72 Hours in Qingdao: Romance of the Coastal City
About This Trip
Speaking of Qingdao, I have many wonderful memories. For instance, a few years ago, I drove here with a group of high school classmates. The beauty of the azure sea, blue sky, and white clouds, along with our laughter along the way, is deeply etched in my mind and never fades.
Recently, it happened to be the Qingdao Ocean Romance Culture Week, and the sweet atmosphere attracted many tourists and couples to come. When I heard about it, of course I wasn’t an exception. So this three-day, two-night trip came to be.
D1: Morning: Arrive in Qingdao by high-speed train. Afternoon: Daxue Road Instagram Wall, Longjiang Road, Xiaoyushan, Xiaoqingdao. Evening: Shengxian Cuisine, Rushi Bookstore;
D2: Morning: Yan’er Island, Hisense Discovery Center. Afternoon: Haitian Cloud Art Center, Qingdao Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Center, Qianxi Wine;
D3: Morning: Haier World Home Appliance Museum, Xiaomai Island. Afternoon: take high-speed train from Qingdao North Station back, arrive home in the evening.
About the Author
@QuitJobToTravel
Freelance writer, professional traveler, travel photographer
Bio: I’m QuitJobToTravel, a former nine-to-five worker now a professional travel blogger. Welcome to follow me! I’ll be sharing stories from my journeys frequently.
Daxue Road Instagram Wall, Longjiang Road
At the intersection of Daxue Road and Yushan Road, the red wall with glazed tiles and white road signs are very striking. This is a must-visit Instagram spot in Qingdao - the Daxue Road Instagram Wall. Speaking of this wall, I had passed by it many times but never experienced its charm up close. Standing beneath the red wall and taking a set of beautiful photos felt like the right way to start a Qingdao tour.
Of course, around the Instagram wall, there are many interesting streets, each adapted to local conditions and covered with fun graffiti, like Longjiang Road where I once strolled. Before I knew it, I found myself at Xiaoyushan. It’s a famous classical-style attraction in Qingdao and the city’s first classical-style hilltop garden park, so it’s definitely worth a visit when you’re in the area.
Climbing just a few stone steps along the mountain, I surprisingly reached the summit. Indeed, the hill isn’t tall, but the view is fantastic. You can overlook a stretch of Qingdao’s coastal scenery, including Zhanqiao Pier, Xiaoqingdao, Lu Xun Park, the Aquarium, Huiquan Bay, No.1 Bathing Beach, and the very distinctive old town. The charm of looking down from a height instantly made me feel the trip was worthwhile.
Xiaoqingdao, one of Qingdao’s most famous Instagram spots in recent years, should be familiar to many of you. It’s just 720 meters from the shore and, because it resembles an ancient qin (zither), it’s also called ‘Qin Island.’ It’s over 370 meters from the eastern coast, connected to the mainland by a long causeway. It’s said that Xiaoqingdao was originally part of the mainland, gradually separated by years of wave erosion.
With a light drizzle falling, there weren’t many visitors on the island. I quietly walked a lap around it, listening to the sound of waves and feeling the sea breeze. The peaceful, slow pace was so comfortable – maybe this is the charm of travel.
On my first day in Qingdao, I naturally wanted to treat myself to a sumptuous meal. On a local friend’s recommendation, I chose Shengxian Cuisine. The restaurant’s decor is exquisite, and it’s close to the seaside, so a post-meal stroll on the beach is perfect. According to a friend who frequents this place, the Kansai-style sukiyaki and botan shrimp sashimi are authentic and delicious. These two dishes were indeed tasty; the ritualistic Kansai sukiyaki and the brilliantly colored botan shrimp left a deep impression. But my favorite was their Japanese-style thick-cut beef tongue – springy, chewy, and every bite bursting with umami flavor. Fantastic!
Rushi Bookstore
As the largest privately-owned independent bookstore in Shandong Province, its unique literary style and fresh, clean decor have gradually made it one of Qingdao’s most distinctive cultural landmarks. I’d never been here on previous trips to Qingdao, so this time I made a point of visiting. By the time I arrived, it was already dusk, but the atmosphere was still lovely, with many people reading. I couldn’t help but feel the urge to sit down and read myself. Besides, there’s a small bar next door. I sat down, ordered a few dishes, and listened to the band’s beautiful music. A cozy, comfortable day just slipped away like that.
Yan’er Island Park
On the second day in Qingdao, with the drizzle continuing, we decided not to venture far and instead visited Yan’er Island Park. Located at the eastern end of Fushan Bay, it’s a cape jutting into the sea. The area is studded with reefs, and when stormy waves crash against the shore, it’s spectacular. Although we arrived early in the light rain, locals were already out in droves – jogging, swimming. The park was lively and full of vibrant local life.
Hisense Discovery Center
As the name suggests, the Hisense Discovery Center is a comprehensive science exploration and popular science base themed around ‘science and nature exploration.’ Inside, there are the Science Enlightenment Hall, Science Discovery Hall, Nature Discovery Hall, World Consumer Electronics Museum, Hisense History and Culture Museum, the World of Display, and the 25Plus Café, ingeniously structured as ‘five halls, one hall, and one world.’ I felt this center is great for kids, with lots of fun, novel hands-on activities and science facts. It’s education through entertainment, and kids can learn a ton. Plus, the whole place is huge—you could easily spend a whole day here. The kids were really excited and happy!
