Exploring Qingdao and Weihai: A 5-Day Adventure
If you're in China and craving a break from traditional architecture, Qingdao offers a refreshing change! It's like stepping into different parts of the world �C a bit of Australia here, a touch of Singapore there, a hint of France somewhere else, and even a familiar vibe reminiscent of Vietnam. It feels like a global melting pot, distinctly different from typical China.
During the recent Dragon Boat Festival, my friends and I embarked on a 5-day, 4-night trip to Qingdao and Weihai. We traveled from Nanjing, and the entire trip cost us 5326 RMB, covering train tickets, hotels, 100% taxi transportation, and food. That's about 6.5 million VND per person, enjoying ourselves comfortably without being overly frugal.
The first three photos showcase Qingdao's attractions, while the last two capture the beauty of Weihai. I planned our itinerary based on recommendations from Xiaohongshu, where users share travel tips and efficient routes. Just search on there and follow their suggestions!
Our Itinerary
Here's a glimpse into our adventure, feel free to use it as inspiration:
Day 1: Qingdao Arrival
Our day began early, leaving Nanjing South Railway Station at 6:00 AM. The train departed at 7:47 AM, arriving at Qingdao West Railway Station at noon. From there, we took a high-speed train to Qingdao North Railway Station (as Qingdao West is quite far from the city center �C a 2-hour taxi ride!). After checking into our hotel near May Fourth Square (五四广场), we set off to explore. At 4:00 PM, we visited Badaguan (八大关) for some photos. Later, we headed to Zhan Qiao Pier (栈桥) before grabbing dinner. We dined at a popular riverside spot with illuminated views. While beautiful, the food was overpriced and not particularly delicious, so I wouldn't recommend it. After dinner, we strolled along the riverfront before heading back to the hotel around 11:00 PM.
Day 2: Qingdao's Parks and Sunset Views
In the morning, we visited Yan'erdao (燕儿岛公园) Park, followed by Xiaomaidao (小麦岛公园), famous for its scenic trees (photo 2). At 4:00 PM, we ascended Signal Hill (信号山) to witness a breathtaking sunset. As the sun dipped below the horizon around 7:00 PM, we stumbled upon a seafood restaurant nearby. It was decent enough, although I can't recall the name. Chinese seafood preparations tend to be heavily seasoned, which masks the natural sweetness that I'm used to in Vietnam.
Day 3: From Qingdao to Weihai
Our morning was spent at Shazikou (沙子口). This place is rarely recommended, but I thought it was the most beautiful of all (photo 3)! However, it was incredibly sunny, so an earlier visit for sunrise would have been ideal. After taking photos until noon, we returned to the hotel and boarded a train to Weihai North at 3:00 PM. I booked a hotel near the picturesque Huoju 8th Street (火炬八街) and rented an electric scooter to explore. Scooter rental was 30 RMB for 24 hours.
Day 4: Weihai's Coastal Charms
The next morning, we took a taxi to the shipwreck site. There were many photo services available, offering various packages, typically 50 RMB for 6 photos. We had photos taken on both sides, one vendor let us have all the pictures, while the other only allowed us to pick 6. Even though it was late May, there were still plenty of seagulls. Buying bags of feed and tossing them into the air created amazing photo opportunities as the seagulls swarmed around us �C just be careful they don't, you know…! After this, we took a taxi back along the road towards our hotel, stopping by a few viewpoints along the way. The sun was brutal that day, and we were tired, so we didn't explore much further. In the evening, we headed to Sunset Bay (日落湾) to watch the sunset. Due to budget constraints, we challenged ourselves to a 15 RMB dinner at 7-Eleven! We carefully considered every item, but we still went over budget by 3 RMB.
Day 5: Weihai's Final Impressions
We had planned to visit the pretty street at 5:00 AM, but my roommate didn't wake up until 7:00 AM! So we knew that morning was a bust. We didn't arrive there until 8:00, so there was no chance of taking good pictures with that many people milling about! We explored until about 9:00 or 10:00 AM before returning to pack and head to the final stop: Haiyuan Park (海源公园). This park was beautiful, but it was so sunny that I felt a bit dizzy, so I didn't take many photos. We left around 2:00 PM to catch a train back to Qingdao, then from Qingdao back to Nanjing. We arrived back at our dorm around midnight, concluding our 5-day, 4-night adventure.
Important Tips
This trip is relatively easy to plan as everything is detailed on Xiaohongshu, just search, follow, and go! Weihai is very sunny and the northern China sun can be very drying. It caused a sun allergy, peeling skin, and noticeable tan lines. The weather here is also very dry, especially for those of us accustomed to the southern climate. I had nosebleeds every morning, and my facial skin felt like it was peeling after a chemical peel. Remember to bring plenty of moisturizer and sunscreen.
July and August are peak tourist season, so it will be crowded. Weihai would be even more romantic with snow during the winter, instead of going during the summer and enduring the heat. Make sure to eat your fill of cherries in Weihai, as it's a major cherry-growing region in China. Even subtropical fruits are incredibly cheap. I bought about 1.5 kg of cherries, grapes, and peaches for only 57 RMB. The cost of food and taxis here is also quite reasonable. We weren't picky about food, and we traveled exclusively by taxi, but it didn't cost a lot. If you have a Chinese visa, consider this trip. I'd like to return for a snowy winter!
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