2025 Zhaoyuan Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

Zhaoyuan One-Day Tour｜I Panned for Gold Dust in the “Golden Capital” Underground Mine, Soaked in Hot Springs for Golden Skin, and Explored a Century-Old Vermicelli Workshop to See the “Silver Threads Flying” at Dusk! --- One-Day Tour｜The Only “Golden Capital” in China! A Small City Illuminated by Gold, Hiding Gold Rush Legends, Hot Spring Secrets, and Culinary Intangible Cultural Heritage】 📍Keywords: Golden Capital × Gold Panning Experience × Hot Spring Therapy × Longkou Vermicelli Origin 📅 Suitable for: Family Study Tours / Couples’ Getaways / Cultural Enthusiasts / Hands-on Travel Experts 💰 Budget Reference: Enjoy food, drinks, and activities within 180 RMB per person (excluding round-trip major transportation) --- 🕐 9:00 AM｜Arrive at “Zhaoyuan Station” or drive into town, first stop straight to the “Gold Museum Underground Mine” 🚄 About 1.5 hours by high-speed train + bus from Yantai/Qingdao, taxi or charter recommended to start the full-day trip. 📍First Stop: Shandong Gold Real Scene Expo Park (Ticket 80 RMB｜Includes underground mine experience) 📌 National 4A scenic spot, China’s first gold-themed museum “with access 300 meters underground”! ⛏️ Highlights from experience: - Change into miner’s clothes + headlamp, ride a real mining train into Qing Dynasty-era tunnels - Under professional guidance, pan for gold with a gold pan and actually find tiny gold particles! (Take them home as souvenirs) - Visit modern gold extraction process, see how one ton of ore yields only 5 grams of gold—no wonder the saying goes “Though panning through countless sands is hard, only after blowing away the wild sand do you find gold” 📸 Photo Tips: - The underground mine’s cold light and deep shadows create atmospheric silhouettes - After exiting, take photos with the “Gold Brick Wall,” made of 24K real gold, dazzling on social media 💬 Fun Fact: Zhaoyuan produces one-seventh of China’s annual gold output, truly earning the title “China’s Golden Capital”! — 🍽 11:00 AM Breakfast｜Eat authentic Jiaodong flavors at “Jinyuan Renjia” farmhouse outside the scenic area 🍳 Must-order three dishes: - Sweet potato porridge + corn cakes (fragrant whole grains, paired with wild mountain vegetables) - Stir-fried chives with sea intestine (local seafood specialty, crispy and fresh) - Handmade steamed egg custard with dried shrimp 💰 About 25 RMB per person, the shop hangs a New Year painting called “Gold Panning Picture,” the owner jokes, “Even our chickens love eating gold powder here.” — 12:00 PM｜China Longkou Vermicelli Museum + Xinglongzhuang Ancient Village (Free admission｜National Intangible Cultural Heritage Site) 🚗 20 minutes by taxi, this is the true birthplace of “Longkou Vermicelli”! 🥢 Surprising highlights: - Watch the century-old “pulling and drying” process: sweet potato starch dough → vermicelli dripping → cooking → hanging to dry - In summer and autumn, thousands of meters of vermicelli hang like a silver river, sparkling in the sun, locals call it “Silver Threads Flying” - Hands-on experience making vermicelli strips and hanging rods (staff guidance provided) 🎁 Bonus: Buy authentic additive-free vermicelli on-site, vacuum-packed to take home for only 30 RMB per jin (500g) 📷 Photo suggestions: - Use a telephoto lens to capture the “silver waterfall in the air” spectacle - Wear white clothes walking among the vermicelli for dreamy light effects 💬 Guide says: “Though thin, one vermicelli strand can stretch three meters without breaking—that’s skill and dedication.” — 1:00 PM Lunch｜“Fushanju Restaurant” for a “Full Vermicelli Feast” 🍽 Don’t miss! Creative dishes made with vermicelli are stunning: 🔥 Recommended four dishes: 1. Hot and sour vermicelli pot (traditional style, appetizing and flavorful) 2. Vermicelli buns (stuffed with vermicelli, juicy but not greasy) 3. Cold mixed three shreds (vermicelli + cucumber + carrot, with garlic vinegar sauce) 4. Golden Capital specialty stewed chicken (with soybean sprouts and vermicelli, rich broth and fragrant meat) 💰 About 45 RMB per person, the owner proudly says, “Our vermicelli is unbleached, the cooking water stays clear.” — 🕒 2:30 PM｜Luoshan National Forest Park + Linglong Gold Mine Site (Ticket 60 RMB｜Includes forest trails + modern mining relics) 🚗 About 30 minutes by charter, known as the “Green Lung of Eastern Shandong,” and the lifeblood of Zhaoyuan’s gold. 🌲 Highlights from experience: - Climb Luoshan’s main peak (759 meters elevation), enjoy views of lush mountains, legend says there are “72 mine entrances” in the mountain - Visit the German-built ore processing plant ruins from the Republic of China era, red brick buildings weathered by time - 30-minute forest oxygen bar hike, chance to see squirrels darting through trees, crystal-clear streams 📌 Tips: Wear non-slip shoes, some mountain paths are steep; bring mosquito repellent in summer. — 4:00 PM｜Gaojiazai Hot Spring Resort (Ticket 98 RMB｜Includes indoor and outdoor pools + optional gold bath) 📍Zhaoyuan hot springs are rich in metasilicic acid, strontium, and trace gold ions, known as “soaking for golden skin”! 🧖‍♀️ Recommended experiences: - Golden milk bath pool (milky water with floating golden particles, perfect for photos) - Sulfur health pool (relieves fatigue, ideal for travelers on their feet all day) - Herbal pool + fish therapy pool (small fish nibble dead skin, kids love it) 💡Tips: - Bring your own swimsuit for hygiene - Rehydrate after soaking to avoid dizziness 🌙 If time allows, consider staying overnight here to enjoy peaceful moments under the starry sky. — 🌇 5:30 PM｜Return to downtown, climb “Zhaoyuan Drum Tower” to watch the sunset light up the Golden Capital 🏯 Though not an ancient relic, this imitation ancient city tower has become a city landmark. 🌇 From the tower: - City skyline gradually bathed in golden light - Distant mine lights twinkle like the earth’s open eyes - Evening breeze carries a hint of hot spring sulfur and fresh fields I softly recite the old saying from the tower: “The world’s gold source looks to China, China’s gold source looks to Zhaoyuan.” — 🚗 Return Suggestion: Depart before 6:00 PM for Zhaoyuan Station or highway entrance for an easy trip back --- Total Cost Reference (per person): - Transportation: city taxis + carpool ≈ 70 RMB - Tickets: Gold Expo Park 80 + Luoshan 60 + Hot Springs 98 ≈ 238 RMB (⚠️ Discounts for students/60+ seniors, family packages more cost-effective) - Food: breakfast 25 + lunch 45 + snacks 15 ≈ 85 RMB - Souvenirs: Longkou vermicelli gift box / gold commemorative coin ≈ 50–100 RMB (optional) 👉 Actual spending: about 280 RMB or less (off-season promotions + public transport can reduce to 220 RMB) --- 💡 Blogger’s Honest Words: Many think Zhaoyuan is just a “small gold-producing city,” But once you enter a mine, soak in a hot spring, and watch silver threads dance, You’ll understand— The gold here is not just metal, it’s a spirit: It’s perseverance forged through countless trials, It’s patience panning through sand, It’s the wisdom turning ordinary sweet potatoes into “Eastern silk.” Come to Zhaoyuan, Not to get rich quick, But to remember: True value never shines easily, It hides deep in the dark, Waiting for you to bend down and find it.

