2024-08 Qingdao city (Drink beer)

Before the summer break ended, my younger brother stayed in Shanghai for a few days. Due to our busy work schedules, we couldn’t accompany him to explore the city, which left us with some regret. So, we decided to take two days off from work, combine them with a weekend, and set aside a total of four days for a proper getaway.

We quickly came up with two travel plans—Plan A was to visit Beijing, and Plan B was to go to Qingdao. Initially, we leaned towards Beijing, but unfortunately, we couldn’t secure entry tickets for the museums through their official public accounts (understandably, summer vacation attracts a lot of tourists). With no other choice, we had to abandon that idea and go with Plan B instead. After booking the train tickets and hotel, we were all set to go!

Trip

This trip included three of us: my girlfriend, my younger brother, and me. It was our first time visiting Qingdao, and our goal was simple—enjoy the seaside, feast on seafood, drink beer, and feel the ocean breeze.

With high expectations for this unfamiliar city, we referred to online travel guides and selected a few key attractions to visit.

2024-08-15 Day1

06:37 – Dear passengers, hello! The D2928 train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Weihai is now boarding. Passengers traveling on D2928…

And just like that, our journey began.

Since we booked our tickets at the last minute during the busy summer season, we could only get standing tickets. Our destination was Qingdao West, with a total travel time of about five hours.

Luckily, the dining car had plenty of available seats at the departure station. Without hesitation, we headed there while waiting for departure—and to our delight, we managed to stay seated all the way to our destination.

12:10 – We arrived at Qingdao West Station. After getting off the train, we took a taxi to our hotel for a short rest before heading to the nearby Sunac City shopping district for lunch.

We dined at a restaurant called 胖哥海鲜烧烤 (located in the pedestrian street of Sunac Mansion A1, Huangdao District). The meal was both hearty and delicious. The portions were generous—enough to leave all three of us completely stuffed. The oysters were exceptionally fresh and sweet, a taste that lingered in our minds (as expected from a coastal city).

After lunch, we were ready to start our island tour. We searched for an electric scooter rental shop and found one on Dianping called 青嗨行电瓶车租赁. Without hesitation, we took a taxi there.

Our plan for the afternoon was simple—leisurely exploring this area, stopping whenever something caught our interest. After all, the best part of riding a scooter is the freedom to go wherever we please. Below is the specific area we covered.

Circling the island is about fifteen kilometers. After renting our electric scooters, we rode along 连三岛路 for less than ten minutes before reaching Silver Beach. My younger brother was so excited that he couldn’t wait—riding ahead of us, he waved his hand, signaling for us to stop there.

After parking our scooters, my sister and brother ran straight to the shore, but I chose not to go down. Instead, I found some shade under a nearby roof and sat down to watch over our bags. The sun was still scorching, so I figured it’d be better to take it easy and wait until five or six in the evening, when the sun would start to set, before going into the water.

Because the sun was too harsh, we only spent about an hour at Silver Beach before continuing our ride along 连三岛路. I have to say, the planning in Huangdao is truly thoughtful—the island route not only has dedicated lanes for non-motorized vehicles, but every scenic spot also comes with designated parking areas for electric scooters, making the trip both convenient and considerate.

After about ten minutes of riding, we came across a scenic viewing platform. We stopped for a while to take some photos, capturing the beauty of the moment.

After leaving the scenic viewing platform, we rode a few more kilometers and arrived at 鱼鸣嘴村, a hotspot filled with popular photo-worthy spots. We chose a seaside café, BIG HOUSE大房子咖啡, to take a short break.

With the sea breeze gently brushing against us, sipping coffee alongside sweet treats, it felt as if time had slowed down.

We strolled around until 7 PM before leisurely riding back to the rental shop to return our electric scooters. After returning the scooters, we casually opened Dianping and searched for Da Guo Qiang, a restaurant recommended by the local lady driver who took us from the train station to the hotel at noon (and it turned out to be a great recommendation).

