A Romantic Encounter in a Coastal City
Step into the 'Sailing Capital' – Qingdao, and arrive at the venue of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 13th Paralympic Games sailing competitions – Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. Located in the eastern new district of Qingdao, by the shore of Fushan Bay, on the original site of Beihai Shipyard, adjacent to May Fourth Square and Donghai Road, it is one of the city's famous 'Instagram-worthy spots'. Strolling around the center, the sound of seagulls and waves forms a concerto, while before your eyes is a beautiful picture composed of blue sky, sea, white sails, and a lighthouse – truly delightful.
"Curiosity is a budding seed, taking root and growing in the field of our spirit, guiding us to bravely explore the unknown world." The Hisense Exploration Center becomes a world for children. This is a science exploration museum themed on technology and nature, integrating science, nature, history, and culture. In the Science Enlightenment Hall and Science Discovery Hall, exhibits like "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the Earth," magical light and shadow effects, a mirror maze, and various demonstration devices and instruments for acoustics, mathematics, mechanics, electromagnetics, and optics opened our eyes wide, and we couldn't resist trying them ourselves. In addition, in the Nature Exploration Hall, there are animals such as lizards, marmots, and snakes, and interactions between visitors and these small creatures highlight the theme of harmony between humans and nature.
After the scientific exploration, we came to The St. Regis Qingdao. The hotel is hidden in the tallest building in Qingdao – the Haitian Center. The Haitian Center has a total height of 369 meters, and the St. Regis hotel occupies floors 58 to 78. As the elevator doors open, the boundless sea and scattered sails come into view. Walking slowly along the hotel's iconic double-bridge staircase, the high-end luxury atmosphere is instantly at its peak. The hotel houses various restaurants and bars with distinctive features, attracting many guests to take photos.
With red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and clear sky, if you ask where the most romantic place in Qingdao is, Badaguan is definitely the first choice. Buildings full of vintage charm, such as Huashi Building and Princess Building, set against surrounding green trees and the azure sky, create a uniquely charming atmosphere. Moreover, this is one of the filming locations for the TV drama "With You". If you come to Qingdao, be sure to bring your loved one to Badaguan, feel the sea breeze, stroll along the tree-lined avenues, and encounter the most beautiful scenery of Qingdao.
After enjoying the beautiful scenery, a glass of Tsingtao beer is a must. As night fell, we came to the West Coast Time Coast Craft Beer Garden. Invested by Tsingtao Brewery, this beer garden brings together various fresh elements such as the 1903 Time Craft Brew Workshop, Tsingtao Brewery Time Coast Resort Hotel, and a Whisky Club. Here, you can not only see the beer production workshop but also taste truly fresh craft beer straight off the production line. Sipping the refreshing and crisp Tsingtao beer with a variety of flavors while enjoying wonderful folk music performances, your spirits rise, and your body unconsciously taps to the rhythm – it's the perfect choice for relaxation.
In the morning sea breeze, we headed north along the Donghuan Island Road on the west coast. On the left, green trees provide shade; on the right, the sea breeze gently blows – truly Qingdao's most beautiful coastal highway. At the China Photography Island at the mouth of Jiaozhou Bay, facing the sea, we gazed at Xiao Qingdao Island and the Zhanqiao Pier in the distance, listening to the waves crashing against the reefs. It has to be said, nature is unfair in its favoritism towards the west coast.
On the west coast, there is a popular café where the coffee is rich and full-bodied, and you can enjoy sea views while sipping your drink. This is the Fenglingdu Kou Café at Golden Beach, one of the must-visit photo spots on Qingdao's west coast. Sitting in the café with friends, drinking coffee and feeling the sea breeze, taking in this heavenly scenery, you feel like the 'coolest person' here. Everyone raised their cameras to capture these beautiful moments.
Another instagram-worthy spot on the west coast that's especially popular with young ladies is the Xihai Art Museum. The museum was jointly designed by top international architects and landscape designers, and it's visually stunning. Here we exclaimed, 'It's a place where you can create masterpieces in minutes!' Floors one to three are exhibition areas, and the artworks on display are of the highest artistic value. There is also the 'Port' terrace on the fourth floor, where you can have unexpected experiences under the sunset.
Reluctantly leaving romantic Qingdao, we arrived at Bailu Bay Town in Rizhao, and everyone was immediately stunned by its beauty. If you can't make it to Hulunbuir, come to Bailu Pasture. Here, the sky is blue, the grassland is green. Take a deep breath and feel the original flavor of nature. 'A random snap can become a computer desktop wallpaper,' we exclaimed. Moreover, camping here is also a great choice: pitch a tent, and your eyes will be filled with natural charm.
Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park offers a different scene. Forests and sea blend together, with a forest coverage rate of 78%. It is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. Along the 7-kilometer-long golden coastline, the waves are gentle, the beach is wide, the sand is fine and smooth, and the seawater is clean. The beach here was praised by Mr. Samuel C.C. Ting as 'surpassing Hawaii.' There is no noise here; walking into the park, you feel a peaceful return to yourself.
At the Ocean Aesthetics Hotel, we were attracted by its vintage-style decoration. The hotel, transformed from an old boiler plant, faces the sea and boasts distinctive features, making it a high-end guesthouse that attracts tourists from afar. A coffee shop, a popular bookstore… stepping into the Ocean Aesthetics Hotel feels like entering a dream world. Outside, however, the azure sea and soft sandy beach await; the gorgeous infinity pool seems to merge with the sea and sky, blending into one. Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, it looks as warm and beautiful as an oil painting.
At night, we checked into Dongyi Town, only 600 meters from the sea. It is a highly comprehensive town with three streets: a commercial street, a food street, and a folk culture street. The guesthouses are divided into various courtyards, with antique gardens, gurgling streams under small bridges – a scene reminiscent of the Jiangnan water towns. In the morning, drawing the curtains, a ray of sunlight shines into the room, complementing the view outside like a pastoral painting.
The name 'Rizhao' dates back to the Yuanyou period of the Song Dynasty. 'Rizhao' means 'the place where the sun first shines at sea.' When visiting Rizhao, one cannot miss the sun culture. We came to the Tiantai Mountain Sun Inn, a hotel built in a primitive sun tribe style on the mountainside, with innovative room designs. Lying in bed, you can open your eyes and see the starry sky through a circular skylight. Private hot spring baths allow guests to wash away the day's fatigue. Tiantai Academy and Fumu Palace have become must-visit photo spots for tourists.
Do you have a wish: to see the sea every morning when you open the curtains? The Yunhe Yebo Homestay, built along the coast, can fulfill that wish. The hotel has Chinese and Western restaurants where you can taste the delicacies of Lanshan, sit down and enjoy a cup of Rizhao green tea, and savor its rich aroma. The indoor swimming pool is kept at a constant temperature with crystal-clear water. Through the window is the sea – it's truly a dream home.
What could be more pleasant than beachcombing for shells? We brought our joy to Duodao Sea, where everyone carried buckets to pick up shells by the shore. Wading further in, we could collect clams and razor clams; with good luck, we might even catch crabs. Though small, the fun is endless.
In Lanshan District hides a 'Shangri-La' – Deng Mountain. Here there is a 'Golden Palace' with golden tiles and vermilion bridges, and you can also see the waterfall of Deng Mountain Spring. Ping'an Hall, Mazu Hall, and Guanyin Hall are all must-visit attractions in the mountain. Take a sightseeing car to the mountaintop and overlook the city; the air is crystal clear, and the blue sky is spotless.
