A Free-Spirited 6-Day Qingdao Journey: Sleep in the Castle from *Hello Mr. Billionaire*, Snap Stunning Photos, and Chill at the Most Instagrammable Cafés
I’ve always loved cities by the sea. I feel that people who live there, under such a vast sky and open waters, must have equally broad hearts. That’s why I chose Qingdao.
The castle from the movie *Hello Mr. Billionaire* blew me away, and I never expected the filming location to be right here in Shandong, China. That’s why I decided to spend a night at the Wencheng Castle in Penglai.
I wanted to go to Qingdao and travel on the trail of a movie. And so, a spur-of-the-moment trip began!
Because it really was a last-minute decision during the National Day holiday, I booked my flights on the fly. I avoided the most expensive dates of October 1st and 2nd, and departed on October 4th—prices hadn’t skyrocketed too much. Returning two days after the peak saw fares drop back to normal. So, on October 4th, Shandong Airlines (part of Air China, so you can earn miles) 7:00–9:25 Chongqing to Qingdao at ¥720 per person. On October 9th, Shandong Airlines 20:20–23:10 at ¥604 per person.
1. Qingdao airport has airport buses on different routes to various points in the city. Very convenient, ¥20 per person.
2. The airport also has direct buses to other tourist destinations in Shandong. If you’re heading nearby, you can go straight from the airport—very handy.
3. Qingdao’s metro isn’t extensive—I think there are only three lines: Line 1, Line 2, and Line 3. Most buses start at ¥1, but there are two tourist bus routes starting at ¥5. Taxi flagfall is ¥10, and I never experienced any detours or price gouging—Qingdao is a mature, tourist-friendly big city, so it felt totally trustworthy. So I mostly used buses and taxis. The metro lines are still too few.
About my Qingdao free-and-easy itinerary:
October 4th: Arrive in Qingdao, check in at Ji Hotel. Explore: Olympic Sailing Center – May Fourth Square – Music Square – Mixc Mall. Eat: Longxiyuan Fish Soup Dumplings, Gechuan Fish & Seafood Dumplings.
October 5th: Zhanqiao Pier – St. Michael’s Cathedral – German Prison Museum – Badaguan Scenic Area – University Road & Yushan Road – Qingdao Light Show. Eat: Yan Xiaoguan, Fat Fairy.
October 6th: Yan’erdao Hill Park, bus to Penglai, check in at Wencheng Castle in Penglai.
October 7th: Visit Wencheng Castle, bus back to Qingdao, check in at Orange Crystal Hotel. Eat: Steamed Seafood Hot Pot, Singapore Mum’s Baked Buns.
October 8th: Hang at the super-Instagrammable 25+ Café, Hisense Plaza – Qingdao Beer Museum – Taidong Pedestrian Street.
October 9th: Qingdao Railway Station – Former German Governor’s Residence Museum – Signal Hill Park – check out the trendy Vanilla Café, then head home.
I’m very picky about accommodation, and this time I brought my mom along. She has a serious, next-level obsession with cleanliness—even stronger than mine. For homestays, even in Japan, she can find a whole list of faults, so she prefers hotels with standard professional procedures. So I opted to book hotels. During the National Day holiday, accommodation prices in tourist cities really did multiply by 1–2 times. I searched for ages and found a chain hotel with a convenient location, a price I could swallow, and enough cleanliness to set my mind at ease—Ji Hotel.
The whole style is a Japanese minimalism, and Ji Hotel was renovated from an old building. Actually, this building houses a hotel and a restaurant, so the two entrances lead to different worlds, which is quite interesting.
The location is near the Qingdao seaside, only a ten-minute walk to May Fourth Square. I feel this area is where old and new city meet—wide open space, eight-lane roads. Compared to the old city, I prefer the more spacious, less crowded vibe. Hehe.
The room also shows a touch of tea culture, though we didn’t use it. The room wasn’t huge, but pretty clean.
The lobby is simple yet stylish and spacious; free coffee is available too.
Since I registered as a member, breakfast was discounted to ¥30 per person. There was quite a good variety, but the noodle flavor was really nothing to praise.
For our last two days in Qingdao, we stayed at another hotel also under the Huazhu Group—a higher-end brand. One evening we passed by and were drawn in by its glittering facade. Now that I’m older, I have real thing for BLING BLING. Then I used a member discount coupon: the price was ¥420 per night.
1. This Orange Crystal is probably the top-end in that brand series in Qingdao—not a budget hotel but a high-end trendy seaview hotel, so the price is a bit higher than others.
2. But it looks so good! I love seeing the entrance glow with purple, blue, red, and yellow after 19:30 each evening. As you enter the front door, there’s no front desk in sight, but a large modern art display space. The color scheme leans cool—black, white, grey. The only pops of color are the two red horses and one red elephant at the entrance—a brilliant touch, perfect for photos, with a rich art gallery atmosphere.
3. The elevator also has dim, moody lighting—very chic and upscale. The murals on the walls have an artsy vibe.
4. As soon as you swipe your card to enter the room, a Bluetooth speaker starts playing cheerful Western music. You can also connect your phone to play your own tunes.