We went to the Da Guo Qiang Silver Beach branch, which offered both outdoor and indoor seating. Due to the peak tourist season, even at 8 or 9 PM, there was still a long queue of people waiting for their turn. After about twenty minutes, our number was finally called.

After another satisfying meal, we spontaneously decided to visit the nearby Jinsha Beach. Having been to Yintan Beach earlier in the day, we were curious to see how Jinsha Beach compared. Since it was less than a kilometer away, we opted to walk there.

We spent about an hour at Jinsha Beach before reluctantly taking a taxi back to the hotel. On the way, our friendly driver from Northeast China enthusiastically recommended several eateries. He mentioned quite a few names, but in the end, we only managed to remember two: 老谢家野馄饨 and 丁丁猫重庆小面.

Recalling how reliable the recommendation from the lady driver at noon had been, we decided to check out these two spots the next day.

It had been an exhausting day. After a quick wash at the hotel, we collapsed into bed and drifted straight into dreamland.

2024-08-16 Day2

Today’s plan was to explore the downtown (old city) area at a leisurely pace. The place we were currently staying in was considered the new district, similar to Pudong New Area in Shanghai. Its full name is Xihai’an New District, also known as Huangdao District.

In the morning, my girlfriend planned to get her hair done at the nearby Rongchuang City, so my younger brother and I wandered around the mall. As we strolled, we came across a restaurant called 老板恋上鱼. The fish offal mixed noodles on the menu caught my attention. I had always thought fish offal was tricky to prepare—if not handled properly, it could have a strong fishy smell that would make it unappetizing.

Since it was already lunchtime, we decided to give it a try. Overall, the taste was pretty good. Later, out of curiosity, I looked it up online and discovered that it was actually a chain restaurant—no wonder they handled the fish offal so skillfully.

After lunch, we set off for the city center. The friendly Northeastern driver from last night had specifically advised us that during peak tourist season, it’s best to take the subway when traveling from Huangdao to the city center around noon or in the afternoon, as the undersea tunnel is often congested. Fortunately, there was a subway station right beneath the mall, so we naturally opted for the metro.

The ride took about an hour, and we arrived in the city center. Our hotel this time was near Xuanhua Road in Shibei District, so we first dropped off our luggage and took a short break before taking a taxi to Zhanqiao.

As for why we chose this area, I honestly couldn’t remember—probably because, while browsing travel guides a few days ago, I saw a post mentioning that this area had a high concentration of attractions, including Zhanqiao,May Fourth Square, Badaguan, and the Tsingtao Beer Museum.

However, reality often differs from expectations. The crowds and scorching weather made the experience less enjoyable. At every stop, we simply walked around in silence—overall, it was underwhelming.

The experience in the old town was underwhelming, and since it wasn’t dark yet, we decided to try our luck at Xiaomai Island.

After a half-hour drive, we finally arrived at Xiaomai Island.

Wow. If there were an award for the “Most Disappointing Attraction of the Day”, Xiaomai Island would take the crown without a doubt.

It’s nothing more than a small hill, surrounded by large-scale construction. Walking in felt like stepping into a construction site—corridors were tightly enclosed by iron sheets, and the air carried a strong fishy smell from time to time. We hesitated at the entrance, quickly losing interest. Instead, we took a brief stroll near the bridge before making a swift exit.

As night fell, we grabbed a taxi right at the scenic area’s exit and headed straight to “Lao Xie Jia Huntun” (Yan’an Road branch)—a spot recommended by the friendly Northeastern driver from last night.

This wonton shop not only serves wontons but also offers barbecue with quite a variety of options. It even has a decent rating on review platforms.

However, after actually trying the food, it wasn’t particularly impressive. Both the wontons and barbecue tasted quite average, not much different from what we usually have. Overall, it wasn’t a disappointment, but it also wasn’t worth making a special trip for.

