Qingdao Trip | A Family Travel Full of New Year Flavor, Enjoying Qingdao’s Wonderful Winter Moments

Enjoy Qingdao in winter! During the Spring Festival holiday, I specially brought my child to the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao. Blue skies and azure seas, red-tiled roofs and green trees, skyscrapers rising high, bustling with traffic... Qingdao is a prosperous, fashionable metropolis nestled between mountains and sea. Here you'll find the historic architecture district of Badaguan, the culture-laden Laoshan with its blessings, the romantic Taipingjiao, mouthwatering cuisine, and cozy boutique hotels. It's also very convenient to travel between attractions, hotels, and eateries, making Qingdao an excellent choice for a holiday trip.

[Itinerary Preview]

DAY 1 Arrive in Qingdao – Check in at Shangri-La Hotel, Qingdao

DAY 2 Yunshang Haitian Observation Deck – Taipingjiao – Badaguan

DAY 3 Laoshan Yangkou Scenic Area – Check in at Mohai Villa

[Shangri-La Hotel]

First things first—accommodation. I chose to stay at Shangri-La Hotel, Qingdao. The hotel is right next to MIXC and just steps away from Metro Lines 2 and 3, making it very convenient.

The hotel enjoys a prime location in the bustling city center, close to both tourist attractions and the seaside, so whether it's entertainment, dining, or shopping, everything is easily accessible!

The lobby exudes style: an elegant and poised Asian aesthetic, stately yet understated, truly grand.

I stayed in an executive room at the Shengshi Pavilion—bright, airy, with high-quality, carefully selected furnishings and warm tones; the spacious king bed was deeply comfortable, offering a cozy, welcoming travel experience. The hotel also thoughtfully prepared a welcome fruit platter and a chocolate gift box brimming with festive New Year flavor.

The kids especially loved the hotel's family-friendly design; lying on that comfy bed and gazing out at the city's bustling scene was utterly delightful—it’s hard not to be charmed by such refined tranquility.

Traveling with children, you can arrange a family theme. The package includes buffet breakfast for two adults and one child under 12, up to three general admission tickets to the Hisense Science Discovery Center, access to the swimming pool, gym, and other health facilities, free extra bed for children under 12, daily complimentary minibar beverages, and more.

Yipintang, the hotel’s buffet restaurant, offers an abundant variety of delicacies: fresh local seafood, noodle and dim sum dishes, all sorts of snacks, and fresh Japanese cuisine, among others—everything you could wish for.

I highly recommend the seafood counter: plump oysters, succulent hairy crabs, large conch, razor clams, clams, scallops—all with unlimited supply. There’s also a wide range of cold pot skewers, spicy and delicious; and sizzling imported steaks, lamb chops, and Australian sirloin on the teppan, oozing with meaty juices and bursting with flavor with every bite!

The individual serving style turns eating meat into a ritual! Whole lamb racks and whole lamb legs hit the spot right away, plus all kinds of trendy desserts, like the popular towel rolls with their smooth cream—sweetness to your heart’s content.

Additionally, the lobby lounge is offering a limited-time New Year-themed afternoon tea, vibrantly red and sweetly delicious, welcoming the new year with the sweetest sense of ceremony.

[Yunshang Haitian Observation Deck]

My first stop on this winter trip to Qingdao was the Yunshang Haitian Observation Deck—a high-altitude observation platform perched atop a supertall vertical building in Shandong Province. From here, you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of magnificent seascapes, mountain scenery, and city vistas, fully immersing yourself in the unique experience of being in a city in the sky.

The admission ticket is 180 yuan, covering the 81st-floor Yunshang Haitian Observation Deck and the 80th-floor Art Center. The Art Center features various exhibition spaces with interesting and aesthetically compelling artworks that shimmer in different lights, each piece created with different materials to explore the interplay of matter and mind, sparking new thoughts and reinterpretations in art.

The 81st floor includes several functional areas such as a transparent viewing zone, an immersive experience zone, a multimedia display area, and a sky bar. Everywhere you look—a giant bell for blessings, red characters on glass—the festive New Year spirit shines through.

Traveling in Qingdao during Chinese New Year, one can gaze far from Yunshang Haitian, watching China’s New Year unfold from the clouds. The Diamond Corner is a perfect photo spot, with its oversized panoramic glass windows capturing all the coastal scenery and the bustling city traffic of Qingdao.

[Leisure Time at Taipingjiao]

Qingdao has an unspoken romantic rule: when choosing a café, the top pick is always one near Taipingjiao, and they never disappoint. We picked one called "Meet Van Gogh", which is said to have once been the Dutch Consulate.

Meet Van Gogh is a café surrounded by plants and flower clusters, with exquisite décor and an elegant setting—serene and tranquil. Its predecessor was reportedly the Dutch Consulate.

This retro-romantic red-tiled standalone building retains the unique charm of old architecture, with two floors and a sizeable outdoor courtyard. Sitting quietly here feels like a soft-focus filter has been applied, complete with a lyrical background score.

All their pastries are also delicious—after so many years in business, relying on the view alone would hardly keep customers coming back. Whether drinks or snacks, nothing here is a letdown. Even though it was chilly, with the afternoon sunshine, coffee in hand, and the entire sea stretching out before us, we couldn't help but sigh, "Everything is just perfect."

