Plan your Qingdao tour? Qingdao, known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city in eastern Shandong province. To the east, a short distance across the Yellow Sea, lie Korea and Japan, making Qingdao an important city for international trade.
The red roofs, blue sea, green trees and azure sky form a bright and colorful picture of Qingdao. Qingdao is regarded as one of the most beautiful and clean cities in China. what’s more, Qingdao is also a hot tourist destination.
No. 01: Mt. Laoshan
Mt. Laoshan is a famous mountain in Qingdao which is situated on the southeastern Shangdong peninsula. Mt. Laoshan is the highest coastal mountain in China, peaking at 1132.7 meters. It is known as one of the birthplaces of Taoism.
Mt. Laoshan has been an important center of Taoism in China for many centuries. The entire mountain covers 446 square kilometers and has 218 places of interest, big and small. Mt. Laoshan is known for its oddly shaped rocks, ancient trees, and crystal-clear springs.
Entrance Fee: CNY 90
Opening Hours: 07:30-16:30
How to get there: take Buses No. 304, 104, 802 or 113 to Mt. Laoshan
No. 02: Zhan Bridge
Zhan Bridge, also called Qianhai Zhan Bridge, or Nanhai Zhan Bridge, is located at the north side of Qingdao Bay. Zhan Bridge is the symbol of Qingdao.
Qingdao Bay is crescent shaped; like an arrow, the bridge shoots into the broad sea. Standing afar, a white lighthouse braves the waves and wind, while the Small Green Island No. 6 Beach west of the bridge and Zhan Bridge Park around the bridge invite visitors to enjoy the beauty of Qingdao Bay. is a serene platform for exuberant trees. Dynamic and static scenes meld.
Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 07:00-19:00 (peak seasons); 08:00-17:30 (low seasons)
How to get there: take Buses of No.2, 5, 6, 8, 25, 26, 218, 220, 223, 225, 301, 304, 305, 307, 311, 316, 320, 321, 501, 217 or 801 to get there.
No. 03: Badaguan Scenic Area
Located in the east of Qingdao city, Badaguan Scenic Area is a famous picturesque sanitarium area in China. It is the best place to showcase the red walls, green trees, blue sea and azure sky views of Qingdao.
Badaguan Scenic Area is made up of eight streets named after the eight great military forts of the ancient times. Along the streets are many classic European houses built when Qingdao was a German protectorate. It boasts more than 200 different architectural styles ranging from German to Dutch.
Entrance Fee: free of charge
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: take Buses No. 26, 304, 315, 31, 202, 212, 223, 228, 316, 321, 501 or 801 and get off at Wushengguan Lu Station.
No. 04: No. 1 Bathing Beach
No. 1 Bathing Beach, which is the largest public beaches in China, is situated at Huiquan bay in Qingdao. There are many visitors come here every year, especially in summer.
The beach was first built in 1901 by the Germans after they invaded Qingdao. The unique beach, known for its slightly inclining stretches of fine-sand slopes and calm waters, is among the best of all bathing beaches in Qingdao. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the beach is like the pearl of Huiquan Bay.
Entrance Fee: free of charge
Opening Hours: the whole year
How to get there: take Buses No. 6, 15, 26, 31, 214, 304, 311, 312, 316, 604 or 605 from the downtown area and get off at Bathing Beach Station.
No. 05: No. 2 Bathing Beach
No. 2 Bathing Beach, which is also called “Taiping Cape Brthing Beach”, is next to the Badaguan Scenic Area. It features a gentle sloping beach with soft sand, clean water and gentle waves.
These four characteristics make it one of the most popular beaches among Chinese and foreign leaders, including the late Chairman Mao and other central government officials. Besides, there are many attractions around the No.2 Bathing Beach, such as Huashi Villa and Zhongshan Park, Qingdao.
Entrance Fee: CNY 2
Opening Hours: the whole year
How to get there: Buses No. 26, 31, 202, 206, 214, 223, 228, 231, 304, 316, 317, 321, 501, 604 and 801 pass through No. 2 Bathing Beach
No. 06: Catholic Church
Catholic Church is the biggest catholic church of Qingdao city which is located on the high hillock at the north end of Zhejiang Road, Southern District, Qingdao.
Catholic Church was formerly known as St. Emil Church. Construction of the church was under the guidance of a German architect and lasted for two years from 1932 to 1934. The church was designed according to Gothicism and Romanesque and is of the Neo-Romanism. Inside the church, there is a big and bright hall, which is spacious enough to hold one thousand people.
Entrance Fee: CNY 5
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 301, 305 or 320 to the Catholic Church; or take Buses No. q or 367 and get off at the Hushui Lu Station.
Zhongshan Park is a common name of Chinese parks, in honor of Sun Yat-sen, who is considered by many to be the “Father of modern China”. Qingdao Zhongshan Park is located inland from the shores of picturesque Huiquan Bay. The park features several gardens, including a Chinese Herbaceous Peony Garden, a Chrysanthemum Garden and a Sweet-Scented Osmanthus Flower Garden. The park holds an annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the city’s main festival, which naturally takes place when the cherry trees are in bloom, sometime during the end of April/ the beginning of May.
Entrance Fee: free of charge
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 6, 15, 302, 304 or 316, and get off at Zhongsban Gongyuan Station, Qingdao.
The Qingdao Protestant Church, which is built in 1910, is a famous religionary architecture in Qingdao. It is located at a small massif in the Jiangsu Road, South District, Qingdao. The church is in typical Protestant style, the sandy yellow walls and clay red tiles contrasting well with the greyish buildings around this area. Within, the church is spacious and austere and can hold between 300 and, aledgedly, thousands of congregation. The highlight of the church is the bell tower which houses an old German bell and clock face.
Entrance Fee: CNY 3 (another CNY 4 for going up the bell tower)
Opening Hours: 08:00-16:30
How to get there: take the bus No.1, 214, 225 to get there
The Qingdao International Beer Festival is a yearly festival held in Qingdao International Beer City in Qingdao. Qingdao International Beer City is known as Asia’s biggest international beer metropolis.
The motto for the Qingdao International Beer Festival reads: “Ganbei with the World!”, indicating the spirit of the event.
The first Qingdao Beer Festival took place back in 1991. Qingdao is the largest beer production base in China and the Beer Festival provides a great opportunity to show-off the city’s distinctiveness.
Entrance Fee: CNY 10 (during the Qingdao International Beer Festival)Opening Hours: August to September
How to get there: take Buses No. 201, 301, 312 or 313, and get off at Pei Jiu Cheng Station. There are special buses for visitors during the Qingdao International Beer Festival.
Zhanshan Temple is a Buddhist temple in Qingdao, which is located on the southern side of Zhanshan Mountain, facing the sea.Built in 1945, Zhangshan Temple is the only temple in downtown Qingdao and also the newest in China.
It consists of three courts. Returning to the central path, directly ahead is the Heavenly King Hall. Behind the Hall of Sakyamuni is the Hall of Three Saints. To the left of Preaching Hall is the Hall of the Recumbent Buddha. Opposite the Hall of the Recumbent Buddha is the Shandong Zhanshan Buddhist College.
Entrance Fee: CNY 8
Opening Hours: 08:30-16:30
How to get there: take Buses No. 26, 206, 310 or 370
Tip: Hassle-free Qingdao Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Qingdao guided tours:
Qingdao Cruise Port Day Tour from US$ 65 p/p
Qingdao Highlight Day Tour from US$ 105 p/p