5. The location: walk 500 meters straight down the seaside road from Mixc Mall; it’s super close to both Mixc and May Fourth Square, and also very near the Olympic Sailing Center and Hisense Plaza (where luxury brands cluster).
Qingdao Sights – May Fourth Square
Because our accommodation was right near May Fourth Square, we went there many times. Actually, a cluster of five-star hotels, such as Shangri-La and The Westin, are all in this area, along with Mixc Mall.
Our flight was very early, so after a nap at the hotel, we first strolled over to May Fourth Square. The square got its name because Qingdao played a pivotal role as the fuse for the great May Fourth Movement in modern Chinese history. Its most famous feature is the sculpture “May Wind.” Shaped like a spiraling upward wind in blazing red, it embodies the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal patriotic spirit and national strength of the May Fourth Movement. It has become one of the iconic landmarks of the new-century Qingdao. Since Donghai Road cuts right through the middle of the square, May Fourth Square is divided into north and south zones. The north zone connects to the Qingdao Municipal Government and serves as the central square. The south zone borders Fushan Bay and is a coastal park for both zones. The central square in the north has a flat terrain with a large, smooth open lawn in the middle. Between the square’s perimeter and the lawn, fine patterns are paved with Qingdao’s high-quality granite, and a circular fountain was designed at the center. Tall buildings flank the east and west sides of the square.
During National Day, May Fourth Square was packed with tourists, especially after dinner. Huge crowds flocked here to witness a grand spectacle: the light show. Qingdao’s light show is truly magnificent. Along Fushan Bay near the square, 53 buildings were fully lit up. Every evening from 20:00 to 20:30 during the seven-day holiday, they displayed an ever-changing sequence of dynamic images: a golden giant dragon flew into the picture, weaving between the buildings and finally lying across the sea; layers of pounding waves surged, and old Qingdao architecture appeared one after another, even the panorama of Along the River During the Qingming Festival. There were also miniature fireworks over the sea and laser patterns beamed into the sky. It was spectacular and grand—proof of a mature tourist city.
Qingdao Sights – Olympic Sailing Center
After enjoying the light show, you can walk over to the adjacent Olympic Sailing Center and tick it off your list.
The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center is the Qingdao International Sailing Center. It’s now free to enter with your ID card. The sailing competitions for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 13th Paralympic Games were held here. To prepare for the Olympic sailing events and to build a “Sailing City,” the Qingdao municipal government relocated the entire Beihai Shipyard to the Haixi Bay in Huangdao District and developed the International Sailing Center into a distinctive marine sports architectural complex, reflecting the concepts of “Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics, People’s Olympics.”
At first, I wondered why this sight would need a ¥30 electric sightseeing car. But even though you can see all the iconic structures at a glance, walking around really made my legs ache. Vast and magnificent—truly Chinese style. Walking about one kilometer from May Fourth Square along the seaside takes you to the Olympic Sailing Center; it’s open all day and free. The Olympic Sailing Museum ticket is ¥30, open 9:00–17:00 (closed on Mondays in low season).
Lovers’ Dam is inside the Olympic Sailing Center. After the Olympics, the main breakwater was transformed into Lovers’ Dam Bar Street, which opened in summer 2009, hosting over 20 bars, cafés, and restaurants. The main breakwater is 534 meters long and about 47 meters wide, ending with a white lighthouse. At night, standing on the dam, you feel the breeze, watch the sea, and gaze across at the brightly lit city center. The romantic atmosphere makes it a favorite date spot. And actually, Lovers’ Dam is the best place to view the light show.
Boats with their masts up and private yachts fill the harbor. The Olympic sailing regattas were held here in 2008. Walking here at night has its own charm. But I felt there weren’t that many sailboats, so I wasn’t overly impressed—I’ve seen too many overseas.
On a sunny day, the seaside promenade is perfect for a couple of shots.
Qingdao Sights – Zhanqiao Pier
On the second day, we decided to start our day’s journey at Zhanqiao Pier. The pier has over a hundred years of history. It was built in 1892, the 18th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing dynasty. The Qing government dispatched General Zhang Gaoyuan, the commander of Dengzhou, to station four battalions of troops in Qingdao. To facilitate the transportation of military supplies, two piers were built, one of which was Zhanqiao Pier. Completed in 1893, it was 200 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a stone base and lime surface, and iron railings on both sides.
During the National Day holiday, Zhanqiao Pier was insanely crowded. We looked from afar and saw a dense mass of people, so we decided to beat it. The No. 1 Bathing Beach is also nearby (just a beach, and from the car, it looked like a massive dumpling boil). St. Michael’s Cathedral is nearby too, within walking distance.
PS: Qingdao has No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 Bathing Beaches, which are public beaches where people swim and play in summer. There’s also a folk customs museum near Zhanqiao Pier, but honestly, when I saw it was a stop mainly for group tours, I wasn’t interested. I think coming to Qingdao is all about seeing German-style architecture.
