Catch the Tail of Summer, Seek an Azure Eden, and Encounter the Most Beautiful Qingdao, Yantai, and Weihai

I still remember my last trip to Qingdao, Yantai, and Weihai was back in 2013. These three coastal cities are like three dazzling sapphires, standing proudly on the northern coastline. As this summer draws to a close, fond memories and longing for European-style old towns and the sea surge once again. I set foot in Yantai, Weihai, and Qingdao anew—one and a half days in Yantai, one and a half days in Weihai, and three days in Qingdao—a six-day leisurely journey along the Shandong Peninsula coastline. It was still breathtakingly beautiful, intoxicatingly lovely, and so enchanting I hated to leave!

At the magical 37th parallel north, Yantai is definitely an underestimated treasure of a coastal city—understated yet dazzling. Here, there are azure waters, fresh sea breezes, and romantic, classical European architecture. The jelly-like sea and the bustling charm of old-town streets create this city’s unique blend of romance!

I have to say, Yantai people really know how to be romantic. Spending a day strolling through downtown Yantai brought me countless surprises. Here’s a Citywalk treasure route for you: Suochengli. Suochengli is the hallmark of old Yantai, an exceptionally well-preserved ancient neighborhood of old streets and alleys. Archways, grey tiles, floral character walls, Love Lane, neon signs… these artistic and romantic elements breathe new vitality into the ancient alleys. Wandering here, it’s absolutely heart-fluttering!

Climbing up Xuanhua Gate to overlook Suochengli, the entire Ximenli main street lies before your eyes. Though situated in a bustling area, the grey bricks and tiles etched with the marks of time quietly tell the story of the old city.

Apart from the main Ximenli street, Suochengli is crisscrossed with many small alleys. Now these alleys are decorated with unique charm—floral character walls, Love Lane, neon signs... all kinds of artistic elements entice people to take photos.

The streets are also dotted with an array of restaurants, cafes, hotpot spots, tea houses... lined up one after another. Just walk into any one of them; they all have great style. Sipping tea, drinking coffee, sampling snacks... you can truly spend a whole afternoon here, relaxed and at ease!

There are also street markets selling cultural and creative goods, handicrafts, and travel souvenirs! After exploring Suochengli, I leisurely strolled about 900 meters to Chaoyang Street. This little street at the foot of Yantai Hill is brimming with exotic flair, the very root of the port city’s opening-up culture. The entire block is lined with European castle-style buildings, both modern and stylish.

Chaoyang Street was first established in 1872. Over a hundred years ago, it was a bustling hub of merchants, the most prosperous commercial street in Yantai, carrying the memories of generations. Now beautifully restored, Chaoyang Street blends local Yantai features to create a unique wine culture. The block is home to numerous flagship restaurants, trendy bars, cutting-edge fashion shops, and hip street scenes. Today’s Chaoyang Street, with its profound history and cultural essence infused with modernity and trendiness, has flourished once again.

Additionally, there are all kinds of creative markets and exhibitions. Walking here feels like traveling through time, glimpsing the prosperous past of Yantai’s port-opening culture.

Next, I visited the Hongkou 1920 Historical and Cultural Block, another stunning place. The area is small, with few people and free admission. Inside, there are a few specialty restaurants and walls covered with purple flowers. Strolling and snapping photos here is perfect for a citywalk—romantic, artistic, and adorably cute.

The park has heaps of raspberry bears 🐻—they climb trees 🌲, climb poles, and even scamper up rooftops‼️ Super cute~

After exploring Hongkou 1920, dusk was falling. I decided to wander over to the No. 1 Bathing Beach to see the sea and enjoy the sea breeze.

While walking along the No. 1 Bathing Beach, I stumbled upon 📍 Island Diary Coffee. A whole white cottage with a red-tiled roof, clusters of raspberry bears, a large green lawn with camping chairs in the yard—it truly makes you fall in love in a second. No matter how many sea-viewing copy lines I’d imagined, none matched the romantic atmosphere of facing the ocean at this moment.

On a summer afternoon, holding a cup of aromatic coffee, sitting by the window overlooking the sea, watching waves gently lap against the reefs 🌊, feeling the sea breeze on your face 🎏—there’s nothing more enjoyable.

On the second day of my Yantai trip, I visited the Haichang Fisherman’s Wharf on Binhai Road. This “Prague on the Sea” is dreamily romantic, with European buildings standing under blue skies and white clouds. In an instant, it felt like being transported to Europe.

The best photo spot for Fisherman’s Wharf is the zebra crossing on Binhai Middle Road. Sitting on a stone bollard or crossing the crosswalk gives off a relaxed, carefree vibe.

After spending a leisurely morning at Fisherman’s Wharf, content and at ease, I returned to my hotel to pack and set off for the next city—Weihai.

Most of Weihai’s attractions are scattered along the coastline. After some selection, for my Weihai trip I planned to follow the coastal road from south to north, visiting Yuehai Park, Haiyuan Park, Maotou Mountain, and Torch Eight Street.

