Qingdao Bay Scenic Area (青岛湾景区) is located at the southwestern end of Qingdao’s urban area, centered around the natural Qingdao Bay. This coastal scenic area is composed of several famous attractions. Historically, Qingdao Bay served as both a commercial and military port, but today it is one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the city. The area offers stunning views of the sea and sky, with the iconic Zhanqiao Pier and Little Qingdao Island reflecting each other across the water. To the west of Zhanqiao Pier, you’ll find the Sixth Sea Bathing Beach, while the bay’s coastal embankment forms part of Zhanqiao Park.
Since the mid-1990s, several additional attractions have been developed, enriching the visitor experience at Qingdao Bay. These include the Badaguan Villa Area, Zhongyuan Sea Plaza, and the Marine Palace. Significant restorations like the reopening of Tianhou Palace and the construction of the Naval Museum have further added to the scenic and cultural significance of the area.
Travel Information about Qingdao Bay
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets: Hui Lan Pavilion is free of charge; Navy Museum tickets are ¥50; Tianhou Palace offers free entry with a valid ID or passport.
Opening Hours:
- Zhanqiao Park: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (peak season); 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (off-season)
- Navy Museum: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (peak season)
- Tianhou Palace: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM)
Best Time to Visit
While the area can be visited year-round, summer is the most suitable time to enjoy the scenic beauty.
Transportation to the Scenic Area
Location: Along the southern coastal line of Qingdao’s urban area.
Transportation: Zhanqiao is only 500 meters from Qingdao Railway Station and can be reached by foot. Trolleybus routes 2 and 5, along with buses 6, 8, 301, and 801, can also take you there. To reach the Navy Museum, take bus lines 26, 202, 223, 316, or 304 from Qingdao Railway Station to Lu Xun Park.
Attraction Rating
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Features: ★★★★
- Relaxation: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Culture: ★★★
- Excitement: ★★
Highlights of Qingdao Bay Scenic Area
Zhanqiao Park
Zhanqiao (Pier) is a symbol of Qingdao, stretching out into the sea from the coastline of Qingdao Bay. Often praised as a “long rainbow reaching far,” the pier is as old as the city itself. It was built in 1892, a year after the Qing government established Qingdao in 1891, primarily to transport military supplies at the time.
At the southern end of the pier is a semicircular breakwater, and within it stands the traditional Chinese-style pavilion “Huilan Pavilion.” The northern coastal area has been developed into Zhanqiao Park, a serene setting with green pines, lush grass, and blooming flowers. The park is dotted with corridors, stone benches, and natural formations of rocks and sandy beaches, creating a harmonious landscape. At night, the park is illuminated by bright lights resembling magnolia blossoms, with shimmering reflections on the water, complementing the distant “Piano Island Lanterns.”
The western coast offers the best views, where towering waves crash against the shore, creating a magnificent sight. During low tide, the water recedes by nearly 100 meters, leaving the sandy beach and rocks filled with visitors digging for clams.
Useful Tips:
- To truly appreciate the beauty of Zhanqiao Pier, it’s best to walk along the bridge leading to Huilan Pavilion, ideally in the early morning or late afternoon when the crowds are thinner. Strolling alone on the pier, surrounded by the sea, allows you to fully take in the ocean breeze and listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.
- You can also feed the seagulls on Zhanqiao. Vendors often sell pre-cut feed, allowing you to purchase some and enjoy the experience of feeding the birds while taking in the scenic surroundings.
Little Qingdao Island
Little Qingdao Island is located southeast of Zhanqiao Pier in Qingdao Bay. This small, isolated island is one of the city’s most important landmarks and a prime spot for sightseeing. Together with Huilan Pavilion, the two landmarks are like sparkling jewels of Qingdao Bay. Due to its shape resembling an ancient Chinese zither, the island is also known as “Qin Island.”
The island is covered with lush black pines and colorful flowers, including cherry blossoms, peach trees, pomegranates, hibiscus, and crape myrtle. Adding to its charm are the graceful sculpture of a zither-playing maiden, uniquely designed flower corridors, waterside pavilions, and cozy restaurants. The island’s most striking feature is its white, cone-shaped lighthouse, which serves as an important navigational beacon for ships entering and leaving Jiaozhou Bay.
At night, the island takes on a mysterious aura, with the lighthouse beacon flickering on and off amidst the glow of colorful neon lights, creating a magical and dreamy nightscape.
Legend of the Zither Maiden:
According to legend, a celestial maiden who played the zither fell in love with a young fisherman, and they became husband and wife. Whenever her husband went out to sea, the maiden would weave fishing nets at home. In the evenings, she would stand by the shore and play her zither, guiding her husband back to shore with the sound of her music.
