Autumn Charm of the Old City, Eternal Vows, Trendy Romantic Qingdao Again, Enjoying a Spectacular Light Show!

Qingdao, you just have to come! The National Day holiday is drawing to a close, and the autumn scenery in cities across China is bursting into vibrant color! If you ask me which multi-faceted city boasts the most beautiful autumn views, romantic encounters, and Instagram-worthy photo spots, I will tell you without hesitation: go to Qingdao after the holiday rush, and you won't be disappointed! Qingdao has just kicked off the '2021 Qingdao Ocean Romance Culture Week,' releasing many love-themed travel check-in routes and tourism products themed 'Old City's Autumn Charm, Vows of Love.' Just follow the recommendations, and you can't go wrong!

Due to personal preference, I have traveled to Qingdao many times for both leisure and work. A city that I keep returning to must have its unique charm! Qingdao's autumn is like God knocked over a palette, spilling the most beautiful colors across the city, making people linger and forget to leave. I only visited a few spots on the newly released autumn travel route, but let me give you a glimpse of the beauty!

1. Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center

Urban observation decks are common in some Japanese cities, and now Qingdao has one too—what a blessing! You can experience that visual impact without going abroad... The Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center is located in the T2 Tower of the Haitian Center, comprising two major components: the 80F Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center and the 81F Urban Observation Deck. The 80th-floor Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center is the tallest specialized and diversified modern and contemporary art museum in the country.

The most eye-catching feature is the country's first cantilevered full-view observation platform built by the urban observation deck—the Diamond Corner. There are three Diamond Corners, each accommodating 5-8 people. Standing inside, visitors can overlook the city from a suspended position, blending with the external natural scenery, and while enjoying the view, they can also feel the thrilling heartbeat-accelerating experience. At sunset, it's the perfect time for photos at the Diamond Corner; with a little creativity, you'll create the most viral-worthy content for your social media.

The 81st-floor Urban Observation Deck is Shandong Province's first high-altitude observation platform, 330 meters above the ground. You can walk along the miniature sightseeing trail and enjoy a 360-degree floor-to-ceiling view of the changing seascape, from Badaguan and Zhanshan Temple to the bustling commercial district on Hong Kong Road, tracing the transformation from old town to new. If a marriage proposal were to take place in such a high observation deck, it would surely be the most unforgettable memory of a lifetime...

The 80th-floor Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center is the tallest specialized and diversified modern and contemporary art museum in the country. Currently on display is 'Beauty in Harmony — Classic Artworks from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China,' which includes genuine works by masters such as Qi Baishi, Picasso, Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, Andy Warhol, Zhu Da, Xu Wei, and Utagawa Toyokuni, among many others. The landing of such a heavyweight inaugural exhibition also heralds an exceptionally high starting point for the Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center as a landmark of urban culture and art.

2. Stroll along University Road, 'turn and turn again.'

The red wall at the corner of University Road and Yushan Road has become one of the hottest check-in spots for tourists! It seems you can keep coming back without feeling tired of it; each shooting style gives a different feeling. University Road is beautiful, but don't forget the surrounding streets, like Longjiang Road, where there are many small cafés and restaurants in old buildings—check them out. The many graffiti walls were also a new discovery for me this time. No photos, no travel! Must check in when traveling! Because you can play while taking photos, it's not so tiring... There are really many slopes and descents on the roads of Qingdao.

The small yet exquisite Bushe Zhounue Café is perfectly situated at a crossroads corner. The ground floor is small but tastefully decorated. After ordering your drink, you can wait on the second floor, where there’s a chubby, cute cat that isn’t too affectionate but likes to stand next to flowers. The owner and the lovely staff are attentive and warm, the coffee is good, and the desserts are delicious.

3. St. Michael's Cathedral

In the West, churches are sacred halls that witness love. In Qingdao, it not only serves as a place of worship but also a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the country, and the most beautiful spot for wedding photoshoots. Qingdao St. Michael's Cathedral, originally named the Catholic Church of St. Michael on Zhejiang Road in the Qingdao Diocese, often hosts markets and small performances in the small square.

During the 2021 Qingdao Romance Culture Week, this small square has been decorated by some high-end hotels and wedding companies with many wedding elements. Colorful balloons are everywhere, and the food trucks of small vendors are also cheerfully decorated.

