Captivated by Qingdao: Chasing the Wind Like a Free Spirit

Maybe I really do have a special connection with Qingdao. On May Fourth, I ran the Qingdao Marathon here, and this time I’m back for the Beijing Hyundai x Qunar.com fifth-generation Tucson L ‘Riding the Wave’ trend lifestyle tour.

Last time I didn’t have time to really discover Qingdao. This unfettered independent trip lets me soak in every unexpected encounter with the city.

The best way to travel freely is by road trip: a couple of friends, a car, and the freedom to go wherever you want. That’s why every self-drive trip deserves a well-chosen ride—after all, you’ll be spending the days ahead together.

The first stop is the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. Here, we familiarize ourselves with the fifth-generation Tucson L, with its avant-garde design featuring crystal-cut facets and sharp lines, blending rounded contours with a rugged aura. On the eco front, as the first SUV from the i-GMP platform, it’s equipped with the latest Smartstream powertrain and CVVD (Continuously Variable Valve Duration) technology, boosting engine performance by 4%, fuel efficiency by 5%, and cutting emissions by 12%. That means more power with less fuel—and a friendlier footprint for the environment.

As the Sailing Capital and birthplace of China’s sailing culture, this is a must-visit for any traveler. Sailing and driving both give you that thrill of steering your own course, but sailing is also a team sport. We had a helmsman, one person on the mainsail, and two on the jib. After a spin on the sea and a quick sailing lesson, we headed back—and made a bunch of new friends along the way.

Yantai is our second stop, and the highlight of the day. Just mention its name, and I bet you think of Yantai apples and cherries. This ‘China’s Apple Capital’ ships its local specialties all over the world. Oh, and here’s a little secret: there’s plenty of gold here too…

The drive from Qingdao to Yantai takes about three hours, and the comfortable ride keeps fatigue at bay. On a long haul, you need music and navigation. The Tucson L boasts the largest center screen in its class, loaded with music and map apps, making the car as convenient to use as your smartphone.

The rear seats can be folded almost flat, so while someone’s driving, the back-seat passengers can lie down and snooze. That’s either a sign of deep affection—or a very thick skin.

After a quick rest at the hotel, I even popped out to buy a kilo of cherries. As dusk approached, we headed to the Aiwang Star-Gazing Camp to soak up the city’s tranquility. When night fell, we wanted to breathe in the city’s evening air. I just said ‘open the window,’ and the Tucson L’s voice recognition system instantly responded, lowering the window automatically.

Beyond the windows, you can also control the air conditioning, sunroof, instrument panel, seats, and SVM surround-view monitor by voice. It understands contextual commands, too; just say ‘it’s raining,’ and it will close the sunroof and windows.

On the way to the camp, we cruised with the wind in our hair and music filling the car. The anti-glare coating on the screen and the 10.25-inch open-style instrument cluster kept everything clearly visible, whether in the dark of night or under blazing sun.

In the evening, there was a stargazing class at the camp. The instructor explained the constellations, and everyone—adults and children alike—listened intently. So many things we’d only read about in books were confirmed right there in the night sky. During the quiz, I was the first to answer correctly and won a small bag and a water bottle, both pretty handy. Some of the more energetic folks even took light-painting photos by the car. It was a busy, fulfilling day—one that left me even more excited for tomorrow.

The next morning, I was up early to pack, all so I could have more time to explore. After a full day together, the Tucson L and I were becoming good travel companions. With the BLE Bluetooth key, I could start the car before even getting in, getting everything ready to roll ahead of time.

Our final stop was the Weihai Tianxin International Equestrian Club, where we’d try horseback riding and fencing—and, of course, tuck into a seafood feast.

The drive from the hotel to the equestrian center took about three hours. By now I was completely at ease: I hopped in, adjusted the seat, turned on some music and the A/C, and lounged back to enjoy the scenery. Driving duties? I happily left those to my travel mates.

Our time at the equestrian center marked the end of this short two-day trip. The drive back was long, but the Tucson L’s comfort made it feel far from endless.

Throughout the journey, we traveled on all kinds of roads, always assisted by the Hyundai SmartSense safety suite, which kept us secure. My biggest takeaway? With this car, even a novice driver can handle the road like a pro.

Kids get sad about goodbyes; adults just start planning the next hello.