Located to the southeast of Zhanqiao Bridge, Xiaoqingdao Island is a pleasant little peninsular. Viewed from the sky, the island is shaped like an ancient lute, and hence is also called Lute Island.
The island has a little park, a few small cafes and a white lighthouse. It is a good area for a brief stroll, giving good views of the Huilangge Pavilion, the rusting submarine and destroyer of the Naval Museum, and, if the weather is right, the nearby Yellow Island (Huangdao) nestling in mists.
The island is dotted with black pines and flowers such as oriental cherries, green peaches, pomegranates, and roses of Sharon.
How to get there: Take bus No.6, 26, 304, 311, 312, and 316 to get there.
Cost: RMB15. Preferential Price for Group.
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Taiqing Palace (Taiqing gong), the largest, oldest and most impressive of the temples in Laoshan, lies to the southeast of the mountain and faces the sea.
Altogether, the palace houses 140 rooms and halls including the most famous Three God's Hall, Three Purities' Hall and Three Emperor's Hall. The palace was first built during the reign of the first Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty about 1000 years ago and underwent complete rebuilding during the Ming Dynasty, some 500 hundred years later.
In front of the Three Purities' Hall is a pool with clear blue water, which was named ”°Shengshui Spring”± (”°Magical Spring”±) by the Taoists who lived in the Temple. It is said that the spring will never dry up. Embedded in a wall nearby are religious inscriptions on a tablet, which was written by Kublai Khan (the first Emperor of Yuan Dynasty) and the Jinhufuwen (Gold Tiger Magic Figures) issued by Genghis Khan.
On a giant stone located to the east side of the Palace four big words are engraved,”°Bo Hai Can Tian”± (the waves reach to the sky), below which a famous line of small words reads,”°a visit here on the 28th year of the period of the first emperor of China.
Every moonlight night, the water and the sky here blend into one, forming a breathtaking view.
How to get there: Take bus number 304 (6:30- 17:00) from railway station (Zhanqiao); or take bus No.106 (7:15- 16:20) from Li Village and get off at Yakou station, which is also named as Lao Mt. Taiqing Ropeway and Taiqing Palace are before your eyes.
Costs: RMB15; Taiqing Palace entrance fee: RMB15. Taiqing Ropeway Fee: RMB50 for going up, and RMB40 for going down.
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There are altogether 6 beaches in the Qingdao area and almost all are worth a visit (for varying reasons.) The No.1 Beach (diyi yuchang) is perhaps the best of the lot, although it is often packed out.
It is the longest of the beaches, around 580 meters long, and, like most of the others, covered in fine yellow sand. The beach has some interesting features: a view of the distant Huiquan cape, with the waves lapping its red reefs, the nearby Luxun park, with its shade-providing pines and cypresses, and its weird, round changing huts.
For the more claustrophobic, No.2 (Dier yuchang) and No.3 (Disan yuchang) Beaches are probably a safer option; they are smaller, but less crowded. The No.3 beach, especially, has charm, with kite fliers and lovers scattered about. At the eastern end of the beach, on the hill, is the Huashi Lou, a former German governor's residence built in 1905, with fantastic architecture and decent views of the surrounding area.
The No. 6 Beach (Diliu yuchang), despite its popularity, is not really worth visiting for its beauty. It is mainly rockpools and dirty grayish sand. In the early morning the beach is filled with a profusion of tai ji practitioners, 70s tracksuit wearing joggers and fishermen. The walkway (Zhan qiao) and attached Huilan Pavilion (Huilange), the symbol of Qingdao (and its beer), are essential tourist destinations, although often packed with touts, vendors and visitors.
If you are really after the secluded beach experience then your only option, and a long haul, is to head for the golden sands of Yellow Island (Huangdao) . After a high speed ferry, (about 20 minutes), and a longer public bus (or shorter minibus) ride, you will arrive at the long golden beach (Jinsha Haitan) in Huangdao. Initial impressions can be misleading, as the entrance to the beach is filled with stalls and Chinglish speaking hecklers, but it is easy to get away from this. You will need a good day to fully appreciate this trip. The ferry leaves from the local ferry terminal (Qingdao lunduzhan) on the western side of Qingdao (down the road from the Friendship Hotel).
How to get there: Take bus No.6, 15, 26, 214, 304, 311, 312 and 316 and get off at bathing beach.
Cost: Free of charge.
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Anyone who has been to Qingdao, or checked her beer labels, will not fail to recall Zhanqiao Pier (zhanqiao), the symbol of the city. This is an obvious destination for anyone wishing to complete their Qingdao experience.
The views from here contrast sharply with the towering modern buildings looking down upon the old German Concession area, with its church peaks and parks, and with its red clay tiles interrupted by dark green pines.
At full tide, the billowy surf rolls against the beach, the breakers sending up a fountain of spray. With the ebbing of the tide, appear the brown reefs and yellowish sand, a time for tourists and locals to gather conches and other seashells.
How to get there: No.2, 5, 6, 8, 25, 26, 218, 220, 223, 225, 301, 304, 305, 307, 311, 316, 320, 321, 501, 217, and 801 to get there.
Cost: free, RMB2 for Huilan loft.
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