After a long and tiring day, the overall experience was just so-so. Back at the hotel, we went straight to sleep.

2024-08-17 Day3

Yesterday’s experience in the old town was less than satisfying. Originally, we planned to spend our last day here before heading home the next day. However, after some discussion, we decided to adjust our itinerary and visit the Tsingtao Beer Museum first before returning to Huangdao.

After checking out of the hotel, our first priority was to grab a meal. I found a well-rated noodle shop on a review platform—Wang Laotou Lamian, which was conveniently close to our hotel. So, we set off with our luggage in tow.

We ordered stir-fried beef with scallions, shredded potatoes, and a few skewers of grilled meat. The food was great, and the prices were reasonable. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a try.

This meal served as a combined brunch. After finishing, we took a taxi straight to the Tsingtao Beer Museum. We purchased our tickets and stored our luggage (the museum thoughtfully provides luggage storage for visitors) before officially entering.

We wandered around the museum for nearly two hours, but the overall experience was just average. The large crowds and hot weather dampened our enthusiasm.

Every visitor who purchases a ticket receives a complimentary package that includes a glass of unfiltered draft beer, a pack of beer-flavored peanuts, and a glass of fresh beer.

I have to say, the two beers offered in the museum were truly impressive, especially the second one. It had a delightful sweetness, a smooth texture, and a refreshing taste. Even now, I can’t stop reminiscing about it—it might just be the best beer I’ve ever had.

The museum is divided into three main exhibition areas: the Century-Old History and Culture Exhibition, the Tsingtao Beer Brewing Process Display, and the Multi-Functional Interactive Leisure Zone. The tour route is well-planned, so simply following the crowd will lead you through all these sections in order.

Near the exit, we bought a few ice creams and picked up some local specialties and souvenirs. The shop also offered a mailing service, saving us the hassle of carrying them around during our trip—quite convenient.

After visiting the beer museum, we took a taxi back to Huangdao. This time, our hotel was near City Balcony. After settling in and taking a short rest, we headed to the seaside again by taxi.

That night happened to be the 14th day of the lunar month, and the moon was big and round. Its light shimmered on the sea, creating a sparkling, mesmerizing view.

We played on the beach until nightfall. As the darkness deepened and the sea breeze gently blew, we found it hard to leave. For dinner, we once again chose Daguoqiang—fresh seafood, great flavor, and no disappointments. It was the perfect way to wrap up the day.

2024-08-18 Day4

Today is our return day. My brother took an early flight back to Harbin, while we slept in a bit longer before packing up and heading to the train station. We boarded train D2916, departing from Qingdao to Shanghai Hongqiao.

The short vacation has come to an end.

Summary

• Water Activities

If you prefer to avoid crowds, head straight to Huangdao. The beaches there are more spacious, cleaner, and offer a better overall experience compared to the city’s bathing areas.

• Accommodation

Staying in Huangdao is more cost-effective than staying in the city center. Hotels offer better value for money and a more comfortable environment. Plus, taking a taxi to city attractions isn’t expensive, so there’s no real need to stay downtown just for convenience.

• Transportation

Avoid driving yourself—Qingdao’s roads aren’t easy to navigate. The city has many steep and narrow streets, making driving quite challenging, especially in the downtown area, where non-motorized lanes are scarce and blind spots are common. Over just two days, I witnessed two accidents involving electric scooters and cars, both occurring near the crest of steep inclines. Likely, these were due to poor visibility and the lack of designated lanes for non-motorized vehicles.

• Beer

In my opinion, the draft beer from Brewery No. 4 tastes smoother and has a better aftertaste compared to that from Brewery No. 2.

On the way, I saw this phrase: “红瓦绿树，碧海蓝天。不寒不暑，中国第一.” Having walked through the city, seen its beauty, and felt its charm, I can say—it truly lives up to these words.

Qingdao, I will be back.