Departing from Shanghai, 2012 Qingdao Yantai 7-Day Self-Drive Tour (Olympic Sailing Center, Penglai Pavilion, Yantai Mountain Park, Zhifu Island, Jiuzhang Cliff)

Departing from Shanghai in summer for a self-driving trip to escape the heat, the coastal cities of Shandong are the best choice. I checked the weather forecast: Shanghai had high temperatures above 35°C, Lianyungang in Jiangsu was around 32°C, while Qingdao and Yantai were within 30°C. Among them, Qingdao's urban area, surrounded by the sea on three sides, was the coolest. I had driven to Qingdao and Rizhao in mid-August 2011, and in 2012, the focus was on Yantai, Penglai, and Changdao. Because I particularly loved Qingdao's old town, I stayed there for one day. Compared to 2011, Qingdao felt even cooler in 2012, with an actual maximum temperature of only about 27°C. In contrast, Shanghai had several days of high temperatures above 36°C. The pleasant coolness was already the greatest gain. On this trip, since the cost of the car ferry was not as economical as chartering a car on the island, I did not drive my car onto Changdao. The total round-trip distance for the 7-day self-drive tour was 2,424 kilometers.

August 9, 2012 (Qingdao weather: overcast with rain, 25 to 30°C)

Departed from home in Shanghai at 13:50, encountered traffic congestion in the Shanghai urban area.

16:10, arrived at the Jiading toll station on the Shanghai-Jiading Expressway, cumulative distance 55 km.

16:20, arrived at the Zhuqiao toll station on the Yanjiang Expressway, cumulative distance 68 km, expressway toll 10 yuan.

16:30, arrived at the Taicang mainline toll station on the Yanjiang Expressway, cumulative distance 77 km.

16:40, arrived at the Shaxi service area on the Yanjiang Expressway, cumulative distance 93 km.

17:00, arrived at the south toll station of the Sutong Bridge on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 111 km.

17:50, arrived at the Rugao service area on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 184 km. Filled up with 93-octane gasoline for 100 yuan at 6.91 yuan/liter.

18:49, arrived at the Dafeng service area on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 285 km.

20:50, arrived at the Punan service area on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 503 km.

21:40, arrived at the Lu-Su toll station on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 558 km, expressway toll 250 yuan.

22:00, arrived at the Rizhao service area on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 591 km. Filled up with 93-octane gasoline for 220 yuan at 6.96 yuan/liter.

22:50, arrived at the Jiaonan toll station on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 671 km, expressway toll 45 yuan.

That night, stayed at the Home Inn Jiaonan Renmin Road branch, standard double room with member discount 174 yuan. As of that night, cumulative distance 679 km.

August 10, 2012 (Qingdao weather: cloudy turning partly cloudy, 24 to 29°C)

The image below shows the Home Inn Jiaonan Renmin Road branch.

Jiaonan Renmin Road.

Jiaonan street view. From the Home Inn Jiaonan Renmin Road branch, driving east for less than 10 minutes brings you to the sea.

Jiaonan Lingshan Bay.

Lingshan Island on the sea. Located in the Yellow Sea, Lingshan Island is the third highest island in China after Taiwan Island and Hainan Island, with an altitude of 513.6 meters, and is also the highest island in the north.

From Jiaonan Lingshan Bay, following the seaside road, you can drive via the Jiaozhou Bay Undersea Tunnel in Huangdao District to Qingdao's urban area, with sea views along the way.

11:35, arrived at the Jiaozhou Bay Undersea Tunnel toll station, cumulative distance 725 km, toll 30 yuan.

Qingdao Zhongshan Road street view.

The historic Chunhe Lou on Zhongshan Road, one of the "Three Great Buildings" among Qingdao's old-name restaurants, opened in 1891 (the 17th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty).

We spent over 140 yuan.

Pichai Yuan, a gathering place for various seafood and snacks.

Its main entrance is on Zhongshan Road.

Qingdao Zhongshan Road, a century-old commercial street famous nationwide. The south end of Zhongshan Road is the iconic Zhanqiao Pier.

The photo below was taken on Jiangsu Road, showing Qingdao-style architecture.

My "Little Love" parked on the road.

Climbing steps between streets is a characteristic scene of old Qingdao.

Xinhaoshan Park, entrance fee 15 yuan. Xinhaoshan Park is a great spot to enjoy a panoramic view of Qingdao.

The Guest House taken from Xinhaoshan Park.

The revolving observation platform at Xinhaoshan Park offers a 360-degree view of the island city. It takes about half an hour for a full rotation, but most tourists don't have the patience to sit through it; they walk around to see the panoramic view of Qingdao.

Qingdao seaside near Badaguan.

The Second Bathing Beach located in Badaguan.

Visited the Olympic Sailing Center, I parked my car in the underground garage of Hisense Plaza, which offers free parking.

Exiting Hisense Plaza to the south and passing through Baili Plaza brings you to the Olympic Sailing Center.

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. Its original site was the Beihai Shipyard, and it hosted the sailing competitions for the 29th Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympic Games in 2008.

Overlooking the May Fourth Square adjacent to the Olympic Sailing Base.

Macau Road between Hisense Plaza and Baili Plaza.

East side of Hisense Plaza.

17:40, arrived at the Qingdao East toll station on the Qingyin Expressway, cumulative distance 766 km.

18:05, arrived at the Jimo parking area on the Qingyin Expressway, cumulative distance 810 km.

19:35, arrived at the Fushan service area on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 965 km. Filled up with 93-octane gasoline for 240 yuan at 7.27 yuan/liter. That day, gas prices had just been raised again after three consecutive drops.

19:55, arrived at the Fushan toll station on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 976 km, expressway toll 85 yuan.

That night, stayed at the Jinjiang Inn Yantai Fushan District Fuhai Road branch, standard room B with member discount 187 yuan. In the evening, had dinner at a restaurant near the hotel, costing 114 yuan. As of that night, cumulative distance 986 km.

August 11, 2012 (Yantai weather: sunny to partly cloudy, 22 to 30°C)

The image below shows the Jinjiang Inn Yantai Fushan District Fuhai Road branch.

Yantai Fushan District Fuhai Road.

10:29, arrived at the Fushan toll station on the Shenhai Expressway, cumulative distance 994 km.

10:50, arrived at the Penglai service area on the Weiwu Expressway, cumulative distance 1,022 km.

11:00, arrived at the Penglai toll station on the Weiwu Expressway, cumulative distance 1,031 km, expressway toll 15 yuan.

Penglai urban seaside.

Sanxianshan Scenic Area, the entrance fee was quite expensive, so we didn't go in.

The pagoda in the distance is within the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area. The entrance fees for several new attractions in Penglai are very high, such as 120 yuan for Sanxianshan Scenic Area and 80 yuan for the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area. We only visited the classic attraction, Penglai Pavilion.

Penglai Pavilion, entrance fee 140 yuan. The cost for a family visit is considerable, but since Penglai Pavilion is one of the four famous pavilions in China along with Yellow Crane Tower, Yueyang Tower, and Tengwang Pavilion, we had to "bear the pain."

Photo taken at Penglai Pavilion.