Upon hearing of this, the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, attempted to force the zither maiden to return to the celestial realm. However, she refused, even at the cost of her life. In his anger, the Jade Emperor ordered the Dragon King of the Sea to overturn the fisherman’s boat, and her husband never returned. Despite her heartbreak, the maiden remained devoted to her love, waiting by the shore for decades. Eventually, consumed by grief, she took her own life on the small island. Legend says that the sound of her zither still lingers in the air.
In her honor, the people later sculpted the statue of the zither maiden on Little Qingdao Island.
Sixth Sea Bathing Beach
The Sixth Sea Bathing Beach, located to the west of Zhanqiao Park and near the train station, is also known as “Zhanqiao Beach.” It is the smallest of the city beaches in Qingdao and is adjacent to the bustling Zhongshan Road. The surrounding environment is beautiful, making it an ideal spot for both swimming and sightseeing. After visiting Zhanqiao Pier, visitors can enjoy a swim at the beach, where they are surrounded by the pier, the sea, and rocky formations, creating a perfect setting for photos.
The beach combines the charm of iconic landmarks like Zhanqiao with the modern aesthetic of towering buildings, blending diverse elements into the scenic coastal landscape. The beach is not far from Little Qingdao (also known as Qin Island), and in the evenings, the guiding lights from the island’s lighthouse reflect off the waves, creating an enchanting and mesmerizing night view at the beach.
China Navy Museum
The China Navy Museum, located in Qingdao, is the country’s only large-scale professional military museum built by the Navy. The museum consists of three main sections: the Uniforms and Gifts Exhibition Hall, the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition Area, and the Naval Ship Display Area.
The Uniforms and Gifts Hall showcases the naval uniforms, shoulder insignia, service symbols, and specialized gear used by the People’s Navy since its founding in 1949. It also displays valuable gifts from over 60 countries and militaries. The Weapons and Equipment Area is divided into seven display groups, featuring small warships, aircraft, missiles, artillery, underwater weapons, amphibious tanks, and communications equipment. The Naval Ship Display Area features decommissioned medium-sized combat ships, including destroyers, frigates, and conventional submarines.
A highlight of any visit is the “Anshan” missile destroyer, a must-see exhibit. The “Anshan” is considered a veteran of the Chinese Navy and was its first destroyer. It was part of the “Four Great Kings” of China’s early navy. The ship was retired on April 24, 1992, after 38 years of service and over 100,000 nautical miles, making it one of the longest-serving destroyers in the world.
Tianhou Palace
There is a popular saying in Qingdao: “First came Tianhou Palace, then came the city of Qingdao.” With over 500 years of history, Tianhou Palace is the oldest remaining brick-and-wood structure from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the city’s urban area.
The palace features a traditional Chinese architectural layout with two courtyards in succession. Apart from the opera stage, which is topped with glazed tiles, the other buildings have plain walls and gray tiles, adorned with Suzhou-style colorful decorations. The palace’s wooden beams and painted carvings create a magnificent and striking effect, making it one of the finest examples of ancient architecture and mural art in Qingdao.
Tianhou Palace comprises 16 halls and houses statues of the Goddess Mazu (Tianhou), the Dragon King, the God of Wealth (both literary and martial), and other deities from Chinese astrology. Additionally, it now serves as a folklore museum, hosting exhibitions on Tianhou culture, folk arts, and local customs. Two stone tablets stand at the entrance, detailing the renovations of the palace during the Qing Dynasty in 1865 and 1874, providing valuable insight into Qingdao’s history.
What to do at Tianhou Palace:
- Folk Activities at Tianhou Palace: The palace hosts vibrant folk activities throughout the year, such as “Tying Red Strings to Make Wishes,” “Safety Ribbons,” and “Traditional Folk Weddings.” These events include a variety of fun activities like lantern riddle contests with prizes, magic and acrobatics performances, and live demonstrations of folk crafts. Every Saturday morning, there are special opera performances in the palace.
- Festival Celebrations: Tianhou Palace celebrates major traditional festivals with special events. Highlights include the “Auspicious Bell Ringing” on Lunar New Year’s Eve, the “Spring Folk Culture Temple Fair” in the first lunar month, the “Mazu’s Birthday Temple Fair” on March 23, the “God of Wealth Festival” on July 22, the “Dragon King Festival” on August 18, and the “Mazu Double Ninth Festival” on September 9. During peak tourist seasons such as May Day and National Day holidays, large-scale folk culture events are also held, and in July, activities are organized to celebrate the Ocean Festival.
- Osmanthus Trees: In the front courtyard, there are two fragrant osmanthus trees planted near the east and west wings. Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the courtyard is filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.