Qingdao, with its beautiful coastal scenery, becomes even more enchanting during the winter months, especially with the increasing number of seagulls. From December to April, these birds fill the skies, adding a lively charm to the city’s already picturesque winter landscape. If you’re planning to visit Qingdao in the fall or winter, feeding the seagulls at Zhanqiao Pier is an unmissable activity. This guide will take you through the best spots for seagull watching, top photo locations, feeding tips, and other essential information to make the most of your experience.
Best Spots to See Seagulls
The top location to spot and interact with seagulls is Zhanqiao Pier, where the birds are most numerous, and you’ll also find the biggest crowds. In addition to Zhanqiao, other great places to watch seagulls include First Bathing Beach, May Fourth Square, Xiaomai Island, and near the Rainbow Bridge at Huangdao Marine Carnival.
Recommended Photo Spots at Zhanqiao Pier
To get to Zhanqiao Pier, take Subway Line 3 or 4 and alight at the People’s Hall Station, exit at Gate A. If driving, navigate to “Qingdao Zhanqiao Square Ground Parking Lot (8 Taiping Road),” which has nearly 300 parking spaces. From here, you can easily walk to the seaside to see the seagulls.
- For the best photos, face south to capture the seagulls with the backdrop of the boats and Xiaoqingdao Island.
- Then, head south along the coastline and turn around to face north to get shots with the iconic red-roofed buildings in the background.
- Once you’ve finished, walk back along the coast and turn east for a stunning shot of the red rooftops of Xiaoyu Hill and surrounding buildings. Finally, walk onto the pier itself.
- In the afternoon, shooting towards the east provides the best lighting, with the red buildings of Xiaoyu Hill as a picturesque background. Keep in mind, though, that this area tends to be crowded with people.
Seagull “Working Hours”
Seagulls are most active in the morning between 9-11 AM and again in the afternoon from 1-5 PM. 9-11 AM would be better. By late afternoon, many of the birds have already eaten and prefer to rest on the sea, becoming less responsive to interaction. After sunset, they head off to roost and disappear for the night.
Food for Feeding Seagulls
To feed the seagulls, it’s best to bring bread or fried dough sticks (油条). While there are many vendors selling youtiao at Zhanqiao, they often come in small portions, and handling them can leave your hands greasy. A simple loaf of regular bread from a nearby shop works well and can be eaten yourself if you don’t finish feeding the seagulls.
Other Tips
- For perfect photos, be sure to check the tide table before you go. The tides change daily, and it’s best to avoid visiting during low tide, as large stretches of exposed mudflats may ruin your photo backdrop.
- If you’re bringing children along to collect seashells or play in the sand, this may not be an issue.
- Keep in mind that the seagulls are most abundant after December, but the temperatures will be colder then.
- Always choose a sunny day with blue skies for the best photos!