Speaking of off-the-beaten-path seaside destinations, I can't help but mention my hometown, Zhaoyuan.❗❗❗ Recommended Attractions - Gold Culture Experience - Jinzhen: Located in the Luoshan Gold Culture Tourism Zone, this historic town boasts quaint streets and exquisite Song Dynasty-style architecture. Here, you can experience gold panning and learn about the gold trading customs of the Song Dynasty.   - Gold Museum: The world's only gold-themed museum, it showcases Zhaoyuan's long history of gold mining and rich gold culture through 3D mine animations, mine cart rides, and other activities.   - Natural Scenery - Zhaoyuan Luoshan National Forest Park: With a forest coverage rate of over 90%, it's known as the "Jiaodong Forest Oxygen Bar." With rolling mountains, gurgling streams, and cascading waterfalls, visitors can climb to the summit for panoramic views of the vast mountain range. It's a great spot for summer escapes and hiking adventures.  - Xinzhuang Coastal Tourist Resort: With its gentle coastline and clear waters, it's known as the "Golden Coast." It's a natural bathing beach where you can enjoy the sun, sand, and surf.   - Leisure and Entertainment - Jiaqishan Amusement Park: Featuring a non-powered children's playground, a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, a colorful slide, and many other attractions, it's a happy gathering place for children and a "childhood utopia" for adults.   - Zhaoyuan Datang Jintang Garden: The park boasts natural hot springs rich in minerals and trace elements, along with a steaming area and a heated kang therapy area. A soak in it can relieve fatigue and relax the mind and body.   Recommended Dining - Zhaoyuan Apples: With their vibrant color, perfect shape, refreshing taste, juicy crunch, and sweetness, they're known as "China's Famous Fruit" and are perfect for both gift giving and personal enjoyment. - Zhaoyuan Steamed Balls: A traditional delicacy enjoyed during festivals and celebrations, they're delicious and nutritious. - Zhaoyuan Fried Chicken and Peppercorns: A traditional specialty, golden in color and crispy, it's best paired with pepper salt and spicy soy sauce. - Vermicelli Rice: Made from the vermicelli batter produced during vermicelli making, it's cooked into a porridge-like consistency, offering a unique and long-lasting flavor. Accommodation Options🏨 - High-End: Zhaoyuan Longhu Hotel offers a beautiful setting, stunning mountain and water views, and a buffet under $100, featuring dishes like salmon and steak. - Budget: Home Inn Neo (Zhaoyuan Jincheng Road People's Hospital Branch) offers convenient parking, charging stations, and comfortable rooms. Hanting Hotel (Zhaoyuan Hexi Road Cultural Mall Branch) offers a wide variety of breakfast options and attentive service. Itinerary - Two-Day Tour - Day 1: In the morning, visit Jinzhen to experience the excitement of "gold panning" and immerse yourself in the prosperity of the Song Dynasty. In the afternoon, visit the Gold Museum to gain a deeper understanding of gold culture. In the evening, stroll through Longwang Lake Park to admire the beautiful scenery and sample delicious food at the Water Street Night Market. Day 2: In the morning, visit Luoshan National Forest Park for a hike and enjoy the natural scenery. In the afternoon, visit Jiaqishan Amusement Park to experience various rides and de-stress. Three-Day Tour Day 1: Same itinerary as Day 1 of the two-day tour. Day 2: In the morning, visit Xinzhuang Coastal Tourist Resort to enjoy the sun, beaches, and sea bathing. In the afternoon, relax in the hot springs at Zhaoyuan Datang Jintang Garden. Day 3: In the morning, visit the China Longkou Vermicelli Museum to learn about vermicelli culture and production techniques, and purchase local products. In the afternoon, visit the Dahu Manor Tourist Area to experience rural life and visit various hidden gems.

