Climb High, Gaze at the Sea: Four Must-Know Ways to Explore Laoshan!
“Mt. Tai may be high, but it’s no match for Laoshan by the East Sea.” Laoshan, hailed as the “Number One Fairy Mountain on the Sea” by the ancients, draws countless visitors from home and abroad with its unique scenic beauty and profound cultural heritage. As a “native” who has lived in Qingdao for many years, I’ve compiled all the information about Laoshan here to help you choose the best way to explore it.
Things You Might Not Know About Laoshan
When did you first hear about Laoshan? Was it the childhood story of the Laoshan Taoist, or the tongue-twisting Laoshan Baihua Snake Grass Water? You might not know all the fun things this famous place has to offer? Let me give you a sneak peek:
Did you know there are four routes up Laoshan?
Laoshan is actually a large scenic area, not just a single mountain trail. It includes four main scenic spots: Yangkou, Jufeng, Liuqing-Yangkou, and Beijiushui, plus the branch Erlongshan Scenic Area (a rarely visited offshoot with little public transport, so we’ll skip it for now). Below I’ll detail the highlights of each, to help those planning to climb Laoshan find the route that suits them best.
01. The Essential Route — Yangkou: Closest mountain-to-sea climb
02. Peculiar Peaks & Rocks — Jufeng: Ascend for panoramic sea views
03. Popular Route — Taiqing: Taoist Culture + Yangkou
04. A Change of Scenery — Beijiushui: Nature’s beauty with “streams flowing forever”
Yangkou offers the closest-to-the-sea climbing trail — “climb high to see the fairy mountain on the sea” refers exactly to this, with a lovely view overlooking Yangkou Beach. It’s also the only one of the four areas where you can start your visit without taking a scenic shuttle bus. Beyond the scenery, the highlight you must not miss is the challenging Mitian Cave, the most thrilling part of this route. The cave is winding, steep, and narrow; in its darkest spots you can’t see your hand in front of your face, and at its tightest you have to squeeze through. Those on the heavier side should think twice before attempting Mitian Cave — don’t say I didn’t warn you if you get stuck! There’s no light inside, so be sure to bring a flashlight or a power bank to keep your phone charged for illumination. If you’re worried about doing the whole climb, you can take the cable car both ways, explore Mitian Cave, and then take photos at the summit — that’s enough to enjoy the views. Yangkou Scenic Area is on the east side of Laoshan. If you bought an e-ticket online, exchange it at the visitor service center in the Yangkou parking lot; those driving can park there for free. If you buy tickets on-site, continue from the parking lot toward the Yangkou ticket gate (about a 10-minute walk), and you’ll find the ticket office right next to the gate, where you can buy both entrance and cable car tickets. Ticket info: Peak season (Apr 1 – Oct 31): 90 RMB per person; Off-peak (Nov 1 – Mar 31): 60 RMB per person. Yangkou cable car: 35 RMB one-way, 60 RMB round-trip.
02. Peculiar Peaks & Rocks — Jufeng: Ascend for panoramic sea views
03. Popular Route — Taiqing: Taoist Culture + Yangkou
04. A Change of Scenery — Beijiushui: Nature’s beauty with “streams flowing forever”
If you’re treating Laoshan as a once-in-a-lifetime must-see, I’d suggest skipping this route. After all, babbling brooks can be found in many places. But if you’ve already visited Laoshan, seen the strange peaks and rocks, climbed high for the sea views, and just want to stretch your legs, then this route is perfect. Beijiushui Scenic Area focuses more on natural scenery. The mountain stream has nine bends and eighteen shallow pools. In hot summer you can wade barefoot; in winter, admire the ice-covered waterfalls in their snowy splendor — the natural beauty is breathtaking.
After reading about the four scenic areas, have you picked your favorite route? Some departure points for Laoshan scenic spots have tight schedules, and public buses waste time with frequent stops — for a distance of around 30 km, taking a bus can cost you about an extra hour and a half compared to driving yourself or joining a tour bus. So if you want a hassle-free experience and don’t have a car, consider joining a group tour to explore Laoshan.