To enjoy a panoramic view, you need to plan ahead when visiting Qingdao because there are many small hills; climbing up offers a bird's-eye view of the beautiful seaside scenery from different angles. On Xiao Yushan (Little Fish Hill), there is a pavilion; from the top, you can see the spectacular sight of the No. 1 Bathing Beach. Although the seawater is a bit cool in October, the enthusiasm for swimming in the sea remains high.

The old buildings and villas with red-tiled roofs are a major characteristic of Qingdao, and they are largely well preserved. I remember the first time I flew to Qingdao Airport and looked down from the cabin, rows of red roofs neatly lined along the coastline, and there were clusters of old buildings in the city center hidden among green trees—it was so beautiful it felt like being abroad!

5. Yan'er Island Park and Yan'er Mountain Internet-famous Cave

First, let's distinguish: Yan'er Island Park is a cape jutting into the sea at the eastern end of Fushan Bay. It is about a 35-minute walk from the Yan'er Mountain Internet-famous Cave, so make sure not to mix them up when taking a taxi, to avoid a wasted trip. Personally, I think the most distinctive feature of both is the well-built wooden boardwalk, providing a good venue for morning exercises. Near the Yan'er Mountain Internet-famous Cave, there are many rocks and a small path down to the sea.

6. Xiaomaidao Park (Wheat Island Park)

I must highly recommend this park—I love it! I deliberately got up early to photograph the sunrise. It’s a super niche island park and another beautiful check-in spot where you can lie on the grass and enjoy both sunrise and sunset! If a wedding were held on such a beautiful island, it would surely be an unforgettable memory for a lifetime! Running along the seaside fitness trail with your loved one every morning and evening... the scene is so idyllic just thinking about it...

If you're wondering where the two internet-famous lone trees that make great photos are, I can tell you the nearest route, because I went looking for them this time... After crossing the bridge to the island, walk straight along the wooden boardwalk on the right, past a short stretch of stone path near the sea, then take the path on the right and walk for about 5 minutes to see them, halfway up the hill. You’ll likely see many people queuing there for photos. The lawn is clean and walkable, and many couples sit here every day to watch the sunset—a very romantic spot.

7. Olympic Sailing Center Lovers' Dam

This leisure promenade sees many joggers passing through in the evening. Restaurants of various flavors can cater to tourists visiting Qingdao. October is the best season for seafood; eating dumplings, seafood, and drinking beer is the right way to experience Qingdao. There is a road on the dam leading straight to the signal tower. Sitting on the dam and quietly listening to the sound of the sea... is so comfortable!

Lovers' Dam is also the best spot to watch the city light show across the water and many buildings! City Music Square, May Fourth Square, Torch Square... all within view! The open area is large, and every evening you can see many drone photography enthusiasts taking off from here to capture Qingdao's dazzling night scenery.

8. West Sea Art Museum (Xi Hai Art Museum)

Located on Silver Beach Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao, it's about an hour's drive from the city center, passing through the tunnel. Although a bit far, it's worth the trip! Because the architecture is simply fantastic! Looking at the planning map, if the adjacent buildings are completed, it will surely become another must-visit spot in Qingdao, combining art and beauty, seaside and sunset views.

West Sea Art Museum Inaugural Exhibition – 'Transcendence'

2021.08.12-2022.01.06

The West Sea Art Museum's first exhibition 'Transcendence' includes works by 14 key artists from home and abroad, most of which are being shown in China for the first time, and also features works specially created by artists for the exhibition and the space.

Sui Jianguo's 40 Moments | A Sculpture Theater from the Virtual Data World

2021.09.22

Passing through the corridor between exhibition halls into Gallery 5 of the West Sea Art Museum, you are greeted by 40 silver-gray objects suspended in mid-air, like layers of converging cloud clusters, or like alien spacecraft from unknown dimensions, poised for an interstellar roaming tour.

Yin Xiuzhen and 'Waxing and Waning' | A Delicate and Introspective Continuous Molding

2021.09.23

'Waxing and Waning' ingeniously uses the central position of Gallery 3 at the West Sea Art Museum. She divides the circle into four equal parts and places four sculptural installations related to the exhibition and Qingdao's local history and culture inside, each equipped with a kinetic mechanism that makes the sculptures rotate like commodities on a turntable.