💐Spring is here! Yantai will be filled with spring scenery!! 💐Flower Variety: Plum Blossom 📍Viewing Locations: Nanshan Park, Tashan Tourist Scenic Area, Yantai Botanical Garden Tips for flower viewing: Use composition techniques such as the rule of thirds and symmetry. Choose a simple background, such as the sky or water, to highlight the color and shape of the plum blossoms. Use natural light and avoid direct sunlight to prevent overexposure or shadows. 🌺Flower Variety: Winter Jasmine 📍Viewing Locations: Tashan Tourist Scenic Area, Yantai Botanical Garden Tips for flower viewing: Winter jasmine has bright colors, so wearing light-colored clothes will make your photos even better! 💐Flower Variety: Magnolia 📍Viewing Locations: Yantai Hill Scenic Spot, Yantai Botanical Garden, Kunyu Mountain National Forest Park - Wuran Temple Scenic Spot, Mou's Manor, Longkou Nanshan Tourist Scenic Area, Jinzhen 🌷Tips for flower viewing: Pay attention to the exposure when taking photos of elegant magnolias! A little carelessness can turn them into dazzling photos! 🌺Flower Variety: Apricot Blossom 📍Viewing Locations: Shili Apricot Blossom Valley, Longquan General Valley, Yi Ting·Minsu (Longfor Puti Sea Bay North China Sea Park Branch) Tips for flower viewing: Wearing ancient-style clothing to take photos of apricot blossoms will add a special charm! 🌸Flower Variety: Cherry Blossom 📍Viewing Locations: Longfor Puti Sea Bay, Laiyang Zhuocun Cherry Blossom Garden Tips for flower viewing: Cherry blossom trees are quite tall, so bringing a small chair to stand on can make it easier to take good photos! 🌼Flower Variety: Pear Blossom 📍Viewing Locations: Yantai Botanical Garden, Qi Jiguang's Former Residence, Mou's Manor 🌼Flower Variety: Peach Blossom 📍Viewing Locations: Tangjiakeng Village, Gaoling Town, Muping District 💐Flower Variety: Tulip 📍Viewing Locations: Poppy Plaza, Red Lip Beach, Tiandi Square, Conch Square, Fulaishan Cultural Park Tips for flower viewing: You can squat in the flower bushes and use a downward-facing lens to take photos! 💐Flower Variety: Moss Phlox 📍Viewing Locations: Kunyu Mountain Shimenli Scenic Spot, Longfor Puti Sea Bay North China Sea Park

