A Three-Day, Two-Night Trip to Qingdao: Discover the Vibrant Charm of the West Coast New Area

📍 Qingdao · 👁 13 reads · ❤️ 353 likes

In the refreshing summer, where can you get a refreshing travel experience? Follow the sea breeze into summer Qingdao. Blue sky over the azure sea, red tiles among the green trees—this is the image of Qingdao that I, like many others, have always held. This time, I ventured deeper into the West Coast New Area for a three-day, two-night exploration of its allure. It turns out that in Qingdao, you can travel through time to learn about the growth of Chinese cinema; with midnight beer and the cool sea breeze, the city also reveals a youthful, energetic side.

【Itinerary】

DAY 1: Arrive in Qingdao, visit Golden Beach Beer City, check in at Red Coral Hotel, Mangrove Tree Resort World

DAY 2: Cangma Mountain Rural Eco-Tourism Resort, Shell Museum, check in at Wanda Vista Hotel, Huangtuzhuang Snack Street

DAY 3: Film Museum, Republic of China Street, Navy Park

【Travelogue Contents】

Beer City: A one-stop beer experience at Golden Beach Beer City

Rural Leisure: A benchmark experience at Cangma Mountain Rural Eco-Tourism Resort

Film Capital: Discover the century-old bond between Qingdao and cinema at the museum

Artistic Small Town: Unmissable Instagram-worthy spots on the West Coast

【Transportation】

Qingdao enjoys convenient transportation. Liuting International Airport offers direct flights to and from major cities across the country. It is the operating base for Shandong Airlines and Qingdao Airlines, with busy daily routes. For example, from my hometown Quanzhou in Fujian, there are two daily round-trip flights to Qingdao, operated by Xiamen Airlines and Qingdao Airlines. In addition to air travel, Qingdao was one of the earlier cities in China to have high-speed rail. With Qingdao Station, Qingdao North Station, and Qingdao West Station, there are plenty of options. Among them, Qingdao West Station is the nearest station to the West Coast New Area.

As the name suggests, the West Coast New Area lies on the western shore of Jiaozhou Bay. While the subway to the eastern downtown area is not yet completed, it is still quick to reach via the Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel and the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, both automobile routes.

【Highlights】

In my mind, Qingdao, along with Dalian and Xiamen, are coastal cities I deeply adore. My trip to Qingdao three years ago focused on the eastern side of Jiaozhou Bay, where I saw red tiles and green trees, blue sea and sky. This time, I certainly didn't miss the blue skies and sea of the West Coast New Area, but what I experienced more was the unique charm of this new city. Qingdao West Coast New Area is a place radiating youthful vitality—it is a film capital, a music island, a beer city, and also an exhibition city.

【Tips】

By June and July, summer has arrived in Qingdao, so heatstroke prevention and sun protection are essential. However, if you encounter rainy days, remember to pack a light long-sleeved garment, as rainy mornings and evenings can be a bit chilly. If your itinerary includes outdoor activities like mountain climbing, make sure to take mosquito repellent.

When it comes to Qingdao, beer is a must-mention. Each summer, the Qingdao beer carnival always goes viral online, becoming a great occasion for all kinds of people to gather and have fun. Golden Beach Beer City, located in the West Coast New Area, is one of the key venues for the Qingdao International Beer Festival in recent years. "A citywide celebration, shared passion"—this is the youthful magic of Beer City, drawing visitors from all directions.

Situated in the West Coast New Area, Golden Beach Beer City faces the Yellow Sea to the south, looking out toward Lingshan Island and Zhucha Island across the water. It adjoins the AAAA-rated Golden Beach scenic area, known as "Asia's No. 1 Beach," and covers roughly 80 hectares. Beer City features buildings such as the Beer Culture Museum, dome cinema, craft beer palace, and branded food cabins. Many of these structures are designed in the style of a characteristic beer town from Bavaria in southern Germany, creating a strong exotic atmosphere.

The Beer Culture Museum, located on the northwest side of the Beer Culture Expo Area, is a must-visit. Spanning over 4,000 square meters, the museum begins with a history of beer worldwide, explains the brewing process, conveys the cultural charm of beer, and offers a detailed account of Qingdao's own beer memories.

Inside, besides graphic and text displays, the museum exhibits a wealth of physical materials and brewing equipment, presenting beer culture through a panoramic lens. As a beer lover, how can you not learn about the past and present of beer?