From Zhanqiao Pier, it’s less than a 1,000-meter walk to St. Michael’s Cathedral. Qingdao was once a German colony, so many German-style buildings now delight tourists—the cathedral is one of them.
It is formally called St. Michael’s Cathedral, designed by German architect Alfred Frédéric Pieler in Gothic and Romanesque styles. Originally planned to be 100 meters high, it coincided with the outbreak of WWII, and Hitler strictly forbade the outflow of German funds, so the design had to be revised to its current size. Construction began in 1932 and was completed in 1934. The tower is 56 meters high, the tallest building in Shandong before 1949, and it is China’s only consecrated church.
There are an incredible number of wedding photoshoots in front of the church—on one downhill road I saw at least ten couples. To enter the church, an adult ticket is ¥10. I think just seeing the exterior is enough; compared to German churches, it’s more on the minimalist side.
Adult ticket ¥10, student ticket ¥5.
Around this downhill stretch, there are also some graffiti and artsy cafés, serving as backdrops for wedding and couple shots.
I think the German-style architecture in Qingdao is best viewed by looking up. My German friend, whom I met last year when I traveled to Germany, commented on my WeChat Moments: “We say ‘Tsingdao.’ It is difficult for all Germans to speak Chinese words correctly.” Then added: “Qingdao is a twin city of Regensburg.” (PS: I’ve been to Regensburg and will share a Germany travelogue sometime; it’s on my old blog for now.)
As you walk, just look up—German architectural flair is everywhere.
Qingdao Posts & Telecommunications Museum: The building dates back to 1901, the earliest surviving post and telecommunications building in Qingdao. Three floors are open: the ground floor is a reception hall, antique telephone wall, Jiao’ao 1901 slow post, and souvenir shop; the second floor is the main exhibition hall; the fourth floor houses the Tower 1901, the only century-old wooden tower currently open to the public in Qingdao. The double-tower Gothic structure of Tower 1901 showcases 120-year-old construction techniques and is an important window into architectural art and a witness to modern and contemporary history. Admission: free.
This turquoise building seems to be an office of a Qingdao cultural center and is also very attractive.
Looking up, I spotted lovely “flowery windows.”
Just an ordinary restaurant, but its ivy-covered exterior drew many people to take photos.
Qingdao Sights – German Prison Museum
Walking from the cathedral less than 1,000 meters, you’ll reach the German Prison Museum, a distinctive museum that combines a castle-like prison complex and a judicial battalion building. It’s one of the earliest surviving colonial prisons in China. Ticket: ¥25 per person.
Why would you want to visit this formerly eerie prison? Because one spiral staircase has become an internet-famous spot.
As a travel pro and editor-in-chief of a travel publication, I had to try all those trendy photo spots.
Actually, that staircase is the exit after touring the main building. The museum is a German castle-style structure: thick red brick walls, sharp towers, classical yet mysterious, making you stop to snap pictures.
Inside, you’ll see the “castle’s” interior and learn about its history as both a prison and a detention center, including the cell conditions. Start the tour here.
The prison was built in 1900, during the German colonial period, specifically to hold non-Chinese prisoners, hence called the “European Prison.” Later, it was used by the Japanese invaders and the Nanjing Nationalist government as a jail and detention center. The complex consists of five prison blocks named “Benevolence,” “Righteousness,” “Propriety,” “Wisdom,” and “Fidelity,” but mainly only the “Benevolence” block is open for visits.
Some cells have video simulation windows—you can peek through small holes to watch short scenes reenacting prison life, complete with howling wind sound effects, making it feel eerily real.
The basement houses water cells added by the Japanese invaders; this is the most grim and oppressive part of the prison. You can see various torture devices. The Japanese army cruelly tortured many Chinese resistance fighters here—just imagining it is terrifying.
The prison museum isn’t big inside, mainly showing guard duty rooms, cells, and water cells. Some rooms have wax figures: uniformed guards and imprisoned revolutionary martyrs, made very lifelike in the dark prison environment.
Less than 500 meters from the museum sits another internet-famous photo spot: the intersection of University Road and Yushan Road. A must-visit for hipsters. From afar, you can see a crowd gathered at this corner. Getting a photo without random passersby is near impossible—I eventually gave up.
This is also a newly popular spot for its red wall. In the end, I chose to just pose against the red wall, which turned out better in photos.
Qingdao’s University Road—a thoroughfare in Shinan District—is known as “Qingdao’s First Road” because it’s the earliest modern road in the city’s history. University Road itself isn’t really a tourist sight; it’s because Ocean University of China is nearby, turning the area into a very hip neighborhood. Located in old Qingdao, not far from the sea, with little traffic and pleasant surroundings, the road is lined with tall plane trees. Nestled among them are small German-style houses with red roofs and yellow walls. There are many former residences of notable figures and plenty of cafés with a great vibe.
The real hipster paradise along University Road is Huangxian Road, near Lao She’s former home. Huangxian Road is only a few meters wide and less than 600 meters long, but it has a unique charm. Old houses on both sides, combining Chinese and Western styles, old and new, hide several artistic little shops that capture old Qingdao’s life and taste.