We took a ride from Qingdao to Yantai on December 1st and on our half way the snow started to flow and it was very nice to witness the first snow of the year while traveling. It was very cold about -2 degree centigrade. We drove 2 hrs to arrive in the coastal city if uangtai Shandong province. I would recommend you a good hotpot in snowy day as it makes u warm with a little bit of baijiu as the locals say. #chinatravel #qingdao #shangdongair

Yantai has had good weather recently💕 I can't hold back my desire to go hiking again🧗🏻‍♀ I want to share this treasure hiking place with you ✅Hiking and sightseeing ✅Hiking and oxygen inhalation ✅Check-in nearby Go to nature and find happiness❗ · ⛰️Hiking place: Luoshan National Forest Park · 🌳Hiking and sightseeing In the best season for hiking, you must check in at Luoshan National Forest Park. The trees in the mountains have changed into early winter limited clothes, and the colorful mountains are like a beautiful oil painting. While climbing the mountain and enjoying the beautiful scenery, give yourself a "spiritual quick charge"🔋 You can also see many antique pavilions on the way up the mountain, and the photos are also very good~ · 🫧Hiking and oxygen inhalation In addition to the beautiful natural scenery, the forest coverage rate of Luoshan is more than 90%, which is definitely a well-deserved "forest oxygen bar". Walking in the mountains, the breeze is blowing, and the body and mind are bathed in this natural oxygen bar, and the sense of relaxation is full🌿 · 🌟Check-in nearby After hiking and sightseeing, you must not miss Jin Town Scenic Area and Gold Museum! ▫️Go to Jin Town Scenic Area to enjoy the ancient streets, exquisite Song-style buildings, learn about the folk customs of gold trading and the national intangible cultural heritage - the restoration and display of the gold chute stone masonry stove smelting technology, and you can also experience the fun of gold panning in the gold panning river, and you can take away the gold you find💕 ▫️Learn about gold geological knowledge, gold production history, gold production and gold smelting technology in the Gold Museum, and take a mine car to explore the mysterious 180 mine and find the mystery of gold ore. You can also buy gold ornaments and jewelry in the museum✨ · 🏠Scenic area information 🎫Tickets: ▫️Adult ticket: ¥50 ▫️Student ticket (6-18 years old): ¥25 ▫️Senior ticket (60-69 years old): ¥25 🔔Children under 6 years old or under 1.4 meters, seniors over 70 years old, and active military personnel can enter the park for free with valid ID ⏰Opening hours: 7:30-16:30 (16:00 stop admission) 🚏Transportation: 🚗Self-driving navigation to "Luoshan National Forest Park", there is a parking lot 🚌You can take Zhaoyuan Bus No. 228 to "Luoshan Forest Park Bus Station", and walk for 1 minute after getting off the bus ·

Mountain climbing is a great way to relax in autumn. Cool breeze, clear clouds, so comfortable. Autumn palette, red, orange, yellow, and green intertwined. This is: the forest is dyed, infinitely beautiful. What a colorful autumn. - 🅿️Few people, plenty of parking spaces. The stone steps are uneven, some places are steep, not suitable for young children. I took my child, and it took about 3 hours to go around the mountain. 💕There are food and drink stalls at the foot of the mountain, but not on the mountain. Bring water and snacks before climbing. Luoshan is purely for mountain climbing. There is a slide down the mountain, but we didn't take it.

Went to Zhaoyuan in Shandong province on a business trip and got to experience the most traditional way to drink beer! After ordering for a 杯子 as the 老外 I am, my colleagues kindly explained that the “plate” was indeed THE 杯子, the most traditional 杯子 I could ever drink beer from! And what an experience it was!!! After that, I for terribly sick and the staff at Longhu Hotel were the nicest in the world brining me extra bottles of water and traditional Chinese medicine. My heart just melted at so much generosity and caring ❤️❤️ Spent a whole week there indulging in delicious food and strolling by the most beautiful sunsets 🌅 Thank you Zhaoyuan!!

