Huiquan Bay (汇泉湾) is renowned for its stunning scenery and is considered one of the finest spots in Qingdao, often hailed as the largest seaside beach in Asia. The crystal-clear waters, gentle waves, and soft sandy beach make it the ideal destination for sunbathing and relaxation. Even in winter, this beach remains popular among swimming enthusiasts.
Located in the central coastal area of Qingdao’s old city, Huiquan Bay stretches from Luxun Park in the west to Huiquan Cape in the east. It is bordered to the north by Ocean University of China and Taiping Mountain Scenic Area, making it a significant tourist attraction along Qingdao’s coastal scenic spots. Nearby, you’ll find Luxun Park, Little Fish Hill Park, Underwater World, the First Beach, and Huiquan Square, all of which, along with the coastline of Qingdao Bay, form a beautiful golden coastline that enhances Qingdao’s tourism appeal.
Travel Information about Huiquan Bay
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Prices:
Underwater World: ¥150 for a general ticket.
Xiaoyu Mountain Park: ¥10.
Opening Hours:
Luxun Park: Open all day.
Underwater World: 08:30 AM – 04:30 PM.
First Beach: Open year-round, all day.
Xiaoyu Mountain Park:
- Peak Season: 07:30 AM – 06:30 PM.
- Off-Peak Season: 07:30 AM – 05:30 PM.
Best Time to Visit
Huiquan Bay can be enjoyed throughout the year, but summer is the best time to visit. Qingdao boasts a pleasant climate, with warm and humid conditions in spring and autumn. In August, Huiquan Square hosts the Qingdao International Beer Festival, creating a lively atmosphere.
Transportation to the Scenic Area
Location: Nanhai Road, Shinan District, Qingdao.
Transportation: You can take multiple bus routes, including 6, 15, 26, 214, 304, 311, 312, and 316, and get off at the Haishui Bathing Beach station to reach the area.
Attraction Ratings
- Scenic Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Uniqueness: ★★★
- Cultural Experience: ★★★
- Adventure: ★★★
Highlights of Huiquan Bay
Luxun Park
Luxun Park may not be very large, but it serves as a symbol of tourism in Qingdao, with its coastal scenery appearing on many of the city’s tourism products in the 20th century.
The park features a 3-meter-high statue of the famous writer Lu Xun, along with attractions such as the “Lu Xun Poetry Corridor,” the “Scream Platform,” and the “Autobiography Monument of Mr. Lu Xun.” The unique red rocks and elegant environment of the park attract numerous visitors.
Along the seaside, the rocky shore is covered with hard oysters and scattered with various seashells, making it a delightful playground for shell collecting and exploration.
Qingdao Underwater World
Qingdao Underwater World, initiated by renowned scholars Cai Yuanpei, Li Shizeng, and Yang Xingfo, was built in 1932 with funds raised through public donations, making it the first aquarium in China and Asia. After several renovations, it has reached a high level of exhibition scale and quality, featuring five main areas: the aquarium, marine animal performance hall, freshwater fish exhibit, specimen display hall, and rare aquatic animal museum.
This modern, large-scale marine ecological tourism park combines ocean sightseeing with educational functions. It offers a variety of unique performances, including “Dancing with Sharks” and mermaid shows, and has created trendy tourism experiences such as “Underwater Adventure” and “Underwater Wedding.”
Performance Highlights:
- Mermaid Show: Held daily at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM, this enchanting performance features mermaids gracefully dancing underwater, surrounded by rising bubbles. Audiences can enjoy modern interpretations of classic mermaid tales, including themes like “Mermaid’s Birthday” and “Mermaid Saves the Prince.”
- Shark Dance: Taking place daily at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:30 PM in the central hall’s transparent acrylic screen, this thrilling show features divers swimming among sharks. The sharks follow the divers, showcasing impressive maneuvers like twists, flips, and rolls.
- Underwater Adventure: Participants can don a full set of diving gear and explore the ocean with the guidance of professional diving instructors. This experience allows you to encounter thousands of fascinating marine creatures up close. You can also discover a rusted pirate shipwreck lying on the ocean floor, complete with scattered treasure chests waiting to be explored.
Xiaoyu Mountain Park
Xiaoyu Mountain Park may not be particularly tall, but it offers stunning views of iconic attractions such as Zhanqiao Pier, Xiaoqing Island, Luxun Park, the bathing beach, and the Badaguan scenic area. Its location within the city makes it a prominent feature that easily captures the attention of visitors.
The architectural design of Xiaoyu Mountain Park is centered around the theme of the sea, prominently featuring fish motifs. This innovative structure blends classical garden aesthetics with a contemporary flair, harmoniously integrating natural beauty, architectural design, and artistic expression. On the southern slope, visitors can find miniature landscapes that represent the European architectural style characteristic of Qingdao.