[Exotic Badaguan]

I had long heard that if you want to find Qingdao’s iconic "red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and sky", the quickest way is to navigate directly to "Badaguan". Names like Shanhaiguan, Jiayuguan, Juyongguan… at the mention of these passes, the first thing that comes to mind is likely the Great Wall meandering thousands of miles through the northern mountains and deserts, with yellow sands, lonely smoke, and sunsets.

Yet here in Qingdao, these military passes have been transformed into beautiful scenery, into streets that offer endless beauty through spring flowers, autumn moons, summer breezes, and winter snow. This is a place where mountains are outside your window and the sea at your feet—overflowing with exotic charm! Badaguan is a magical place: a fairy-tale Denmark, street cherry blossoms from Japan, bench-lined boulevards like in Milan... Strolling through, it feels as if you can travel around the world in a single day!

Sadly, when we visited it was winter, so we missed those stunning "one pass, one tree" scenes. But soon, my regret was swept away by the breathtaking sunset. As the sun slowly sank into the sea before my eyes, my thoughts drifted. The sea in Qingdao can be fiery passionate, calm as a mirror, vast and magnificent, or tender and graceful; it meets you in whatever mood you bring to it.

"Rosy clouds emerge at dawn over the sea, plum and willow heralding spring across the river." With the changing seasons, sunrise and sunset, Qingdao presents one charming seascape after another.

[New Year Blessings at Laoshan]

How can you visit Qingdao without going to Laoshan? Laoshan has a long-standing and profound cultural heritage, widely known for its distinctive blend of mountain-sea culture, Taoist culture, tea and fishing culture, and folk arts, making it a place of deep traditional significance. During the Qin and Han dynasties, eminent scholars, reclusive luminaries, poets, and refined gentlemen all visited Laoshan, leaving behind many enduring stories and masterpieces. With naturally stunning landscapes and rich human resources, Laoshan brings together majestic mountain-sea scenery and poetic elegance in one mountain.

It takes about an hour and a half to get from the city to Laoshan, so we set off from the hotel early this morning. Take Metro Line 11 to Puli Station, exit A, then transfer to Bus 620. About twenty minutes later, the terminal is the Laoshan Yangkou Scenic Area. If you drive, the end point is Yangkou Parking Lot, right next to Yangkou Beach. The Yangkou route is only about 40 meters above sea level, yet it offers the most beautiful scenic experience of Laoshan.

During the Spring Festival, the visitor service centers in various areas of Laoshan Scenic Area present a series of unique activities: at the Jiushui Scenic Area zero-transfer hall, there's a festive photo wall with the theme "Enjoy Laoshan, Chinese New Year".

Inside the scenic area, red lanterns are hung high, festive decorations welcome the new spring. The vibrant red lanterns of happiness and Chinese knots symbolizing reunion are everywhere, enveloping you in a strong New Year atmosphere.

It has become a tradition for Qingdao residents to ring the bell at Yangkou Taiping Palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year to seek blessings and climb high for good fortune. Laoshan Taiping Palace, built during the Taiping Xingguo era, has a history of over 1,000 years and is one of the oldest Taoist temples in Laoshan. The traditional blessing ceremony "Taiping Dawn Bell, Blessed Path of Laoshan" stems from this, carrying the beautiful message of "Peace under heaven and prosperity for the nation", deeply beloved by many. Ringing the bell once with sincerity to pray for your family is a ceremony full of meaning. During the holiday, the Taiqing Scenic Area will also give visitors Spring Festival blessing gifts such as fu characters, small lanterns, and Chinese knots.

Nestled against the sea, Laoshan appears even more graceful and dignified. Strolling through the forest, there are many viewing platforms along the way; landmarks like Yangkou Old Man Rock, Shouzi Peak (Longevity Peak), and the Turtle Probing the Sea are all worth pausing to savor.

[Slow Time at Mohai Villa]

We stayed overnight at Mohai Villa, which is very close to Yangkou Scenic Area—just a ten-minute drive—and occupies a prime spot along the coastal line. Here, you can wait for the flowers to bloom on the paths and face the sea together. It’s a homestay that combines a café, accommodation, and a restaurant. As soon as you enter, both the sea-view restaurant and café offer pure ocean vistas, along with a sea-view bathtub and minimalist décor—who could resist?

Mohai Villa never holds back in revealing the depth of the sea. Its four-level observation deck offers a view from every angle, each floor boasting a scenic terrace.

Here, you truly feel an embrace of the sea and freedom, a closeness to nature; instead of towering buildings, you see poetry and distant horizons. A homestay with scenery this beautiful, featuring a private white sand beach, sea-view rooms, mountain-view rooms, and an overall castle-like appearance.

An exquisite afternoon tea, rich with New Year’s flavor, opens up the most leisurely slow moments of a Qingdao trip. Whether in the bustling city or at the serene Mohai Villa, you can enjoy this reassuring, comfortable coziness.

The coffee is fragrant, the pastries sweet, and the vibrant, auspicious atmosphere fills you with hope for the new year ahead.

Hi-Travel Qingdao, enjoy winter. Traveling to Qingdao this season reveals a different kind of travel experience. Qingdao is a beautiful city with stunning coastal charm, profound cultural heritage, and a spirit full of fashion and vitality. This was a deeply memorable Spring Festival journey. If you also love Qingdao, come and experience a trip like no other.