This Summer, See the Northern Sea in Qingdao: A 4-Day, 3-Night Exploration

If you want a spontaneous trip this summer, definitely go to Qingdao. The sea at latitude 35°N is less scorching, with temperatures in the twenties, making it even more pleasant. Drive east along the coast and pass by classic seaside sights like the Zhanqiao Pier and the Gothic St. Michael’s Cathedral — both iconic landmarks of Qingdao.

Qingdao Catholic Church, officially the St. Michael’s Cathedral of the Qingdao Diocese on Zhejiang Road, broke ground in 1932 and was completed in October 1934, taking over two and a half years.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM); Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM).

St. Michael’s Cathedral is a Qingdao landmark — just snapping a photo here and sharing it lets everyone know you’ve been to Qingdao. People don’t come just because it’s an icon, but because the cathedral is simply gorgeous. Its pink-hued castle is so romantic that many couples come here for wedding photos.

From a bird’s-eye view, St. Michael’s Cathedral is even more beautiful! The small square in front of the church is drone-friendly — the pink church set against Qingdao’s signature red-tiled roofs looks even more stunning, like a scene straight out of a comic.

The square is full of bubble vendors — this is definitely the most bubble sellers I’ve ever seen in one place, probably because it’s just so dreamy. If you want to take photos, the bubbles make for even more photogenic shots!

Around the cathedral there are plenty of seafood restaurants, snack shops, and drink stalls, as well as postcard and souvenir stores. Also worth mentioning is the balcony of the Qingdao Bookstore next door, which offers an even better angle for photos.

The church covers an area of 11,480 square meters, with a floor area of 6,301.54 square meters. It is built of yellow granite and reinforced concrete, with simple yet elegant carvings on the surface.

The windows are semi-circular arched, with smooth lines that are dignified yet modest. Above the main door hangs a massive rose window, and on each side stands a bell tower.

The interior decoration follows the Italian Renaissance style. The main hall is 18 meters high, spacious and bright, with seven large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The dome features sacred murals, and it can accommodate nearly a thousand people — making it the largest Gothic building in the Qingdao area.

Stepping inside, you enter a vast, bright hall 18 meters high that can hold a thousand people. Colorful stained-glass windows cast soft light. There are corridors on the east and west sides, and the dome is painted with holy murals. The roof is covered in fish-scale red tiles, giving it a classic and elegant feel.

Admission: 10 yuan; half price with student ID, etc.

Signal Hill is a place you’ll want to visit again and again, and it’s the best spot to view Qingdao’s unique red-tiled rooftops. Follow the winding path uphill and you’ll see different views at different heights, but the best vantage point is the observation deck at the summit. From there, Qingdao’s scenery unfolds completely before your eyes. The deck rotates 360 degrees — no need to walk around; just stand still and see all of Qingdao.

Signal Hill Park admission: 15 yuan per adult. Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM (go early if you want to take photos). Note: The ticket includes the rotating observation tower.

Signal Hill Park is at No. 17 Qidong Road, Shinan District, Qingdao. The hill is 98 meters high, covered with flowers, plants, and green trees. There are beautifully shaped pavilions, terraces, towers, and halls, and at the top stand three red circular buildings. This European-style park is named after the hill itself.

Signal Hill is a great place for appreciating flowers and greenery, and even more so for panoramic views of Qingdao. There are 14 scenic routes within the park, with spots like the Hexagonal Pavilion, Magnolia Pavilion, Rotating Hall, Arch Bridge, and Long Corridor, forming a unique and graceful Qingdao landscape.

The design of Signal Hill is distinctive. The three red dome-shaped mushroom towers at the top represent the three red torches used for signaling in ancient China. Standing on the observation tower, you can gaze into the distance and take in the full beauty of Qingdao — the lovely Zhanqiao Pier and Little Qingdao Island blend harmoniously with the blue sea.

The three red mushroom towers at the summit symbolize three ancient communication torches. The rotating observation tower is 20 meters high with six floors, capable of accommodating dozens of people at a time, and completes one full rotation roughly every 30 minutes.

When in Qingdao, you must see the sea — and you must eat Qingdao’s seafood and drink Tsingtao Beer. To eat seafood here, you need to go to a seafood market yourself, which guarantees freshness and fair prices. The variety and amount are all up to you; you’re sure to get a good deal on seafood.

After buying your seafood, you can choose a restaurant you like to cook it for you. Stir-fried seafood costs a bit more than steamed, and you can customize the flavors — it makes for a great culinary experience.

When talking about Qingdao landmarks, you have to mention the “May Wind” sculpture in May Fourth Square — a red geometric structure. A must-visit for anyone coming to Qingdao.

Behind “May Wind” is the sea. Standing here, you can see the lighthouse and the Olympic Sailing Center nearby. Watching the sunset at the lighthouse is also a romantic experience.