After lunch, I left Yantai. With only an afternoon, I could only visit one spot, so I chose the farthest and northernmost Torch Eight Street first. I arrived at Weihai North Station at 3 PM. As soon as I got off the high-speed train, the weather wasn’t cooperating—a massive cloud loomed overhead. By the time I took a taxi to Torch Eight Street, a torrential downpour hit. At that moment, the gene deep in every Chinese person awakened—since I’m here, let’s keep playing! Travel can’t always be sun-drenched; encountering the unknown and challenges is what makes travel captivating, isn’t it? Life is the same—it can’t always be smooth sailing. Luckily, there were transparent umbrellas for sale on the street. It was this very umbrella that added atmosphere to my Torch Eight Street visit.

The colorful detached houses lining the road, the endless sea at the end, boats dotting the shimmering water—under the rain, it was dreamlike, with a unique charm all its own!

Since I got wet, as night fell I hurried back to my hotel near Weihai Station to rest. The next day’s route was along the coast from south to north: Yuehai Park, Haiyuan Park, Maotou Mountain, aiming to catch the sunset at Maotou Mountain by 6 PM. I woke up early the next day, and finally, Weihai cleared up—clouds gave way to sun! I was overjoyed; the trip wasn’t in vain. Finally, I could enjoy the beautiful seaside summer.

Along Weihai’s coastline, there are many seascape parks. I chose Yuehai Park with its lighthouse, and Haiyuan Park where you can walk along a boardwalk to the ocean. First, I arrived at Yuehai Park, which faces Liugong Island across the sea. Its coastline stretches 1.3 kilometers, connecting Weihai Park to the north and Haishang Park to the south. In the central square stands an iconic landmark—a 49-meter-high sightseeing lighthouse. Below it are uniquely shaped seaweed cottages, very eye-catching. These houses with seaweed-thatched roofs are traditional fishermen’s dwellings in Weihai, warm in winter, cool in summer, and durable for a century.

Below the lighthouse, a path leads to a small pavilion with a grass roof. Trust me, you must come to this pavilion to feel the sea breeze.

Looking out from the pavilion, it’s a sea of greenery, vibrant and full of life.

To the left of the lighthouse is a children’s recreation area, and to the right are seaside swings. You can also pitch a tent and camp in the park ⛺️, incredibly relaxing~

After a short rest, I continued along the coastal highway to Haiyuan Park. As I stepped through the park’s entrance, the first thing that caught my eye were the boats floating on the sea. Although more huge clouds were rolling in, this unpredictable weather added a uniquely melancholic beauty to the photos.

After lingering for a while, the sun finally came out. I continued left along the coastline, climbing up the wooden boardwalk, and finally saw Weihai’s glassy sea.

Inside the park, there’s a memorial hall. The large lawn and the adjacent glass platform are both gorgeous. Overlooking the hall from a higher point, sunlight streams through the gaps, creating beautiful light and shadow. Standing on the glass platform, bathed in the sea breeze, I couldn’t help but sigh—this is the feeling of a summer island.

Walking further, there’s a wooden staircase leading to the beach, lined with lush trees. The summer sun filters through the leaves onto your face, casting dappled light and shadow. Taking portraits here is truly stunning.

By the time I leisurely finished exploring the two parks, it was noon. After a meal, I headed to the spot I was most looking forward to in Weihai—Maotou Mountain!

If you come to Weihai, don’t miss this place. It boasts the most beautiful coastal road, the most stunning viewing platforms, the bluest sea, the most gorgeous sunset 🌅, and the cutest cat-head-shaped peak.

Among them, Platform No. 3 offers the best view; it’s the only one that extends into the sea, with a 360-degree unobstructed panorama for a direct look at Maotou Mountain. The scenic route around Maotou Mountain is one-way. 🚗 Self-driving friends can start from Haiyuan Park, drive north along the coast, and visit from Platform No. 1 to the very last one. If time is limited and you only want to see the most beautiful and essential parts while also viewing Maotou Mountain from far to near, then you must navigate to Maotou Mountain Platform No. 2 and then walk just 100 meters to Platform No. 3. This stretch has excellent scenery too‼️ I walked all the way from Platform No. 2 to Platform No. 3; though it’s only 100 meters, it truly offers a new vista at every step.

Platform No. 3 is absolutely incredible. I stayed there from 2 PM until twilight, witnessing the mesmerizing changes of light and shadow over the sea at different times.

After enjoying the sunset glow, I reluctantly left Maotou Mountain and boarded the high-speed train to Qingdao. I had a brief stopover in Qingdao back in 2019; I was looking forward to seeing a new side of this northern hotspot coastal city.

Table of Contents III: Qingdao—‘Want to Tell You I Love You 3000 Times’

I planned three days in Qingdao, selecting the Dabao Island Cultural Leisure Block, the Yunduan Sea and Sky Scenic Area, Xiaomai Island, and Qingshan Fishing Village—a mix of city flair and coastal charm.

1. New Look of the Old City: Dabao Island Cultural Leisure Block

Qingdao’s old town, with its red-tiled, yellow-walled German-style architecture, has always exuded exotic charm. Now the old area has been transformed into the Dabao Island Cultural Leisure Block, which isn’t just a street but an entire district. This century-old block has been renovated and revitalized, preserving Qingdao’s unique courtyard-style building complexes while adding artsy shops, lively markets, trendy exhibitions, and adorable cartoon elements. Wandering through the entire block is such a vibe.