The Lanchao Pavilion features an eastern platform with a long corridor for visitors to relax. This corridor is adorned with large colored glaze murals inspired by mythological tales and stories from “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio,” including “The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea,” “Cricket,” “Xiangyu,” and “Xi Fangping.” The vibrant colors and elegant designs provide both visual delight and a touch of ethereal charm to Xiaoyu Mountain.
From the Lanchao Pavilion, enjoying the moonlight over the sea is a unique experience. Particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when a full moon shines brightly in the sky, it evokes the sentiment of “The sea brings forth the bright moon, and we share this moment from afar.” This enchanting view is one of the ten must-see sights in Qingdao—Yushan Haiyue (the sea moon over Fish Mountain).
Kang Youwei’s Former Residence
The Kang Youwei Memorial Museum is housed in a three-story brick-and-wood structure built in the German style. Originally the residence of high-ranking officials from the German governor’s office in Qingdao, the building was constructed in 1899 and became Kang Youwei’s home in 1923, which he named “Tianyou Garden.” The interior features furniture and decor gifted by Puwei, the second-generation Prince Gong of the Qing Dynasty. During his time here, Kang Youwei met with cultural figures and dedicated himself to studying calligraphy, leading to the residence’s renowned status both domestically and internationally.
The museum includes photographs, documents, and artifacts that introduce Kang Youwei’s life and the history of the Hundred Days’ Reform. It also showcases works by renowned domestic and international scholars who have studied Kang Youwei. The restored residence features three exhibition rooms displaying Kang Youwei’s personal belongings and burial items, as well as information on his life in Qingdao, his death, and his burial and relocation. Additionally, the collection includes valuable cultural relics, calligraphy works, and artifacts from both China and abroad that Kang Youwei collected during his lifetime.
First Bathing Beach
The First Bathing Beach is located in the picturesque Huiquan Bay, renowned for its beautiful scenery. In the distance, the narrow Huiquan Cape meets the waves crashing against the red reefs, surrounded by lush greenery. The tranquil Badaguan area, with its flowering plants and trees, adds to the enchanting ambiance, casting a hazy silhouette of buildings. The beach itself features crystal-clear waves and golden sands, shaped like a crescent moon, dotted with colorful and exquisitely designed changing rooms.
As one of the top seaside resorts in Qingdao, the First Bathing Beach stands out among many others. The rocks along the shoreline have been eroded by the waves over time, gradually breaking down into fine sand that has accumulated on the shallow banks of the bay. This has resulted in a sandy beach that stretches approximately 580 meters in length and over 40 meters in width, extending far into the water.
The shelter provided by Huiquan Cape reduces the incoming waves, creating a calm sea surface with wave heights of only about 1 meter. This tranquil environment makes it an ideal spot for a variety of water activities and leisure pursuits.
Tips: The First Bathing Beach attracts the largest number of visitors, especially during the summer months of July and August. From the viewpoint of Lu Xun Park, you can see a dense crowd of swimmers in the sea. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan your visit to the First Bathing Beach carefully and try to avoid peak tourist times to ensure a more enjoyable experience.
Huiquan Square
Huiquan Square is the largest lawn square in Qingdao, covering an area of approximately 130,000 square meters, divided into northern and southern sections. Surrounded by water fir trees and flowering shrubs, the square boasts a well-defined structure and beautiful scenery. Before liberation, it served as a military drill ground for the Germans and was later converted into a racetrack. After Qingdao was liberated, it was transformed into a public square.
The southern section of Huiquan Square features the largest computer-controlled musical fountain in the country. The fountain pool is 100 meters long, symbolizing the 100th anniversary of Qingdao’s establishment. It is equipped with over 3,000 nozzles and colorful lights, creating a stunning display that synchronizes with music, producing a magical, dreamlike atmosphere.
Huiquan Square is also a popular spot for kite flying, hosting an annual kite festival that has become a significant attraction in Qingdao.
Additionally, the underground section connecting Huiquan Square to the First Bathing Beach houses the best cinema in Qingdao and a seasonally open KFC plaza. In August, it becomes a sub-venue for the Qingdao International Beer Festival, where people of all ages gather to enjoy drinks and festivities.
Huiquan Cape
Huiquan Cape is a long, narrow promontory extending from the northeast to the southwest into the sea. The cape is lush with dense trees, providing ample shade, while the rocky shores and crashing waves create a dramatic coastal landscape. It is situated in the Huiquan area, which is how it got its name.
The cape rises to an elevation of 30 meters and serves as an important gateway to Jiaozhou Bay. Historically, a fort was built here, although it has since been abandoned. In the center of the cape, a tunnel leads to an underground chamber, adding an element of intrigue to the site.
Notably, there is the East Sea Hotel on the neck of the cape, which was constructed in 1930 and features distinctive blue exterior walls. At the time, it was the tallest building in North China.
The area is adorned with numerous pine and cypress trees, and the scenery is particularly enchanting under the moonlight, earning Huiquan Cape the poetic name “Pines and Moon at Huiquan.” This beautiful spot offers visitors a chance to enjoy both natural beauty and historical significance.