2023 Shandong Road Trip Day 7: Xiao Qingdao, Lu Xun Park, Naval Museum, Laoshan

📍 Qingdao · 👁 406 reads

Keywords: Xiao Qingdao Park, Lu Xun Park, Naval Museum, Laoshan, Taiqing Palace

Day six of our Shandong journey: Our Naval Museum slot was around 11 a.m., so before that we headed over to stroll around Xiao Qingdao Park. Lu Xun Park is also right next to the Naval Museum, so we ticked both off together before making our way to Laoshan in the afternoon.

I'd read plenty of travelogues and tips from others who came before us, and they all mentioned how packed the Naval Museum gets this season. The queues at Gates 1 and 2 are incredibly long, but Gate 3 on Qinyu Road tends to have far fewer people. Coincidentally, the way into Xiao Qingdao Park is also from Qinyu Road. We drove straight from the hotel to Qinyu Road early in the morning, and that's when we truly grasped how popular Qingdao is this time of year. Even that early, there was not a single parking spot along the way. We kept hunting for a lot and only found one with spaces near the No. 1 Bathing Beach.

There were guards at the entrance to Qinyu Road, blocking vehicles from entering, so we went in on foot.

A short walk in from the start of Qinyu Road took us to Gate 3 of the Naval Museum. True to the tips, there was barely any queue here, but our time slot hadn't opened yet, so we decided to visit Xiao Qingdao first.

Just a little further ahead on the left of Gate 3 lies the entrance to Xiao Qingdao. No ticket is needed; you just make a free online reservation on the spot.

Right by Gate 3 and the Xiao Qingdao entrance, there are broad stretches of rocky reef, with lots of visitors combing the shore.

A causeway connecting to the small island—that’s Xiao Qingdao right there.

Crossing the causeway, you step onto a little square with a sculpture of a girl playing a qin.

Nestled among the greenery here is a café: bai he coffee (I think it was named something like that).

Spaghetti, fried rice, and coffee—that became our breakfast.

I found the signs for the restrooms quite interesting.

Directional signs on Xiao Qingdao.

The Shell Pavilion on Xiao Qingdao. Sitting here, feeling the sea breeze and gazing out at the ocean, is pure bliss.

Don’t ask why I’m striking this pose. Seeing the sea, I just can’t help myself.

After moving on from the Shell Pavilion, we first stopped for a group photo.

There are almost no sandy beaches around Xiao Qingdao; it’s mostly rocky reefs like these.

The difference between the southern seas and the northern ones is quite stark. It seems holding up branches, leaves, or flowers is another signature pose of mine.

At this hour, a crab suddenly appeared by the footpath. We scooped it up and tossed it back into the sea!

Torpedo Cave: The Japanese military tunneled into Xiao Qingdao’s hill during the occupation to create a torpedo and ammunition depot.

And this is it, the Torpedo Cave. It isn’t open to the public at the moment.

A view of the Naval Museum from Xiao Qingdao, on the opposite shore.

Little sister and Xiao Qi wanted a photo with the Naval Museum as the backdrop too.

A long wooden walkway, locked up, with no access allowed.

Little railway tracks laid by the Japanese back then.

A body of water enclosed by Xiao Qingdao and its connecting causeway.

Xiao Qingdao isn't large. We soon completed our loop around the island and got ready to leave for the Naval Museum.

Xiao Qingdao Causeway: Built in 1942, it protects against typhoons, storm surges, and pounding waves.

Looking back at Xiao Qingdao from the causeway. From this angle, you can spot the Xiao Qingdao Lighthouse.

Striding forward with heroic steps. I’d gotten badly sunburned back in Weihai, so today, I made sure to protect myself well!

The brave People's Navy, daring to show its mettle: Valiant in battle, achieving glory at sea, characterized by loyalty and a sense of mission.

A passionate youth who dreams of becoming a soldier.

A young man with a dream.

The bow of a warship.

Looking at Xiao Qingdao from this direction.

Stepping inside the exhibition hall.

A view of the sea and the Xiao Qingdao Causeway from the second-floor platform.

The solemn ceiling of the Naval Museum’s main hall.

Sculptures inside the main hall.

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Unswervingly accelerate the modernization of the Navy!

We must build a strong navy.

Generations of leaders inspecting the navy.

The same location, the same moments of observation.

Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Islands — May 2005

Nansha is our nation's territory, sacred and inviolable.

Many cafés line Qinyu Road. 'I'm in Qingdao, Missing You Terribly.'

The sea and rocky reefs along Qinyu Road.

The statue of Lu Xun inside Lu Xun Park.

Qingdao Underwater World, bustling with crowds of tourists.

Qingdao Aquarium.

Qingdao Underwater World, huge crowds of tourists.

The No. 1 Bathing Beach.

The No. 1 Bathing Beach; our car was parked near here.