I’ve always loved taking photos with graffiti backdrops; here’s a round of them.
Nearby, a very artsy Japanese restaurant, Qiancao Shokudō, became our lunch spot.
It’s a shop embedded in a wall—like an air-raid shelter in Chongqing. You can’t tell there’s any building from outside. Inside the cave, there’s a small space. The décor is fresh and slightly literary. Only a few tables, and we queued for ages.
I thought my stir-fried udon was a failure. The ketchup was too sweet and greasy, and the udon instantly clumped together—mushy and unappetizing, a bit sickly. Style over substance. So it won’t make my Qingdao food recommendation list (I’ll recommend Qingdao eats at the end of this article).
Qingdao Sights – Badaguan
This is another must-see sight in Qingdao. Although it’s still called Badaguan (“The Eight Great Passes”), there are actually 10 roads. Ten serene, tree-lined avenues crisscross the area; the main roads are named after eight famous Great Wall passes, hence the collective name. Badaguan is the best place to appreciate Qingdao’s signature “red roofs, green trees, blue sea, and azure sky.” Located in the northern part of Huiquanjiao Scenic Area in Shandong Province, it’s a famous villa district known as the “Museum of World Architecture.”
Maybe because I visited during the National Day holiday, Badaguan’s beauty was drowned by the crowds. So I didn’t find it especially lovely. Two buildings in Badaguan are particularly famous: Huashi Villa (the Granite Villa) and Princess Villa. The queue at Huashi Villa was at least 100 people long on National Day. Admiring from afar, its design was very attractive. Note: Huashi Villa is a European castle-like building that blends various Western architectural styles—Greek, Roman, and Gothic elements.
Huashi Villa is near the No. 2 Bathing Beach, so the seaside sunset was also beautiful.
Princess Villa: Located at No. 10 Juyongguan Road, it’s a Danish-style building with a set of irregular sloping roofs, green walls, and red tiles, nestled among pines and cypresses.
But feel the queue during National Day—so I gave up.
Story: Princess Villa resembles a fairy-tale world by Andersen. In the 1920s, a Danish prince came to Qingdao and, passing through Badaguan, found the location delightful—close to the sea, ideal for a summer retreat. He ordered the Danish consul in Qingdao to purchase land and designed this Danish-style architecture. It was originally intended for the Danish princess to stay when she visited Qingdao in summer, but she never came; it’s still called “Princess Villa.”
This seaview spot is indeed off the beaten path. Looking at the sea here is a million times better than the jam-packed No. 1, 2, and 3 Bathing Beaches! Few people, beautiful sea, and free.
It’s the place of one of Qingdao’s ten sights — “Yandao Autumn Tide”...
Qingdao actually has many urban seaview garden constructions, but few tourists know them. I suppose this park was originally built for the wealthy residents of the nearby seaview apartments. We walked nearly 2 kilometers from Hong Kong Middle Road to reach it. Truly comfortable, wide-open, and sparsely crowded. Many nearby residents bring their kids here in the morning to play in the sand.
Yan’erdao Hill Park covers 20,000 square meters, can hold 16,000 people, and serve as an emergency shelter for over 20,000. With eco, landscape, cultural, fitness, and leisure functions, it’s a pleasant environment—a good refuge and a great place for residents to exercise and relax.
Yan’erdao is located in Shinan District, Qingdao, at the eastern end of Fushan Bay, a headland jutting into the sea. According to historical records, in May 1388, the Fushan Battalion of the Aoshan Garrison was established. When Qingdao first opened as a port, Yan’erdao was just a desolate seaside spot. In the Ming Dynasty, it was a true “island”; due to sediment deposition and artificial land reclamation, it became connected to the mainland as a headland. By the mid-Qing Dynasty, it had become attached to the land, forming today’s peninsula. The fishermen of Fushan built a Dragon King Temple here; though named after the Dragon King, it also enshrined the sea goddess Tianhou (Mazu). Since the Ming Dynasty, temples to the sea goddess (later called Tianhou Gong or Mazu Miao) were spread all along China’s coast.
Yandao Autumn Tide: Because the tides and vortexes of the bay constantly wash and erode Yan’erdao’s shores, reefs have formed. Every autumn, when big tides surge, towering waves pound the embankment—truly spectacular. It’s a famous Qingdao sight called “Yandao Autumn Tide.” The 1937 publication *An Overview of Qingdao* listed it among the “Ten Sights of Qingdao” (the other nine: “Flying Pavilion Echoing Billows,” “Peeping the Skies from a Dome,” “Fishing by the Bay,” “Lantern Lights on Qin Island,” “Appreciating Spring at Danqiu,” “Pure Chants of Zhanshan,” “East Garden Sea of Flowers,” “Pine Moon at Huiqi,” and “Snow on Pear Blossoms at Dengying”). It described it: “Yan’erdao lies east of Fushan Fort, a solitary peninsula seeming to fly into the sea. In autumn, high tides boom, especially worth seeing.”
