Qingdao's Laoshan: Sea and Tea Plantation
Spring warms, flowers bloom, time passes silently, and in the hustle and bustle it’s the Dragon Boat Festival again. Seaside and poetry, mountain flowers and tea plantations—always the life I long for, just as sung in the song of the farmer and fisherman: worries melt into the sunset, loneliness disperses between sea and clouds. Coming back to Qingdao, I’m so happy.
Still chose the Blue Ocean Hotel next to Shilaoren, no particular reason except familiarity. I stayed here last time. Mountains around, sea beside—living between mountain and sea feels closer to nature. The buffet is fantastic; for someone like me from the plains, it couldn’t be more perfect.
The hotel’s location is great, right by Shilaoren Bathing Beach, barely a 10-minute walk to the sea. With an ocean-view room, you can catch a glimpse of the water from the window. The metro station is just a few minutes’ walk away. Now Qingdao has Line 2, Line 3, and Line 11, making it incredibly convenient to get anywhere. Line 11 is a tourist route; we took a day to ride Line 11 to Beijiushui and spent the day there. Overall, getting around is so easy—thumbs up!
Let me tell you a secret: hidden deep on Laoshan is a tea plantation, and there’s a section of sea that’s off-limits. The water is incredibly clean. I was lucky enough to visit once as a staff member, and I still think about it. I can’t quite describe the feeling—it’s like a serene painting. The massive winding mountain road is a bit nerve-wracking to drive; so many curves and you never know if a car might suddenly appear around the next bend. Go further in along Yang’kou, and there’s a pier selling seafood. Every time I see it, a scene comes to mind: sunset glow, a boat resting on the shimmering sea, people passing by bathed in golden light—gentle and romantic. Students sit sketching, and it all feels quiet and beautiful. Venture even deeper, and on a small hillside you’ll find an old, dilapidated pavilion. No idea if it was once used for rituals, but it has an air of mystery.
Sometimes when I travel, I set no goals—just wander as I go, watching the mountains and sea, people coming and going, the rambling mountain flowers, the rippling blue waves. This is the scenery I love, and I love Qingdao.