After taking in the historical spectacle of beer, it’s time to seek some tipsy pleasure in this cool, sweet liquid. Golden Beach Beer City has beer supermarkets and various beer restaurants, and the Qingxi Gold Beer Craft Brewing Experience Hall is an excellent choice. Here, you can learn about different beer varieties and brewing grains, and see the production process in detail. Of course, the most delightful experience is sipping freshly brewed craft beer.

Craft beer only began to gain popularity in China in the last decade, but the pure brewing technique behind it was mastered and put into production by Germans hundreds of years ago. The experience hall uses traditional German techniques that date back over 600 years. To enhance the tasting experience, the hall offers multiple bar counters and dining areas. Here, you can choose a craft beer that suits your taste.

The kitchen also serves a variety of authentic local Qingdao delicacies. We had our first day’s dinner right inside the experience hall. A lavish meal paired with several different craft beers—this is how the tipsy experience in Beer City begins.

After tiring of the city's bustle, there always comes a longing to get close to nature and wander among the mountains. In Qingdao, if you're looking for such a place, I'd recommend Cangma Mountain. The newly developed rural eco-tourism resort here is a national demonstration site for leisure agriculture and rural tourism, and a benchmark for rural tourism in Shandong. Since 2008, the attractions and transport infrastructure have been continuously upgraded and improved. Spending a weekend at Cangma Mountain has become a popular getaway for Qingdao residents.

With a light rain falling from the sky, we traveled from the noisy city to the foot of Cangma Mountain. The mountaintop was wrapped in mist, exceptionally fresh. One of the more famous features here is the agricultural eco-farm. The construction of a tourism town allows visitors to settle in, and the establishment of organic vegetable bases gives residents an extra option. Our group also enjoyed the fun of picking vegetables.

Outside the greenhouse, it was raining; inside, the fruits and vegetables were growing beautifully. Ripe tomatoes of yellow and red varieties were ready for picking right off the vine, and you could taste them on the spot, because no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used here. In addition to tomatoes, you’ll also find cucumbers, small pumpkins, and other produce.

Cangma Mountain on the West Coast also holds a touch of Santorini romance. Have you ever dreamed of riding a horse through vast fields of purple blossoms? The spike flower fields of Cangma Mountain create just such a romantic tableau. Carpets of spike flowers cling to the hillsides, and when the breeze blows, they become layers of purple waves.

Put on protective gear, mount a steed—this is a must-do experience here. If you choose the right outfit and the right horse, your photos are sure to break the internet.

Of course, Cangma Mountain Rural Eco-Tourism Resort offers more than just this. If you have enough time, you can also wander through the film town inside the resort. In summary, Cangma Mountain is a comprehensive tourist destination covering 12 sub-projects, including Qianxi Valley, auto camp, forest park, Blueberry Town, forest hot springs, and hang gliding. Here, every visit across the seasons promises a different experience.

When the summer breeze blows into Qingdao, besides the stunning coastal scenery, there is also an oriental "film dream factory." Qingdao is China's film capital. Films like 2019's "The Wandering Earth" and "Crazy Alien" were produced here. In recent years, with policy guidance and continuous improvement in hardware and software, Qingdao's film industry has been growing steadily.

With the official opening of the Qingdao Film Museum in the Lingshan Bay Film and Television Cultural Industry Zone of the West Coast Economic New Area, the memories of Chinese cinema and the film stories of Qingdao are becoming increasingly familiar to people through this museum, which faces the sea and leans against the mountains. Whether you're a long-time Qingdao resident or a visitor making a special trip, the Qingdao Film Museum always has something to offer.

Nestled at the foot of Chaoyang Mountain, the museum is housed in a European-style castle building. Its delicate yet elegant exterior decoration and color matching have made it a minor internet celebrity spot. What’s even more noteworthy is that the museum is built across a road; a four-lane dual carriageway passes beneath it, making it also a road tunnel.

Aside from its splendid castle appearance and its setting between mountain and sea, the museum was also one of the venues for the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival. The first floor spans 2,730 square meters and is divided into two main sections: the World Film Exhibition Hall and the Qingdao Film Exhibition Hall. Following the narrative thread of "the long river of light and shadow," the exhibition halls use graphics, physical exhibits, and digital displays to illustrate the century-long bond between Qingdao and Chinese cinema.

One of the museum's highlights is its stunning interior design. The indoor world of the Qingdao Film Museum is brimming with a sense of technology, making you feel as if you've stepped into a sci-fi film in an instant. Here, through holographic booths, VR experiences, and green-screen compositing, you can immerse yourself in cinematic images.