May Fourth Square is on Donghai West Road, Shinan District. It’s named because Qingdao served as the fuse for the great May Fourth Movement in modern Chinese history. The square is divided into northern and southern parts along a central axis, featuring the Municipal Government Office Building, hidden fountains, matrix fountains, the “May Wind” sculpture, and a hundred-meter sea fountain.

Transport: Take bus routes 317, 601, Sightseeing Line 1, or Sightseeing Line 3 to “May Fourth Square” stop.

Driving along the coast is also a nice way to travel.

There are many water entertainment activities, such as speedboats.

Walking towards the lighthouse, waves crash against the embankment on both sides. Make sure to wait here for a sunset — the afterglow on the sea is simply breathtaking.

The pink castle film museum is a popular check-in spot — any photo you take looks great. From above, you can see the Oriental Movie Metropolis standing on the hill.

Films shot at the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis include “Crazy Alien,” “The Wandering Earth,” “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” and “The Great Wall,” among others.

The exhibition hall highlights the concept of a “river of light and shadow,” cleverly combining images and time. Through interactive experiences with exhibits, visitors can get a real feel for the development of cinema.

The Qingdao Film Museum is in the Lingshan Bay Film and Television Cultural Industry Zone, Qingdao West Coast Economic New District. The newly completed museum sits at the foot of Chaoyang Mountain and is divided into two main sections: the World Film Exhibition Hall and the Qingdao Film Exhibition Hall.

In the World Film Exhibition Hall, you can trace the origins of cinema up to the present day, from the film era to the digital age. Technologies like holographic displays, VR experiences, and green-screen compositing immerse visitors in the images.

The Qingdao Film Exhibition Hall showcases a century of the city’s cinematic history. From China’s first movie theater to China’s first sound film, and a recreation of China’s first movie queen Hu Die filming in Qingdao, it deeply presents the century-long bond between Qingdao and Chinese cinema.

Cross the internet-famous Shell Bridge to reach Star Island, where the Oriental Movie Metropolis is located. It’s said that “The Wandering Earth” was also filmed here.

If there’s a “web celebrity” of Qingdao’s west coast, it’s definitely the Shell Bridge. A bridge that feels genuinely futuristic — no wonder more and more people come for photos.

The whole bridge is white, with openwork designs on both sides. Overall it looks like a scallop shell closed up. At night, colorful lights on the bridge reflect on the water, creating a uniquely beautiful scene.

This photogenic island is Star Island in Qingdao, an artificial island built from land reclamation. It attracts many tourists simply by its good looks.

On the island are two uniquely designed buildings — the Golden Conch and Silver Conch Grand Theater and Show Theater — where many evening events have been held.

The Bihai Silver Conch Grand Theater is equipped with world-class facilities.

Known as “Little Prague Square,” the Mangrove Tree Resort area features an openwork church and pigeons circling over the square.

Staying at the Qingdao Mangrove Tree Resort World, right next to the openwork church with pigeons flying over the square, reminded me of being in Casablanca, Morocco. The openwork church by the sea is very romantic.

The openwork church in the dusk is even more beautiful.

The white Gothic wedding chapel with a 50-meter bell tower spire is the most distinctive landmark of the Mangrove Tree Resort World and a “wedding mecca.” I heard that in the future, manual bell-ringing will be restored to tell the time.

This time in Qingdao, I’m staying at the Mangrove Tree Resort World. The entire hotel is very artistic, and it’s been called “the Las Vegas of China.”

It’s an integrated resort destination combining fashion and art, leisure and vacation, cultural creativity, international conferences and exhibitions, film and TV location shooting, and shopping and entertainment.

The Mangrove Tree Resort area is also interesting at night. In the square next to the openwork church, there are band performances and a night market. After dinner, you can come here for a stroll.

I think every city has its own Ferris wheel. Ferris wheels always represent romance — as we turn, we get closer and closer to the sky. Legend has it that wishes made at the highest point of the Ferris wheel will come true.

This is Shandong Province’s largest sea-view Ferris wheel — the “Eye of the Piano Isle.” Located by Tangdaowan Bay, it’s 68 meters tall and has 36 fully transparent gondolas with unobstructed sea views, offering a 360-degree panorama of the ocean. You can ride the sea-view Ferris wheel between the blue sky and sea, overlooking the west coast and enjoying the beautiful scenery of greater Qingdao.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Rainbow Bridge, beneath the Ferris wheel, is another popular check-in spot in Qingdao.

The last stop of the trip is the Yellow Box Art Museum in Qingdao, a trendy photo spot with various art exhibitions on a rotating schedule. The most worthwhile Instagram spot is the endless spiral staircase — the white staircase feels like stepping into a scene from “Inception.” Any casual shot is a masterpiece.

Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Free admission. Address: No. 1000 Junhai Road, Huangdao District, south of Navy Park.