The distinctive wooden railings showcase a different coastline; an unobstructed, sweeping view of the sea. I’ve heard it’s a paradise for astronomical observers. Sadly, since many trees have been planted in the past two years, stargazing isn’t as convenient as before.
A taxi driver told me that this area now has the most expensive real estate in Qingdao—around ¥80,000 per square meter.
We woke, had breakfast, visited this spot, then packed our bags to head to the destination I’d been longing for: the Wencheng Castle in Penglai.
Thanks to the movie *Hello Mr. Billionaire*, the Wencheng Castle in Penglai has become a sensation! Because it’s located between Yantai and Penglai, many people drive themselves or join a day tour. I chose neither, so sorting out transport was a big puzzle. I researched the castle’s location: it’s closer to Penglai Bus Station than Yantai Railway Station, about 20 kilometers away. But there’s no direct high-speed train from Qingdao to Penglai, so I opted to take a long-distance bus from Qingdao to Penglai Bus Station, then a taxi from there to Wencheng Castle. I arranged all this via Ctrip.
Qingdao Long-Distance Bus Station – Penglai Bus Station: ¥82 per person, departure 12:10, arrival 16:00.
Penglai Bus Station – Qingdao Long-Distance Bus Station: ¥83 per person, departure 14:10, arrival 18:00.
Penglai Bus Station – Wencheng Castle: ¥45-50, metered. I booked the taxi on Ctrip in advance, which felt safer and more reliable; the meter was used, no price gouging. Aren’t I resourceful!
I also booked the room via Ctrip; during National Day: ¥496 per night (standard room, including breakfast for two). I was puzzled why such a popular hotel only raised prices by about ¥100 while others were soaring. I read tons of online reviews—hardly a single positive one. But I was dying to see the real thing; “travel on the trail of movies” is a quiet rule I follow. So even if it wasn’t great, I went, with low expectations. And because I knew what to expect, it didn’t feel too disappointing. After all, I was there just for the architecture itself.
By the time we arrived, it was nearly dusk (it gets dark early in the north). I quickly snapped this photo, which my friends later voted as one of the top ten National Day photos. Haha.
The Wencheng Castle is located in Xiexi Village, Liujiagou Town, Penglai, near Majiagou, built with a $9 million investment by Canadian Chinese Mr. Li Wencheng and the Penglai Wencheng Architectural Decoration Co., Ltd. The castle skillfully combines European architectural elements, mainly Baroque style, using precious travertine as the main building material, embodying the essence of European architecture and decorative art and giving off a unique noble aura. It is surrounded by a moat filled with seawater. The concave-convex design means it presents varied perspectives from front or back, flat or three-dimensional. Though only four stories high, its unparalleled diversity of forms sparks endless imagination.
From the architecture itself, it’s truly magnificent and spectacular, especially eye-catching, making you think you’ve been transported to Europe. The photos really do turn out wonderfully.
There’s now a ticket booth right at the gate. Unless you’re a hotel guest, entering costs a ¥55 ticket. Even in the evening, plenty of tour buses were still ferrying tourists for visits—booming business. The movie effect is undeniably strong.
Wencheng Castle now has three castles, with Nos. 4 and 5 still under construction. One castle is for check-in, another for guest rooms. Let’s take a look inside the lodging castle, one of the main filming locations:
A round roof points straight to the sky, with trapezoidal and conical roofs on both sides interweaving and overlapping, chimney stacks adding accents—all fully expressing the romantic and heroic spirit unique to European architecture.
The lobby is practically empty, nothing much there. A huge movie wrap-up poster still hangs high.
The hotel’s original design concept was honestly brilliant. Details show quality.
The elliptical hall, 20 meters high, is magnificent, making you feel like you’ve entered a sacred hall. It can host weddings, symphony concerts, international forums, etc.
Each floor’s corridors have many tall rectangular mirrors; in the morning, I combed my hair out in the hallway.
Now let me honestly describe the actual stay in one word: bad.
This is what the room really looked like. Why is it bad? Because it’s being run like a farmhouse inn.
(1) At check-in, the front desk was staffed by two 40-something rural aunties—I had a bad feeling right then. And no matter where you looked indoors or outdoors, all the staff you saw were middle-aged or older locals. So it’s a giant, good-looking farmhouse inn. As you can imagine, a farmhouse inn won’t give you high expectations for a stay.
(2) The lobby corners were full of toppled tables and chairs. Basically, any unused space or items were never tidied or cleaned. So you really shouldn’t look at the trash in the flower beds, the dust on the floor, or those random chairs and garbage appearing out of nowhere.
(3) The elevator never took you to the floor you wanted. We were on the 6th floor; each time we had to go to the 5th floor and walk one flight of stairs. And the stairwell was a complete storage dump—messy beyond belief, you couldn’t even step down. It felt like any area tourists wouldn’t go was piled with homeless junk.
(4) Breakfast and dinner were in another castle. For dinner, it was “you eat whatever the auntie cooks tonight.” So you could only go to the restaurant after 6 PM to find out what dishes were available. A huge restaurant, with tables and chairs all haphazard—never straightened up. Don’t look at the unused spaces; you’ll find them filthy. What a waste of the designer’s original intent. (The photo below shows the two dishes we ordered that day; portions were generous—farmhouse style, quantity over quality.)
