Timeless Together: A 4-Day Qingdao Getaway~

The sea has always been a place I yearn for—maybe every girl feels the same way about the sea~ When imagination takes flight, its wings carry away all sorrow. Half of a woman's life is rooted in the present, while the other half gives wings to her imagination. Lose those imaginary wings, and a woman's heart stops soaring, losing along with it the longing for spring. I love the sea—its vastness, its surging waves, its all-embracing breadth. "The sky is high for birds to fly, the ocean wide for fish to leap"—the sea must be as boundless as the sky. Ten years ago, I visited Qingdao with my parents, and those memories remain. Seeing how much Qingdao has developed, my bestie and I decided on a spontaneous trip, and Qingdao became our destination.

These five days of travel left me with impressions of red tiles and green trees, blue seas and skies, the fragrance of beer drifting in the air, and sailboats and yachts dotting the coastline everywhere I looked. Qingdao is just that kind of laid-back seaside city—the beautiful Zhanqiao Pier, the famous Golden Beach in Huangdao District, the City Balcony on the West Coast, swimming beaches, Cangma Mountain, and Sunac Mall. I was amazed by how much Qingdao has grown.

Zhanqiao – May Fourth Square – Badaguan Scenic Area – Olympic Sailing Center

Golden Beach – Sunac Mall

Cangma Mountain – City Balcony Scenic Area

Departure: Harbin

Destination: Qingdao

Duration: 3 days & 4 nights (independent travel)

Before setting off, things to keep in mind:

– Checked the weather: this season in Qingdao is around 20°C, quite pleasant, not too hot. Brought three light outfits and two jackets.

– Food is mainly seafood; not much expectations for Shandong cuisine.

– Getting around: mainly took taxis. The subway didn't seem very convenient yet.

I did some research. Since the main route this time focused on the West Coast New Area—spending a day in Qingdao and heading up to Cangma Mountain on the third day—I chose a four-star hotel on the West Coast.

Address: No.418 Hainan Road, West Coast New Area

Hotel: Qingdao Blue Horizon Junhua Hotel

A four-star hotel, priced around 300-plus yuan, including breakfast. The breakfast was abundant—I'm the type who eats a lot in the morning, so it really hit the spot. The hotel also offers a buffet dinner; I tried it once, and it was great value.

Location: In the heart of the West Coast, about one or two kilometers from the sea, super convenient. A slight distance from the water also meant less humidity.

The room was very clean, up to four-star standards. Spacious, with a separate desk, complimentary fruit, and the service throughout the hotel was warm and thoughtful. They even offered personalized pillows, foot baths, and other little touches.

Day 1:

From Harbin Airport to Qingdao Airport. By the time I checked in at the hotel, it was already past 6 p.m. Too lazy to head out for food, so I had the dinner buffet at the hotel. It was quite lavish—salmon, roast duck, BBQ, crawfish, cheese-baked oysters—all pretty good. For the price, it was excellent value. The drinks selection was decent too; I sampled some Qingdao beer. The server said the Little Brown Gold and Pilsner are both top-notch Qingdao beers, and they were indeed nice.

After breakfast the next morning, I set off for Qingdao: Zhanqiao – May Fourth Square – Badaguan Scenic Area – Olympic Sailing Center. For dinner, I went to Kaihai Hongdao Seafood Shrimp Dumplings. The sea fish was fresh and tender, and the Grandma's Crushed Eggplant with Mountain Eggplant was unique—highly recommended for a taste.

Zhanqiao has been renovated, so I viewed it anew. I visited the Olympic Sailing Center and Lover's Dam in the evening—the night view was quite lovely.

In the morning, I headed to Golden Beach, soaking up the sunshine. There were paragliding and bungee jumping—maybe I'll try those next time. In the afternoon, I went to Sunac Mall. The indoor amusement park has plenty of attractions; I picked a few and had fun. Afterwards, we went to Starlight Island. The evening scenery on Starlight Island was beautiful—we strolled around the entire island. When the lights came on at night, Coral Shell Bridge was stunning, so perfect for photo ops. My photography skills are limited, so I'll borrow a picture that does it justice, haha...

Off to Cangma Mountain. Cangma Mountain A·Duo Town, with its southern Chinese garden-style courtyards, gave me the feeling I'd somehow landed in Jiangnan~ The old street in the resort area has lots of street snacks and some proper restaurants, but at such places I prefer to wander and munch as I go. When tired, you can rest with afternoon tea. Millennium Valley took about two hours; the internet-famous suspension bridge was a satisfying experience. Sweet Pet Paradise let me get up close with little animals. On the Riverside Bridle Path, I mounted a horse for a gallop—sword in hand, riding to the ends of the earth...

In the afternoon, I went back to the hotel to rest, then set off for the City Balcony. The beach and sea remain my absolute favorites. The sand at the City Balcony is very fine. There are plenty of dining options around. When tired, I found a cozy bar called Yinyue to sit for a while, listen to music, and relax. Walking east along the coast, I came to Mangrove and strolled through the German Town—night scenery, photo ops, and a church.

Heading home. This Qingdao trip left me with a really wonderful impression. Compared to a decade ago, the development has been lightning-fast. The West Coast New Area has transformed completely—the undersea tunnel and cross-sea bridge are now built, making it so much easier to access Qingdao. I remember ten years ago, we had to take a ferry, haha~~ The West Coast New Area is beautifully planned. Since I dislike rushed travel, there were many spots I skipped this time; I'll make up for them on my next visit~ This trip ended perfectly—good food, good sleep, good fun—so, so happy la~ I hope my guide can be a useful reference for everyone! I really, really put my heart into writing this over several hours—exhausted la~~~