Things to do in Qingdao
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Qingdao
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Early cherries in Laoshan foothills and magnolias, sea still cold.
Peak blossom in April, then warm green Laoshan and the start of sailing in May.
Warming and pre festival calm, first swims for the hardy.
Beer Festival, peak prices and crowds, warmest sea arrives late August, algae and jellyfish possible.
Single best month, warm sea, clear air, festival crowds gone and seafood at its fattest.
Golden light and Laoshan colour, avoid Golden Week 1 to 7 October, November is quiet and cheap.
Cheapest and coldest, no swimming, gull season at Zhanqiao and Taiqing still rewarding on clear days.
What's on
- Qingdao International Beer Festival 17 July to 15 August
Main venue Golden Beach Beer City, plus Laoshan Century Plaza and Old Town Shangjieli and Dabaodao, free entry.
- Zhongshan Park Cherry Blossom Season early April to late April
Single cherries peak early April, doubles mid to late April, with Badaguan peach and crabapple.
- Qingdao International Sailing Week August, dates vary
Marine sports events cluster around the Olympic Sailing Centre marina.
Worth the trip for
Best things to do in Qingdao
Tsingtao Beer Museum
Original 1903 brewery museum with tastings of unfiltered raw draft and the classic beer beans.
Badaguan Scenic Area
Leafy villa district where each street is planted for a different season, best explored slowly on foot.
Huashi Lou
Stone villa on the headland above Second Beach, worth the small fee for the top floor sea view.
Zhanqiao Pier
The city symbol on the Tsingtao label, best early or in winter when Siberian gulls swarm the pier.
Lu Xun Park
Red granite reefs and pines east of the pier, far calmer than the pier crowds at low tide.
No. 1 Bathing Beach
The biggest in town swimming beach, an arc of fine sand backed by Huiquan Square.
Taipingjiao Park
Quiet eastern end of the coastal walk, a local favourite for sunset and wedding photos.
Signal Hill Park
Postcard panorama of red roofs, green trees and blue sea from 98 metres over the old town.
Where to stay in Qingdao
Shinan District, May Fourth Square and Fushan Bay waterfront
first trip, all-round base
International hotels, metro convergence and the light show, with old town and Laoshan both easy.
Shinan District, Old Town and Badaguan edge
character, repeat visits, photographers
Red roof streets, cathedral and Badaguan walks, with No. 1 and No. 2 beaches on foot.
Laoshan District, Shilaoren Beach and Donghai East Road
beach plus Laoshan, longer stays
Resort strip by Shilaoren Beach and Polar Ocean World, quieter but 40 minutes from the old town.
Shibei District, Taidong and Beer Museum area
value, most local base
Cheaper hotels and the cheapest latest food around Taidong market, with good metro access.
Think twice about
- Huangdao and West Coast New Area as a sole first visit base
Across the bay, 45 to 75 minutes from the old town, Badaguan and most of the restaurants worth eating at.
- Licang District and Qingdao North Station area
Rail gateway with no sea or old town, and sights 30 to 45 minutes south.
- Chengyang District and Jiaodong Airport area
Airport is about 39 km northwest of the centre, basing there strands you an hour from everything.
- Qingdao Station forecourt and far western Zhongshan Road
Noisy tout heavy transit blocks, the least appealing edge of the old town.
Best restaurants in Qingdao
ChuanGe Yu Shui Jiao
Famous dumpling house for cuttlefish ink and Spanish mackerel dumplings, plus spicy clams.
Shuangheyuan Seafood Dumplings
Better value dumpling rival serving a four colour family set in a canteen bright, queued setting.
KAO'AN
Barbecue forward Qingdao cuisine house at the top of current local rankings, made for beer.
Lü Shi Baked Seafood
Salt baked and dry baked seafood house by May Fourth Square, intensely flavoured prawns and shellfish.
Bo Luo You Zi
Polished first try for sea intestine rice, with the full Jiaodong repertoire if that is a step too far.
Qiao Ji Fisherman's Wharf
Splurge seafood house with its own supply, known for braised sea cucumber and whole steamed fish.
Shi Yue 89
Local favourite for Jiaodong home style dishes, braised pork with kelp and cheesy sticky rice cake.
Taidong Night Market
Chaotic evening grazing for grilled squid, clams, skewers and wheel cakes at street prices.
Best bars in Qingdao
The St. Regis Bar, Qingdao
Top rated hotel bar in the Haitian tower above Fushan Bay, the luxury drink stop in Shinan.