A glance at the restaurant (the bar chairs were never righted because no one used them):
(5) The room was also minimalist in the extreme—nothing at all. The shower drain was covered with a web of hair; my mom removed it so showering wouldn’t flood our feet. I dared not use any of the toiletries—didn’t know what shoddy brand they were; I used my own.
(6) Breakfast: 7:00–8:30 AM. Probably because tour groups start visiting before 8 AM, breakfast was really early. The spread was quite abundant, but just basic farmhouse fare.
(7) Actually, the check-in castle is very beautiful. The stairway corners and meeting rooms are grand and elegant. But as I said, any unused space was definitely not cleaned—a huge dump, wasting the wall murals and original vision. So Wencheng Castle desperately needs a professional hotel management team to take over and run it properly, otherwise it’s such a waste, and eventually beyond saving.
The meeting room from *Hello Mr. Billionaire* was shot in this check-in castle.
The next morning, we woke up and did another photoshoot around Wencheng Castle. I wrote on my Moments: “Believe me, the most beautiful is already in my lens.” Yes, I didn’t want to look at or photograph the ugly parts—I was afraid of hurting my eyes.
This is Castle No. 5 under construction, a sunken design with red exterior walls.
After this photoshoot, our Penglai Wencheng Castle trip was over, and we headed back to Qingdao. One night is enough; definitely don’t stay longer.
Qingdao Hipster Café (1) — 25+ Café
Back in the big city, we started the next day with a morning coffee near Hisense Building, where we also had breakfast. Hisense Building is just 100 meters ahead from the Orange Crystal Hotel; on the 26th floor, there’s a sky café where you can get a morning cup and enjoy a sea view from above. Originally the staff café for Hisense Group, it turned into a high-rise café.
Why the name 25+? Because the elevator in Hisense Building only goes to the 25th floor; you need to walk up one floor to reach this rooftop café. To enter, go to the front desk and say you’re heading to 25+ Café; the staff will efficiently ask for your ID to register and exchange for an elevator card to go up.
Hisense Group is huge and wealthy, making not only TVs but also owning the high-end shopping mall Hisense Plaza across the street near the Olympic Sailing Center. Qingdao Hisense Electric Co., Ltd.—well, you know it. So it’s no surprise that at the café entrance, there’s a display of old television sets.
Supposedly the only three window seats are hard to snag, but we went early (around 10 AM) on a weekday right after National Day. Aside from Hisense employees having morning coffee and working on laptops, I’d guess we were the only tourists.
From the 25th floor elevator, take this spiral staircase up to the café.
After ticking off the first hipster café, my mom and I headed to the most important spot: the Qingdao Beer Museum.
We caught a tourist bus near Hisense Building directly to the Beer Museum. Tourist buses start at ¥5 per ride and cover nearly all the sights we’d visited days before, with commentary at each stop. Other regular buses start at just ¥1.
Ticket: ¥51.5 per person online; ¥60 on the spot. Includes one ticket, one cup of original beer, one cup of draft beer, and a pack of complimentary peanuts. Online tickets let you enter directly by scanning a QR code, showing a text message, or with your ID—no need to exchange tickets at the counter (very smart system).
The museum is divided into Buildings A and B. Building B mainly displays information and can be toured quickly; I suggest starting with B because after you finish Building A, you exit directly. We went the wrong way—did A first, then had to tell the staff we hadn’t seen B, and they let us back in. B takes only about 10 minutes to browse; it pales in comparison to A, which has many interactive exhibits and is really fun.
Building B: Historical and cultural section. Through photos and documents, you learn about the origins of beer, Tsingtao Beer’s long history, its honors, the Qingdao International Beer Festival, and visits from domestic and foreign VIPs. Many artifacts, images, and materials collected from Europe and across China are displayed, along with Tsingtao Beer’s bottles through the ages. Some descendants of Germans and Japanese who once worked at the brewery donated historical objects, making this exhibit even more compelling.
I was really impressed by the Qingdao Beer Museum. The way a company’s evolved into a cultural and tourism attraction reminds me of two other similar places I’ve visited: the Audi factory in Germany, the studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, and this one here. Excellent, really excellent.
Line A is the main museum. Built on the century-old brewery, it blends ancient buildings, precious collections, and modern exhibition design. Over ¥10 million was invested to create a dedicated visitor corridor so production and tours don’t interfere.
The museum is China’s only beer museum, established with ¥28 million by Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., with an exhibition area of over 6,000 square meters. Set inside the old factory and equipment from a hundred years ago, it traces the 100-year journey and brewing process of Tsingtao Beer, encapsulating the history of China’s beer industry. It integrates culture, history, production techniques, beer entertainment, shopping, and dining, offering a knowledgable, fun, and participatory experience that reflects a global vision, ethnic character, historical depth, and integration with life.
(1) See the production and processing techniques.