Haitian Cloud Art Center
The Haitian Cloud Art Center is located at 48 Hong Kong West Road, on the original site of the Haitian Hotel. It’s a super high-rise urban complex integrating seven functions: hotel, office, conference, business, apartment, sightseeing, and entertainment. The main tower’s overall shape resembles a wave soaring into the sky, spiraling upward and culminating in a wave’s crest at the top, blending classic architectural beauty with modern technological elements. Here, from the observation deck over 300 meters high, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the Fushan Bay coastline. Many landmarks of Qingdao’s old town can be seen at a glance. Inside the observation deck, there are also three ‘diamond corners,’ said to be the highest in China. Unfortunately, it was raining that day, and with clouds and mist, the visibility wasn’t great. But indoors, there were many Instagram-worthy spots, so it was still fun to take photos with my companions. Moreover, the center occasionally hosts art exhibitions with many beautiful artworks. If you’re interested, you can check them out. If you have extra time, spending an hour here is well worth it.
Qingdao Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Center
If you’ve been to Qingdao’s Zhanqiao Pier, you might be curious about the building opposite the pier that resembles the Sydney Opera House. That’s actually the famous landmark ‘Sea Palace,’ which now houses the Qingdao Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Center that I visited. The center is divided into two parts. The first floor sells many Forbidden City-themed cultural products and has a café with a view of Zhanqiao Pier. When you’re tired, it’s really pleasant to sit and have a coffee. The café is decorated with classical elegance, featuring beautiful portraits of ladies and various animal paintings. By the way, it’s a great spot for staged photos with Zhanqiao as the background—simply ‘gorgeous.’ The second floor houses a digital theme pavilion based on the famous painting ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival’ in 3.0 technology. Stepping inside, you get the immersive interactive experience of ‘entering the scroll, dreaming back a thousand years in a day.’ For example, walking through the ancient streets of Bianjing, the vivid shops along the road recall the old beauty of Kaifeng, so realistic and wonderful. What impressed me most was an interactive display area where you can, through technical comparison, find out which figure in the painting your own face resembles. It’s super interesting and worth a try.
After visiting the cultural center, a friend took us to Qianxi Wine to savor fine wines and food. As soon as we entered, we were dazzled by a dazzling array of different wines. My companions started tasting, and each wine had its own unique flavor—truly excellent. We also sampled some delicious and sumptuous dishes. I couldn’t help but eat a lot and ended up absolutely stuffed.
Haier World Home Appliance Museum
I remember a fun animated series called ‘Haier Brothers,’ and it was from that show that I first remembered the name Haier. So coming to Qingdao, and with it being the Ocean Romance Culture Week, the Insta-famous staircase here was an even more worthwhile love-themed Instagram spot. The Haier World Home Appliance Museum is located at No. 52 Donghai East Road, in Laoshan District, at the ‘Iceberg Corner.’ With the theme of world home appliances, it’s an immersive museum combining vintage and technology. Using the latest sound, light, and electric technologies, it traces the development of home appliances and recreates life scenes from different eras related to appliances. It’s like traveling through time to revisit past lives. For a post-70 like me, it’s a chance to learn a lot and indulge in nostalgia—everything was so lovely.
Xiaomai Island
Before leaving, we visited Xiaomai Island near the hotel. It’s an island very close to the coastline, connected to the mainland by a narrow path. Stepping onto the island, the hustle and bustle of the world behind you fades, and before you is tranquility and peace. No wonder it’s said to be an ideal date spot for couples. Regrettably, the weather wasn’t good that day. On a sunny day with blue skies and white clouds, the scene would surely have looked like something from a Miyazaki animation, unforgettable for a lifetime. Well, my three-day, two-night Qingdao trip ended there. I look forward to coming back next time.
Transportation
Qingdao is an important economic center and port city on the eastern coast of China, so its transportation is highly developed. The airport is Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, with 161 domestic routes, 9 international routes, and 1 route to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. For trains, Qingdao has many railway stations; generally, both Qingdao Station and Qingdao North Station are convenient. For getting around the city: I recommend taking taxis, buses, and walking. Especially in the old town, the attractions are close to each other and walking is very easy.
Accommodation
There are plenty of accommodation options in Qingdao, at all price levels. I stayed at the Qingdao Kunlun Heyue Hotel (Olympic Sailing Center May Fourth Square branch). It was reasonably priced, the room was clean and comfortable, and most importantly, the breakfast was excellent and varied. Here are some photos I took at the hotel.
8 Quick Tips for Traveling in Qingdao
1. Qingdao has many stunning small islands, like Xiaomai Island and Xiaoqingdao, which are not too touristy and loved by locals.
2. In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossoms; in summer, lotus flowers; in autumn, ginkgo leaves; and when it snows in winter, it has a special charm.
3. Qingdao has a long coastline with many beaches of all sizes. Just pick a few to explore; I recommend Zhanqiao Pier and Golden Beach.
4. I recommend taking a tram in Chengyang District to see the scenery along the way.
5. Try a bowl of ‘wild wontons,’ said to be a local favorite.
6. When you’re tired, go to Rushi Bookstore to read a book; plus, they also have a bar where you can drink and listen to music.
7. The most beautiful island is arguably Xiaoqingdao; at night, the ‘Lantern Floating on Qin Island’ is breathtaking.
8. Good spots for sunrise in Qingdao include Lingshan Island, Qingshan Village, Huangshan Village, and more.