The entire Gallery 3 of the museum is a space closely linked to life. Yin Xiuzhen's continuously molding 'Waxing and Waning' and Song Dong's illusory 'Fang Yuan Ji' reflect each other, constantly magnifying the fragmented beauty of life through the mirror of art.

9. Dumpling Research Institute (Jiaozi Yanjiusuo)

At the Dumpling Research Institute, you can taste Qingdao's most distinctive cuisine and drinks. What to eat? Dumplings, with various fish fillings; the freshest seasonal seafood, prawns, plump crabs, mantis shrimp, jellyfish salad, and barbecue. Draft beer is a must-try; in addition to the basic craft beers, there is also very authentic IPA.

For non-drinkers, there is of course Laoshan Cola and Laoshan White Flower Snake Grass Water. Many may not be accustomed to the taste, while some can't stop once they take a sip... From a distance, Laoshan White Flower Snake Grass Water might look like a bottle of floral water, but it is indeed a beverage, carefully developed by Qingdao Laoshan Mineral Water Co., Ltd. in the early 1960s to meet the health needs of domestic consumers. It effectively relieves hangovers, protects the liver, nourishes the stomach, detoxifies, and clears heat, making it a precious health drink.

10. Take a vintage 'dangdang' sightseeing tram and a cruise to enjoy Qingdao's sea views from different perspectives.

The nostalgic retro 'dangdang' tram currently has two sightseeing routes: one from Qingdao Railway Station to Polar Ocean World, and the other also from the railway station, heading along the coast all the way to the Laoshan Scenic Area. During peak tourist season, a tram departs every 5-10 minutes, and the vehicles have become a beautiful sight on the streets of Qingdao!

At the Olympic Sailing Center, you can buy cruise tickets, with general prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan. The duration and routes vary, so you can choose according to your preference.

11. Accommodation: For those who love the sea, choosing near the Olympic Sailing Center is definitely right!

For this trip, I stayed at the Kunlun Heyue Hotel (Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center May Fourth Square Branch), which is very close to places like Lovers' Dam and the cruise dock. There are many room types, with four-star standard, well-equipped facilities, electric curtains, and indoor lighting controls. There is a paid parking lot in front of the hotel, free for hotel guests.

Product 1: Through Mountains and Seas, Together till the End

Autumn in Qingdao is like a rich and harmonious oil painting, with gentle breezes over quiet streets and bright warm sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees, composing a poem of love.

University Road — Signal Hill Park — Qingdao Underwater World — Taiping Cape — Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center

At the internet-famous red wall corner of [University Road], make vows to each other; at [Signal Hill Park], enjoy the old city's beauty of 'red tiles, green trees, blue sea, clear sky'; in the autumn at [Taiping Cape], with cool breeze and warm sunshine, capture the comfortable and sweet life with your camera; seal your love at [Qingdao Underwater World] beneath the sea; at [Haitian YUNSHANG Art Center], take in the mountain, sea, city, and cloud views all at once.

Product 2: Romantic Temperament, Exotic Charm

Autumn Qingdao combines romantic temperament with exotic charm, where you can fully express the most romantic poetry in your heart.

Xiaoyushan (Little Fish Hill) — Xiaoqingdao (Little Qingdao Island) — St. Michael's Cathedral — Coastal Walkway — Badaguan

On [Xiaoyushan], enjoy the beautiful sea view of Qingdao and make eternal vows; on [Xiaoqingdao], listen to the beautiful legend of the loyal Qin Girl's love; at the love-witnessing [St. Michael's Cathedral], hear him say 'I do'; stroll along the [Coastal Walkway] and feel the autumn warmth; [Badaguan] is known as 'every step a different view, every season a different charm,' and in autumn it becomes even more poetic and breathtaking, perfect for shooting love blockbusters.

Product 3: Enjoy Life, Savor Love

After the autumn sea opening, Qingdao becomes a foodie's paradise, a gourmet's heaven, where love and cuisine are both fulfilled.

Shazikou Fishing Port — Liuqing River — Shiyong Castle — Huadong Parry Winery

At [Shazikou Fishing Port], pick the freshest seafood ingredients together; go to [Liuqing River] to taste a seafood feast; at [Shiyong Castle], take vintage and elegant couple photos; at [Huadong Parry Winery], taste wine as sweet and sour as love.