(2) Drunken House: The floor inside is actually a slope of about 30 degrees, but the walls stay perpendicular to the slope, making you think it’s level ground. When you see a slope, your leg muscles adjust to walk on it. But inside the Drunken House, although you’re walking on a slope, the optical illusion makes your body think it’s flat, so your muscles don’t adapt, making you dizzy and wobbly. Meanwhile, the camera inside is angled to match the slope, so on the live feed outside you see everyone staggering. This was especially fun; my mom watched on the monitor while I lurched around inside. The moment you step in, you feel dizzy and can’t stand straight. Everyone comes out laughing—so interactive! You get the intense dizziness of being drunk without a drop of alcohol.
(3) Spin bikes: Like a “racing” arcade game, but the screen shows Qingdao’s main roads. Pedal hard, and the scenery moves. This is designed to let visitors learn about Qingdao’s other tourist resources while touring—a thoughtful touch.
(4) A hundred years of Tsingtao Beer: See the evolution of all bottle designs from 100 years ago to today. I especially loved the earlier designs.
(5) Walk right into a giant beer barrel.
(6) Halfway through Building A, get a cup of original beer and a pack of peanuts. A dedicated bar area lets you fully enjoy that cup of unfiltered brew.
(7) To recreate the original look, the museum set up worker sculptures in the old fermentation tanks of the former mashing workshop, plus recreated the old lab and barley-turning scene. All 3D effects (life-size)—fantastic. I won’t spoil it; experience it yourself.
(8) Staff roast wheat on the spot and let me taste a handful—aromatic, so good.
(9) Touchscreen electronic displays throughout let visitors check any information they’re curious about.
(10) Two tasting areas can each hold over 100 visitors, where you can sample multiple types of fresh Tsingtao beer. There’s also a gift shop; I bought a bottle-opener fridge magnet.
(11) The exit leads to a huge bar where you collect your last glass of draft beer. This bar is also open to the public.
Even at Qingdao airport, you’ll see Tsingtao Beer drink kiosks every few hundred meters. The corporate culture is pervasive and done extremely well! 👍
The museum is on Qingdao Beer Street. Now there are about 50 outlets, with over 20 hotels, beer bars, and restaurants. When we went, a film crew was shooting at one of the nearby food stalls, and the road was closed off. But I didn’t recognize those actors.
Qingdao Sights – Taidong Pedestrian Street
From the Beer Museum, it’s at most 1,000 meters to Taidong Pedestrian Street, known for its night market. It belongs to the old city’s old shopping street; the only decent mall is Wanda and Walmart. You know, Wanda Plaza has been leaning towards the mid-to-low-end in recent years, so honestly, I don’t like this street—it’s noisy, old, and chaotic. Lots of snacks, but mostly deep-fried street food on skewers—not my thing.
Along this long pedestrian strip, only the old buildings on both sides are dressed in graffiti, which is somewhat novel, but the graffiti is simple and rough. After a quick walk, we decided to take a taxi back to the Mixc Mall area for dinner.
Qingdao Sights – Qingdao Railway Station
Even though we weren’t taking a train, the Qingdao Railway Station is handsome! It was designed by Germans Weiler and Gedeitz, built by the Shandong Railway Company. The station then was mainly a clock tower and waiting hall, with a one-story office wing to the north in German Renaissance style. The waiting hall’s tall ornamental gable and three large arched doors highlight the main entrance facing the city center; a beautiful pointed clock tower rises at the southwest corner, perfectly aligned with the axes of Guangxi Road and Lanshan Road, becoming the focal point of those streets. The station was the terminus of the Jiaoji Railway and one of Qingdao’s iconic buildings.
After viewing the station, we hopped on the metro to another attraction—the Former German Governor’s Residence Museum.
Actually, viewing the main building from outside is free; to enter costs ¥10.
The Former German Governor’s Residence Museum (also known as Yingbin Guan) is a historic mansion museum. Construction started in 1905 and was completed in 1907, covering 4,083 square meters. The architectural style combines German Wilhelmine Neo-Romanesque with Jugendstil elements, also incorporating classical, Rococo, castle-like, and Chinese motifs. It’s a model of inclusivity, harmony, and monumentality in architecture.
It opened as a museum in 1999. Simply put, it’s the living quarters of the former governor and his family. Inside, it’s well worth a visit, but photos aren’t allowed. The building sits halfway up Signal Hill, with a prime location and elegant surroundings. The architect was German Friedrich Ratzel, with construction supervised by Stracher; total cost was 450,000 gold marks. It spans over 4,000 square meters and is over 30 meters high. Some external walls are adorned with roughly hewn granite; roofs are covered in beige-red barrel tiles, blue fish-scale tiles, and green ox-tongue tiles, adding exquisite detail. In the corridor hangs a lamp made of the world’s only three strands of green beryl. I secretly snapped a shot of that green beryl lamp—so beautiful and precious.
Qingdao Sights – Signal Hill Park
Signal Hill Park is right next to the museum. Before 7 AM and after 6 PM entry is free; otherwise, ¥5 per person. To enter the signal tower, ¥10 per person.