Qingdao Urban Construction Group. This office location is truly wonderful—facing the sea, with spring blossoms warming the air.

There’s a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen here.

Moving on, we set off for Laoshan and found a noodle shop along the roadside for lunch.

A bowl of tomato and egg knife-cut noodles for 12 yuan—very affordable and a generous portion.

Egg-and-tomato knife-cut noodles and beef ramen.

We entered the Laoshan Scenic Area via the Yangkou entrance. Once past Yangkou, the traffic became heavily jammed.

The road is a winding coastal mountain route—mountains on one side, sea on the other—scenery of the utmost beauty.

The azure blue sea, so hard to tell where the sky ends and the ocean begins.

A tiny bay. Here, sea and sky truly merge into one seamless hue.

After a painstakingly slow drive, we finally reached Qingshan Fishing Village—just over 10 kilometers took us more than an hour.

We switched to a park shuttle bus to go deeper into Laoshan. Here, we caught sight of the Taiqing cable car.

The scenic area's police station.

The foremost among famous seaside mountains: Laoshan!

We transferred to another shuttle bus headed for Taiqing Palace.

A sacred mountain rises from the sea, and on that sacred mountain, there is a sacred palace.

Walking on towards Taiqing Palace!

The sea water was a dazzling, mesmerizing blue.

The square in front of Taiqing Palace.

Map of the Taiqing area.

Seaside at Taiqing Palace Square.

The entrance gate to Laoshan’s Taiqing.

Laozi appears to ride the clouds.

The Memorial Archway of Taiqing Palace.

An explanation plaque for the Memorial Archway.

Unity of Heaven and Man, the Way follows nature.

Second most sacred place of Quanzhen Taoism 'under heaven.' I’ve heard the first is Beijing’s White Cloud Temple.

Amazingly, there’s even a KFC here.

Truly as if riding the mist down to earth.

Another shot of Laozi soaring through the clouds.

Laoshan Taoist architectural complex — Taiqing Palace.

A free-spirited cat.

Laoshan Bookhouse. They sell coffee inside. 'I'm in Qingdao, Pre-Selling Romance!'

Laoshan Taiqing Palace!

We hired a guide for a talk, and her explanations were excellent!

The signboard of Laoshan Taiqing Palace.

Give it a rub, increase your fortune and longevity!

What are these two goofballs up to?

Dragon Head Elm: Located beside the Fengxian Bridge at Taiqing Palace. The ancient tree’s trunk is gnarled and twisted, with knobbles protruding, its shape somewhat resembling a dragon’s head, hence the name “Dragon Head Elm.” It has been around for 1,100 years.

Fengxian (Meeting an Immortal) Bridge: According to legend, on the dawn of a Chinese New Year’s Eve after snowfall, Liu Ruozhuo encountered a white-bearded immortal at this spot.

Give it a rub, increase your fortune and longevity.

Learned the Laoshan Wall-Penetration Technique.

Here’s the real thing: Wall-Penetrating Tree!

Pu Songling and the Shenshui Spring.

Hanbai Lingxiao (Juniper of the Han Dynasty with Chinese Trumpet Vine): The oldest tree in Qingdao. It's said to have been personally planted by Zhang Lianfu, the founder of Laoshan Taiqing Palace. Located inside the Three Emperors Hall at Taiqing Palace, it is a juniper tree planted during the Western Han Dynasty, now over 2,150 years old, classified as a national first-class ancient tree.

Jiangxue (Crimson Snow): Legend has it that the 'Jiangxue' camellia written about by Pu Songling was transplanted here from Changmen Rock Island by the Ming Dynasty Taoist priest Zhang Sanfeng.

Big group photo of the nine of us!

The vegetable garden tended to at Taiqing Palace.

Maybe from now on, reciting Taoist verses will feel divinely inspired.

Don't ask me why I'm making this gesture. Seeing the sea, I just can't help myself.

It was getting late, so we rushed to our final stop for the day, the Cobblestone Beach.

There was a water buffalo!

That red cluster in the distance is Qingshan Fishing Village.

Photo moment with Qingshan Fishing Village!

Reaching the Cobblestone Beach required going through a tunnel like this. Gave it a sort of 'stepping through a portal in space and time' feeling, didn't it?

We arrived at the Cobblestone Beach parking lot. Quite a lot of people here.

So its real name is Dreamlike Beach.

The sky had already dimmed.

They truly were all cobblestones.

The engineer boots show their advantage here.

Don't they look like gemstones?

Are you building a Nine-Layer Demon Tower?

Passing through the Space-Time Portal once more!

We ate dinner here, right beside a small bay.

After the meal, the little sister wrote in the sand: ‘Goodbye, dear sea!’

Tonight’s catch: just one tiny little fish.

Hotel in the fishing village. Ready to rest now, as tomorrow we’ll be leaving Shandong.