🌸 Gaojiazhuangzi Village got its name because the Gao family moved here at the end of the Western Han Dynasty. It is a model where the coastal defense village, commercial village, and family village on the ancient official road of Deng Lai merge into one. During the Qing Dynasty, the Xu family from the village went to Beijing to do business. They became wealthy and returned to their hometown to build houses and courtyards, inheriting the architectural culture of Beijing, thus earning the village the nickname 'Little Beijing'. 🔥 Gaojiazhuangzi is currently the largest, best-preserved ancient village in the Jiaodong area with the most complete types of historical buildings. 🌈 Zhenlong An and the Three Officials Temple ruins and bell tower Zhenlong An is said to have been built during the Eastern Han Dynasty's Guangwu period, and was rebuilt in the 19th year of Kangxi (1681). It was known locally as the East Hall, originally with three bays and double columns, and the door plaque reads 'Zhenlong An'. The Three Officials Temple, also known as the West Great Temple, has a three-foot-wide alleyway between it and Zhenlong An, and the door plaque reads 'Three Officials Temple', with statues of the three officials inside. Both temples were destroyed in the 1960s, but the foundations in the courtyard are well preserved. 🌙 Xu Family's Three Branches Ancestral Hall Built in the 14th year of Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty (1809), it was funded by Xu Yunfeng, a royal guard of the three branches of the Xu family. Later generations donated the ancestral hall to the public ownership of the three branches of the Xu family, making it the Three Branches Ancestral Hall. ☁️ Earth Rampart Built in the first year of Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1862), due to the plundering by the Nian Army in the 11th year of Xianfeng (1861), the village leader 'Xu Limen' combined with wealthy households like Xu Qianxiu to raise a large sum of money to rebuild the earth rampart in the 15th year of Guangxu (1889), costing tens of thousands of taels of silver, with villagers bearing the cost voluntarily, and contributions from both large and small households. 🌸 Bird Clam with Horseradish: The cooking is just right, giving it a crispy texture that's great to bite into, and the bird clams are very fresh. 🔥 Stir-fried Large Intestines: Cleanly prepared, tender when stir-fried, but can be greasy if eaten too much. 💧 Spicy Stir-fried Crawfish: The crawfish are quite plump, but a bit troublesome to peel and eat. ☀️ Stir-fried Green Beans: Quite refreshing and crisp, but I don't like them much; they feel undercooked. 🌟 Sea Cucumber Rice: It's a specialty dish! The portion is really huge! Enough for four or five people! There's a lot of sea cucumber, very fresh, and it's fantastic mixed with rice.

Jiaodong's forest is a huge oxygen bar, with a vegetation coverage rate of over 90% in Luoshan National Forest Park. There are more than 1,000 plant species and over 80 species of wild animals, and the concentration of negative oxygen ions is more than 400 times that of the city. You must take the kids to breathe the fresh air brought by nature. Driving is very convenient, the scenic area is not far from the highway, and because it's not in the urban area, parking is super easy. Therefore, for friends who are not far away, it is recommended to drive. Before going up the mountain, you first pass by the big waterfall. In winter, the waterfall freezes, and there are many man-made snow scenes. The snow is dyed in various colors, like a fairy tale world, which children love. Luoshan is the highest point in Yantai, with an altitude of over 700 meters. It is not very strenuous and suitable for people who do not hike often, as it does not require much physical strength. Luoshan has a long history and diverse culture, with many Buddhist temples and Taoist temples on the mountain. There are not many snacks around, so it is recommended to bring your own

The super niche beach of Zhaoyuan Xinzhuang Binhai Resort in Yantai. Fine sand, blue sea water, iconic giant crab. Swings, picture frames, unique pigeon houses, wallpaper-level blockbuster.

The water in Luoshan is restrained, dripping, and needs to be carefully listened to in the wind. The water in Luoshan is also shy and low-key, hiding at the bottom of the big stone slab and inside the cave. Along the way, you will occasionally find water droplets seeping from the cracks in the stones, with a bit of mystery, and more of the tenacity of perseverance. Breaking free from the shackles of the stone, moistening the soil, it brings us a full view of the beautiful scenery, and stirs our mood.

At this time, Luoshan is lightly made up, slender and graceful. The red is charming but not vulgar, the yellow is bright but not ostentatious. There is wonder in danger, and scenery in wonder. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping. The wind interweaves with the light, pushing the story of autumn to its climax!