Lovers' Dam
Breakwater bar strip at the far end of the Olympic marina, a genuinely nice sunset drink spot.
Outdoor things to do in Qingdao
Taiqing Scenic Area
Southern Laoshan route with Taiqing Palace among ancient cypresses, the best first and winter route.
Yangkou Scenic Area
Eastern Laoshan route with cable car, jagged peaks and the classic granite over sea view.
Jufeng Scenic Area
Summit loop for real hikers, a 4 to 6 hour ridge circuit best in clear autumn weather.
Beijiushui Scenic Area
Northern valley of waterfalls and pools, the coolest Laoshan day in summer or after rain.
Harbour Cruise from Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre
Thirty to fifty minute bay cruise past Xiaoqingdao and the Fushan Bay skyline, best at sunset.
Group Sailing Experience, Olympic Sailing Centre
Crewed keelboat trip from the Olympic marina where you can take the helm under instruction.
Private Yacht Charter, Olympic Sailing Centre
Half day private charter for groups, the main luxury outdoors splurge in central Qingdao.
No. 2 Bathing Beach
Smaller prettier beach inside Badaguan with fine sand, a sea cave and a sunset embankment.
Best hotels in Qingdao
The St. Regis Qingdao
Current luxury flagship in Haitian Tower above Fushan Bay, chosen for views and the bar.
Shangri-La Qingdao
Long standing five star benchmark near MixC, the safest luxury recommendation for a first visit.
Hyatt Regency Qingdao
Beach resort luxury directly on Shilaoren Beach, best for a summer beach or split stay.
InterContinental Qingdao
Marina hotel inside the Olympic Sailing Centre, with rooms over the harbour and sailing at the door.
The Westin Qingdao
Business luxury hotel that often prices as the best value five star in Shinan.
Holiday Inn Qingdao City Centre
Default mid range recommendation, high review volume at well below the Shangri-La price.
Le Méridien Qingdao
Polished flagship tier option in the deep bench of domestic and joint venture hotels in Shinan.
MG Hotel
Small historic district hotel by the cathedral, praised for cleanliness and location over facilities.
Is Qingdao expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | CN¥320 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | CN¥680 a person |
| Splurge | CN¥1,650 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Tsingtao Beer Museum: a few days ahead
- Taiqing Scenic Area: a few days ahead
- Yangkou Scenic Area: a few days ahead
- Jufeng Scenic Area: a few days ahead
- Beijiushui Scenic Area: a few days ahead
- Private Yacht Charter, Olympic Sailing Centre: a few days ahead
- Qingdao International Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Qiao Ji Fisherman's Wharf: a few days ahead
- Beer Festival hotels in Shinan book months ahead for late July and August.
- Laoshan tickets, shuttles and cable cars book days ahead on holidays and summer weekends.
- Tsingtao Beer Museum tickets book ahead in summer and festival weeks.
- High speed rail in Golden Week and Spring Festival sells out, tickets release about 15 days out.
Is Qingdao safe?
- Traffic and e bikes at crossings are the main street risk, old town lanes are slippery when wet.
- Swim at lifeguarded beaches inside nets in season, heed flags and tides on rocky Badaguan shores.
- Laoshan stone steps are wet granite with few handrails, wear proper shoes and turn back in thunder.
- Do not drink tap water, hotels provide bottled and kettle water. Emergency 110 police, 120 ambulance.
Qingdao travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Beer Street seafood sold by weight, agree the total in writing before cooking or eat elsewhere.
- Zhanqiao boat touts selling short harbour loops as sea crossings, buy at the marina or on Trip.com.
- Doing both aquariums as a pair, pick one or none and spend the time on Laoshan and the coast.
- Qingdao TV Tower, a paid tower in a city with two free hill viewpoints and a free light show.
- Hotels marketed as Qingdao in Huangdao, Chengyang, Jiaozhou or Pingdu, check the district and map pin.
Getting around Qingdao: public transport and more
- Metro Lines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11 are the backbone, pay by Alipay or WeChat transit QR.
- Use DiDi with your destination in Chinese characters, street hailing is harder without Chinese.
- Walk the Shinan coast in sections, inland lanes climb steeply and there is no reliable shared bike system.
- Pick Qingdao Station over Qingdao North if your train offers a choice, it lands by Zhanqiao.
Who Qingdao suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Qingdao your trip
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