Best November Getaway: Hot Springs, Seafood, and a Ferris Wheel – Pure Bliss!

With temperatures dropping across the country, many of you have asked where to go in November. I recommend Jimo in Qingdao. A three-day, two-night trip with hot spring baths, a ride on Qingdao’s tallest Ferris wheel, shopping, and exquisite dining—what could be better?

This is my fourth visit to Qingdao. I love seaside cities, especially Qingdao with its red-tiled roofs, green trees, blue sea, and clear skies. On previous trips, I visited the usual tourist spots. This is my first time in Jimo. Its hot springs are particularly famous.

As the weather cools, it’s the perfect season for hot springs. This time I stayed at the Sea Spring Bay Ocean Hot Spring Hotel in Jimo, Qingdao. Jimo’s hot springs are exceptionally renowned—located in one of the world’s four major marine hot spring areas, with a history dating back to the Western Han Dynasty, over a thousand years.

The hotel’s hot spring is a marine hot spring, one of the world’s four major bromine salt springs, and it’s especially beneficial for health. Marine hot springs are rare—found only in Sicily (Italy), Kyushu (Japan), Taiwan (China), and Qingdao (China). It’s an extremely scarce resource. There are both indoor and outdoor pools, over 60 in total, with varying temperatures and benefits. Some have high-temperature herbal baths, one even has a mahjong table, and there’s a children’s play area—suitable for all ages, making it ideal for family trips.

The guest rooms also have hot spring water piped in. Soaking in the hot spring while watching a beautiful sunset—it’s pure comfort.

After your soak, be sure to visit the spa. The therapists are very professional—try an essential oil back massage or cupping. They also did a machine test for me, which was quite accurate, helping me adjust my body to achieve a better state of health.

About a five-minute walk from the hotel is a shopping street, with many well-known brands at very good prices. Walk through it and you’ll see a giant Ferris wheel. At 88 meters tall, it’s currently the tallest in Qingdao—the Ocean Star Ferris Wheel.

At sunset, it’s even more romantic. Besides the Ferris wheel, there’s a pastel purple merry-go-round. This place feels like Disney or a quiet European town. The Ocean Star Ferris Wheel has become a must-visit spot in Qingdao. Legend says each cabin on a Ferris wheel is filled with happiness, and Ocean Star has 54 romantic cabins—come find your own happiness!

Qingdao’s seafood is abundant and fresh. For dinner, I chose refined Japanese cuisine.

The sashimi platter featured fresh ingredients with delicate knife work. It was richly varied—salmon, octopus, yellowtail, and more, each with a smooth, non-greasy texture.

Tempura is a must-order dish for me with Japanese food. The heat was perfectly controlled: crispy outside, tender inside.

Botan shrimp: I always love eating sweet Arctic shrimp and botan shrimp. You must suck the head—it’s incredibly fresh. The tail meat is delicate and sweet, with no fishy taste at all.

The abalone was simmered in a rich broth for over four hours, with a hint of chicken broth freshness and that uniquely tender, chewy texture of abalone. It was served surrounded by flaming magic paper, giving the feeling of a magic show.

The conch and matsutake soup really caught my attention. Served inside a conch shell, it contained conch meat and matsutake broth—the soup was delicious, with a slight matsutake aroma but dominated by the fresh taste of conch. It was also brought out with flames, a delightful surprise.

If you’re still undecided about where to go in November, head to Jimo in Qingdao!