rare specimens like the purple Shuaiqi, the black Mohe, and intricately crafted displays such as Mandarin ducks spreading their wings and mythical flying horses.
Other Attractions
Aside from these seasonal events, Zhongshan Park offers various attractions year-round. The Taiping Mountain Cable Car provides panoramic views of Qingdao city, while the Qingdao TV Tower, one of the city’s iconic landmarks, offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire cityscape. Additionally, the park is home to a zoo, making it a popular destination for families to enjoy a day out together.
In the park, there is also a Lotus Pond, where the surface is covered with lotus leaves. It is said that Dr. Sun Yat-sen once presented four lotus seeds to his Japanese friend Mr. Tanaka Takashi as a token of gratitude for his support and assistance to the Chinese revolutionary cause. These seeds symbolized pure friendship. Later, one of the seeds sprouted and was named “Sun Wen Lotus.” In 1995, Japanese friends of China returned its seeds to Qingdao, and it was planted in this pond.