The main draw here is the panoramic view of Qingdao: uniform red-roofed houses, very pretty and quite reminiscent of Germany—also with a unified red-roof aesthetic. Though a bit knockoff-ish.
Why “Signal Hill”? After Germany seized Qingdao, to direct vessels entering and leaving Jiaozhou Bay, a signal station was built atop, flying various signal, weather, and wind flags daily. It was originally called “Huahtmack Hill,” and locals called it “Flag Hill.” In 1923, the Jiaozhou Chamber of Commerce officially renamed it “Signal Hill.” The hill is covered in flowers and trees; in misty weather, it appears lush and verdant. Graceful pavilions and terraces in yellow and white dot the slopes; stone paths wind amid the woods. Most striking are three red mushroom-shaped towers at the peak, like three torches standing out among the greenery. This European-style park is named after the hill.
Qingdao Shopping – Mixc Mall
Probably the place where I spent the most time in Qingdao was Mixc Mall, as we stayed nearby and ate most of our dinners there. Qingdao’s Mixc must be the one mall that satisfies all consumer segments. The seaside Hisense Plaza is more high-end, but Mixc has dining, shopping, and entertainment galore. I loved Fat Fairy (cupcakes), and there was the insanely popular Gechuan Fish & Seafood Dumplings, the Sky Books bookstore, N-Power (a small mall for sports and indie brands), and I also checked off Singapore Mum’s Baked Buns. Mixc malls across China have a similar layout—long rectangles—just different brands. Qingdao has many restaurants and fashion shops unique to the city. They all have an Olé supermarket.
Qingdao Hipster Café (2) — Vanilla
This café sits right by the sea, taking full advantage of its location. Desserts and coffee are a bit pricey; I ordered a napoleon and tiramisu, plus a coffee and a flower tea, totaling around ¥220!
Because it’s near the water, the photos really look good—honestly, you come here just for the photos.
The interior has a shabby-chic design, lots of knick-knacks, very artsy, photogenic.
There’s also an open-air second floor that’s become a photo paradise.
Qingdao has many distinctive cafés; I chose the two most internet-famous—hope you like them.
When in Qingdao, you simply must eat seafood. The places I tried are all lined-up-out-the-door popular restaurants. Hope you enjoy!
(1) Longxiyuan Fish Soup Dumplings: My first meal in Qingdao was so “sour” and appetite-whetting. Northern-style dumpling wrappers—thin yet chewy, hard to bite through. The dumplings themselves: oh-so-good! Various fillings and colors (how did they make black?!). The vinegar for dipping was sour, the cabbage glass noodle salad was sweet and sour, and okra with scallops was also tossed in tangy dressing. Haha, I just couldn’t stop—the whole meal was sour. So appetizing!
(2) Fat Fairy: This American brand just opened one store in Chongqing too. In candy pink, mainly cupcakes—makes me think of *2 Broke Girls*. The teapots and cups were absolutely gorgeous, I loved them. Pink is my favorite color, so I happily snapped loads of photos. The milk tea was rich and delicious, and the fresh-squeezed juice you could instantly tell was packed with fruit—nutritious and satisfying. I’ll definitely go back to try other cupcake flavors.
(3) Singapore Mum’s Baked Buns: I went because it was ranked high. I reckoned the bun would be similar to Papa Roti, and sure enough, the smell was nearly the same. It’s just a kiosk with only two small seats. I figured the coffee bun would taste like Papa Roti’s, so I chose a signature twist—cheese crust bun, a mixed ice cream flavor. Not as stunning as I’d imagined—just average.
(4) Gechuan Fish & Seafood Dumplings: Waited so long to eat; you must order a bottle of Laoshan Cola. This brand is a Qingdao must-visit, if only for that plate of squid-ink dumplings.
(5) Yan Xiaoguan: Another ultra-popular spot with lines. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside it’s surprisingly large. This time I ordered really well. Actually, Qingdao has lots of seafood restaurants—all fresh and well-priced—just different cooking styles. Popular places tend to run out of some dishes if you go too late. The lobster congee was delicious; I even finished the Chinese broccoli. Their signature baked goose liver bun was a must—so good. And honey-glazed sweet potato was fantastic too.
(6) Daqianhai Steamed Seafood Hot Pot: So this is how Qingdao locals eat seafood—nothing complicated, just steamed to bring out the original flavors. A big pot, just three minutes, and a whole basin of seafood is ready. Dip in sauce and enjoy; the natural taste is incredible. We ordered the two-person seafood pot; thought we’d still be hungry, but ended up so stuffed we couldn’t finish our congee. Finally had a seafood feast in a coastal city. P.S.: I couldn’t get used to starfish; they were too pretty, I didn’t have the heart. Plus, fresh rice underneath the steamer cooks into a pot of congee—best value ever, doing double duty.
I feel like I’ve truly explored Qingdao inside out, definitely covered it all. (I skipped Polar Ocean World because I’ve been to too many ocean parks in other countries and cities—they’re all similar.) Hope this helps with your laid-back Qingdao free-and-easy trip.