The museum also showcases many classic films from home and abroad. An entire wall of posters will inevitably trigger a memory or two. Heading upstairs to the second floor reveals another realm. This space is a new type of cultural and art venue that integrates leisure, entertainment, and education. You can enjoy a classic American coffee here, or pick a favorite book from the shelf and while away an afternoon reading. And the aerospace-themed exhibition hall is also well worth a visit.

Qingdao Film Museum is located at 2777 Binhai Avenue, West Coast New Area, on the north side of the Sunac Mall pedestrian street. Driving is more convenient, and parking is available. The museum is closed on Mondays, and open from 9 AM to 5 PM on other days.

Qingdao has always held a strong appeal for young people—arty, bourgeois, these have become synonymous with the city. During our trip, we also visited many such Instagram-worthy spots. The first one has a very interesting name: a bookstore called "Not a Bookstore." Not a Bookstore has several branches in Qingdao, blending bookstore, library, café, and creative shop into a relaxing space. It’s an inclusive arts and culture venue, a boundary-free composite concept store. The branch I visited today is located in the Golden Beach Beer City, West Coast New Area.

This bookstore is beneath the museum building in Golden Beach Beer City, Huangdao District. Its biggest feature is that it’s open 24 hours. Besides books and creative products, it also serves coffee and craft beer. There’s no minimum spend; book prices aren’t the topic, but drinks like coffee average around 30 yuan. You can take artistic, refreshing photos here, making it suitable for couples and families.

When you go to the seaside, aren’t you often drawn to the little shells on the beach? If you're interested in shells, the Qingdao Shell Museum should definitely be on your itinerary. Located by Tangdao Bay in the West Coast New Area, it’s a private shell museum combining shell research, collection, science education, and cultural tourism. The museum covers about 2,600 square meters, and its biggest highlight is the largest indoor beach runway in China.

The Shell Museum is open from 9 AM to 6 PM daily, closing one hour earlier in winter. There’s an admission fee: 70 yuan per adult.

Besides fun, food is, of course, indispensable. During my days in Qingdao, most meals were at hotels, but I also managed to visit a few highly recommended restaurants online. Langya Stir-fried Chicken and Year 3 Class 2 BBQ are two that are well worth a visit.

Year 3 Class 2 BBQ, with its nostalgic school theme, serves generous portions of authentic grilled dishes. The interior decor instantly transports you back to your student days. Sitting in this classroom-like setting, sipping beer and munching on skewers, is a truly unique experience.

Qingdao is a renowned exhibition city in China. With the completion and operation of the China Railway World Expo City in the West Coast New Area, the West Coast has hosted many large-scale domestic and international exhibitions. Consequently, major international hotel brands have moved in one after another. During our two nights in Qingdao, we chose the Red Coral Hotel at Mangrove Tree Resort World and the Wanda Vista Hotel Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis.

Wanda Vista Hotel Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis is located on Star Island in the Oriental Movie Metropolis of the West Coast New Area. Facing the sea, it’s a luxury hotel under the Wanda Hotels & Resorts group. The hotel adopts a simplified European modern style infused with marine elements, highlighting the ocean theme. Decorations and artworks incorporate motifs like coral and waves, creating a relaxed, clean vacation atmosphere.

The Red Coral Hotel at Mangrove Tree Resort World, part of the Jindian Group, is on Binhai Avenue in the West Coast New Area. Calling it just a hotel would be an understatement. Mangrove Tree has always been built as a resort world—Sanya is like this, and so is Qingdao. The Qingdao Mangrove Tree Hotel, in addition to chic and comfortable rooms, has many supporting buildings and entertainment facilities, making it a rare vacation destination.

With a rushed itinerary, there were still many places on Qingdao's West Coast that I couldn't visit. From the azure seaside to the emerald foot of Cangma Mountain, I sensed a livable, charming new area. From the glittering neon lights of Star Island to the overflowing aroma of beer in Beer City, this is the youthfulness and vitality that the new area exudes.

Travelogue Contents

1. Introduction

2. Beer City: A one-stop beer experience at Golden Beach Beer City

3. Rural Leisure: A benchmark experience at Cangma Mountain Rural Eco-Tourism Resort

4. Film Capital: Discover the century-old bond between Qingdao and cinema at the museum

5. Artistic Small Town: Unmissable Instagram-worthy spots on the West Coast

6. Hotel Recommendations

7. Afterword

Tourism Information

Hotel Index

Guide Index

Flight Ticket Index