Yantai Three-Day Travel Guide

📅 Best Season: May to October (swimming in summer, seafood is fresh and abundant after the September fishing season opens) 🚄 Transportation Guide: High-speed trains directly to "Yantai Station" or "Yantai South Station," 20 minutes by taxi to downtown Recommend renting an electric scooter in the city (35 RMB/day), very free to ride along the coast 🏖️ Day 1: Old Town + Popular Coastal Walk Mode 🌅 Morning: Yantai Hill Scenic Area (Free) Must-do: Climb the lighthouse for a city view (10 RMB), explore former consulates of various countries Hidden tip: At low tide in the reef area of Houhai, you can find starfish (check tide tables!) 🍽️ Lunch: Mong Kok Little Fishing Village (60 RMB per person) ✅ Must order: Sea worm rice (Yantai specialty!), mackerel dumplings, spicy stir-fried baby abalone ❌ Avoid: "Seafood stalls" near the scenic area (rip off tourists) 🌊 Afternoon: Chaoyang Street + Suochengli (Free) Popular photo spots: Wine wall, bear wall, century-old courtyard teahouse Fun fact: Suochengli is a Ming Dynasty garrison site with an ancient well underground 🌇 Evening: First Seawater Bathing Beach (Free) The "Yantai Blue" filter at sunset is stunning, with a popular piano installation on the beach ⛵ Day 2: Penglai Fairyland + Changdao Island Hopping ✨ Morning: Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area (100 RMB ticket) Must-see: The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea spot, Qi Jiguang Memorial Hall, Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea dividing line Bargain tip: Tell taxi drivers "to Penglai Passenger Port" to save on shared ride fees 🚢 Noon: Take a boat to Changdao Island (45 RMB ticket) Remember to feed the seagulls on the boat (buy ham sausages in advance, 5 RMB/pack) 🏝️ Afternoon: Jiuzhang Cliff + Crescent Bay (combined ticket 70 RMB) The sunset at Jiuzhang Cliff is considered the most beautiful in Bohai Bay Pro tip: You can find heart-shaped stones on the pebble beach at Crescent Bay 🍻 Night: Changdao Seafood Stalls (80 RMB per person) Must-eat: Steamed sea urchin egg custard, garlic scallops, steamed blackfish 🌄 Day 3: Yangma Island + Artsy Off-the-Beaten-Path Route ☀️ Early Morning: Yangma Island Ring Road (Free) Rent an electric scooter to circle the island (50 RMB/day), check in at the "Little Maldives" glass sea Photo spots: Zhang Island wooden boardwalk, Qin Feng Cliff, Island Diary Café 📸 Morning: Fisherman’s Wharf (Free) Pretend you’re in Europe: Prague-style pointed roofs, Spirited Away railway tracks Hidden benefit: The seafood just landed by fishing boats at the wharf is the cheapest 🛍️ Before heading back: Joy City (souvenir shopping) Recommended: Changyu red wine (30-100 RMB), Laiyang pear syrup (15 RMB/bottle), ready-to-eat sea cucumber 💡 Insider Tips to Avoid Pitfalls ⚠️ Beware: Fishing farms claiming "free pick-up and drop-off" (hidden charges) Roadside "wild sea cucumbers" (actually farmed) Avoid Changdao on windy days (ferries may be suspended, stranded on the island) 🎁 Must-grab deals: Yantai Citizen Card offers 50% off attraction tickets (borrowable by non-locals) "Yantai Culture & Tourism" WeChat official account gives seafood discount coupons 📌 Lazy Traveler Optimized Itinerary: For families with kids: Replace Day 2 with "Yantai Whale Shark Museum" (120 RMB ticket, half price for children) For couples: Add a visit to "Moon Bay" for love lock photo ops