My Qingdao trip in March! You'll cry if you don't plan ahead.
If I were to rate my Qingdao experience out of 10, I'd give it a 9. My biggest takeaway is that you really can't skimp on certain things! I want to share my travel experiences with you all~ (Super detailed! This one article is enough, so save it quickly!) ❗️
🚇Transportation:
🚌Bus: Qingdao's bus routes are well-connected. Taking the bus to tour Qingdao costs only CNY 1–2 and takes you to see the mountains and the sea, hitting all the popular attractions along the way. For example, Route 468 circles the Qingdao coastal scenery and runs through Badaguan Scenic Area; Route 317 is a super-long coastal sightseeing line that connects the main attractions along the city's coastline.
🚇Subway: Qingdao has several subway lines open, providing convenient access to various attractions. To get to Laoshan Scenic Area, take Subway Line 4 to Dahedong Station. After exiting the station, you'll find the Laoshan Tourist Service Center, where you can transfer to the scenic sightseeing bus to the Jufeng and Taiqing scenic areas.
🚕Taxi: Taxis are convenient, but you may encounter traffic jams during peak tourist season, and the cost is relatively high.
🚎Dangdang Tram: Known as Qingdao's "living map," it covers more than a dozen popular attractions in Qingdao with just a wristband. It starts from Lanshan Road Bus Station next to Qingdao Railway Station and passes through seven stops, including Zhanqiao Pier and Qinyu Road. With the wristband, you can get on and off the tram as many times as you like on the same day.
🎫Special ticket offers:
🏞️Laoshan Scenic Area: Special offers are available during Women's Day. On March 8, female tourists can climb Laoshan for free (excluding scenic sightseeing buses, cable cars, and other paid items).
🐬Qingdao Underwater World: Adult tickets are discounted during Goddess Festival. For details, please follow the official announcements. Sometimes, you can also bring a child under 1.2m free of charge.
🎢Qingdao Fantawild Dreamland: From March 8–10, all women can enjoy a 50% discount of CNY 140 per person (original price CNY 280 per person). Reservations must be made at least one day in advance.
🏠Accommodation recommendations:
👍Shinan District: I recommend Qingdao Haitian Hotel, which is close to May Fourth Square and No. 3 Bathing Beach, where you can enjoy an unobstructed sea view from 369m above the ground; and Qingdao Litian Hotel, which is close to May Fourth Square and Mixc Qingdao, where you can enjoy mountain and sea views and admire the dazzling lights outside the window.
👍Laoshan District: Switinn Apartment Hotel (Qingdao Convention Center, Shilaoren Bathing Beach) is close to Shilaoren Bathing Beach and WFC Xie Xin Center, where you can drink tea and watch the sea from the bay window and enjoy the tranquility; Qingdao MGM Hotel is close to Shilaoren Bathing Beach and Miaoling Road subway station, with an aerial infinity pool where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beach.
👍Old Town: You can choose a century-old German-style villa hotel, which is an 8-minute walk from Qingdao Railway Station and 200m from the Catholic Church. It only takes about 5 minutes to walk to Zhanqiao Pier to feed the seagulls. There are many attractions nearby, so you don't need transportation. It is cost-effective for couples or families.
✨Tour sequence:
It is recommended to visit the attractions in the old town on the first day to experience the historical charm of Qingdao; on the second day, go to the coastal attractions to enjoy the beautiful sea view; and on the third day, you can go to Laoshan to appreciate the natural scenery. This arrangement avoids backtracking and allows you to fully experience the charm of Qingdao. Based on my experience, it is suitable to visit attractions during the day and watch the night view and shop in the evening.
🗓️Schedule:
1️⃣Day 1: Old Town
🎈9:00: Arrive at Xinhao Hill Park and overlook the Qingdao city scenery of red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and sky.
🎈11:00: Visit the Qingdao German Governor's Residence Site Museum to experience the charm of history.
🎈12:30: Taste Qingdao's special delicacies in nearby restaurants, such as braised mackerel dumplings and sea sausage with rice.
🎈14:00: Go to the University Road Red Wall to take photos, and then stroll around the surrounding artistic shops.
🎈17:00: Come to Zhanqiao Pier to enjoy the seaside sunset and feed the seagulls.
🎈19:00: Go to Zhongshan Road Commercial Street to experience the lively atmosphere and taste various snacks.
2️⃣Day 2: Coastal Line
🎈9:00: Go to Badaguan Scenic Area, stroll on the tree-lined road, and admire the buildings of various countries.
🎈11:00: Come to No. 2 Bathing Beach and play in the waves.
🎈12:30: Enjoy lunch at a restaurant near Badaguan and taste Qingdao's seafood.
🎈14:00: Go to May Fourth Square and take photos of the iconic "May Wind" sculpture.
🎈17:00: Go to the Olympic Sailing Marine Culture Tourism Area to enjoy the beautiful sea view and experience sailing.
🎈19:00: After dinner at a nearby restaurant, enjoy the night view light show at the Olympic Sailing Center.
3️⃣Day 3: Laoshan
🎈9:30: Take the subway to Laoshan Tourist Service Center and transfer to the sightseeing bus to enter Laoshan Scenic Area. You can choose to go to Taiqing Scenic Area to experience Taoist culture.
🎈12:00: Taste farmhouse dishes in the restaurants in the scenic area, such as Laoshan mushroom stewed chicken and other specialties.
🎈14:00: Continue to visit Laoshan. You can go to Yangkou Scenic Area to admire the beautiful scenery of mountains and seas.
🎈18:00: Return to the city and end your pleasant journey.
⚠️Travel tips:
✅Book tickets in advance: It is recommended to buy tickets for popular scenic spots such as Laoshan Scenic Area and Qingdao Fantawild Dreamland online in advance to avoid queuing.
✅Transportation card: You can apply for Qingdao's Qin Dao Tong card to make it more convenient to take buses and subways.
✅Weather preparation: It is windy in Qingdao in spring, so remember to bring a coat; the sun is strong in summer, so take sun protection measures; if it rains, be prepared with rain gear.
✅Language communication: Most people in Qingdao speak Mandarin, so there are basically no obstacles to communication.