As soon as I exited the subway, red-tiled, yellow-walled German-style buildings came into view, with the spire of Qingdao’s landmark church—St. Michael’s Cathedral—looming in the background.

The whole Dabao Island is composed of many crisscrossing blocks, each street with its own theme, beautifully arranged—a blend of art and trendiness.

After exploring these trendy or cute streets, hidden within Dabao Island is a century-old courtyard residence. Qingdao’s courtyard houses, like Beijing’s hutongs or Shanghai’s lane houses, exist in the memories of old Qingdao residents! A century ago, these “Sino-Western” buildings had exterior shapes determined by the city’s street layout, often square, enclosed on all sides with a large courtyard in the center. The buildings were typically two- to three-story wooden structures, with later four- to five-story brick-concrete ones. The ground floors were mostly commercial, while the upper floors served as residences.

2. Cloud Sea and Sky: Qingdao’s Castle in the Sky

If you could only visit one place in Qingdao, don’t miss the Cloud Sea and Sky Scenic Area, where you can overlook the entire city and the boundless sea from 330 meters up. My second stop in Qingdao was Cloud Sea and Sky, and I stumbled upon an intoxicatingly gorgeous sunset here.

The Cloud Sea and Sky City Observation Deck is on the 81st floor of the Haitian Center. The elevator took less than a minute. The observation hall features 360-degree floor-to-ceiling windows and three glass-floored Diamond Corners, offering a spectacular view of the entire cityscape around Qingdao’s May Fourth Square and the vast, endless sea!

Taking photos here at sunset is absolutely stunning, especially at the Diamond Corners. It feels as if you can reach out and touch the sky and clouds, with old villas of red tiles and yellow walls and the expansive ocean beneath your feet! I stayed here until sunset, savoring the breathtaking sunset over the sea. The sunset glow reflected on the water, shimmering, as the sky gradually transitioned from light purple to warm orange—so romantic! It fulfilled all my fantasies about traveling in Qingdao.

After visiting the 81st-floor observation deck, you can go down to the 80th floor to see an art exhibition. Different themed exhibitions are held regularly! Currently on display is “H1 Keith Haring: Post-Pop Era Trend Art Exhibition.”

The observation deck is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last entry at 8:00 PM). Ticket: Observation deck 160 RMB/person; 81F deck + 80F art center, 215 RMB/person.

3. If Romantic Qingdao Had a Name, It Would Be Xiaomai Island

On the second day of my Qingdao trip, I only planned to visit the super popular internet-famous spot—Xiaomai Island. Xiaomai Island is a circular islet, dubbed “Qingdao’s Little Kenting.” I stayed from daytime through dusk until sunset, luckily encountering a purple sunset glow. My luck on this trip was really good; I didn’t miss a single sunset.

Sailboats, reefs, the sea, lawns, a solitary tree—any random snapshot is a gorgeous scene. I suggest ladies bring a few extra outfits; Xiaomai Island is truly worth multiple portrait shoots.

At sunset, with the sea breeze, sitting on the grass, watching the sea, listening to music, and enjoying a stunning sunset—it’s incredibly healing!

4. Qingshan Fishing Village: A Real-Life Seaside Peach Blossom Spring

On the third day in Qingdao, I chose to drive to the most beautiful fishing village—Qingshan Village. At first sight, you might think this is a fairy tale world by Andersen, or perhaps you’d think it’s God’s spilled palette, or even Italy’s Cinque Terre. In fact, this is a village with over 600 years of history in Qingdao—Qingshan Fishing Village 🎏. Nestled against Mount Lao ⛰️, facing the sea 🌊, it truly is a real-life seaside peach blossom spring 🌸.

Qingshan Village is about a 1.5-hour drive from the city center. I recommend self-driving or taking a taxi. The coastal highway offers stunning scenery all along the way. If driving, first set your GPS to 📍 ‘Yang Kou Tunnel,’ and after passing the tunnel, navigate to ‘Qingshan Fishing Village Archway,’ or you might take a wrong turn. For public transport, take Metro Line 11 to Puli Station, transfer to a bus to Yangkou, then take Tourist Bus 618 to Qingshan South.

Here are a few perfect photo spots: 1. Huangshan Village entrance; 2. Qingshan Fishing Village Archway; 3. Qingshan Tea Plantation; 4. Qingshan South bus stop. My portrait photos were all taken at these four locations.

As time passed and night fell, the sky gradually flushed with sunset colors. The blue sky and clouds were dyed purple and warm orange, sea and sky merging—impossibly beautiful! I suggest you stay until after the sunset to fully enjoy it before leaving.

I stayed until the sky was completely dark before reluctantly driving away from Qingshan Village along the coastal highway. Thus, my 10-year reunion with the Ludong region of the Shandong Peninsula drew to a close, yet I felt it was too short. Over these six days, I witnessed so much beauty and collected countless touching moments! Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao—see you next time!