Trip Overview
When: November (shoulder season, comfortable weather)
Duration: 2 days, 2 nights
Travelers: Family of three (couple with child)
Budget: ~1,600 RMB total (~$230 USD), ~500 RMB (~$72 USD) per person
Transportation: High-speed train from nearby city, subway in Qingdao
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Take the high-speed train to Qingdao North Station (青岛北站)—about 1.5 hours from nearby cities. The station is well-connected to the city subway system.
Getting Around: Qingdao's subway is clean, cheap, and easy to use. Download a transportation app or get a one-card pass for seamless travel. Taxis are also affordable for short trips.
Money Matters: Most hotels, restaurants, and attractions accept mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay). Have some cash ready for small vendors and tips.
Language: Mandarin is spoken everywhere. Basic English phrases may work at hotels and tourist spots, but don't rely on it. Having hotel addresses in Chinese characters is essential for taxi rides.
Day 1: Arrival & Night Market Adventure
We arrived at Qingdao North Station on Friday evening after a smooth 1.5-hour high-speed train ride. First-time visitors to Qingdao, we relied on Ctrip (the Chinese travel app) to find a good hotel near the station. The Blue Sea Hotel (蓝海大饭店)—specifically the Qingdao Junfeng Road Subway Station branch—came highly rated with excellent service.
The hotel staff saw we were a family of three with a child and generously upgraded us from a double room to the "Hollywood" suite—a spacious room with a massive 2.2-meter bed. They even asked if we needed a non-smoking room and placed us on the 11th floor. Pro tip: This hotel serves a fantastic breakfast starting at 6:30 AM—a lifesaver for early risers. The front desk also provided a handy map with directions to Polar Ocean World and other attractions.
The room was modern and comfortable with a separate dry-wet bathroom design. The hotel thoughtfully provided children's toiletries. The staff were incredibly warm and helpful—they even told us about a nearby night market just a 5-6 minute walk away.
After freshening up, we headed straight to the night market. Wow—what a surprise! This wasn't the dirty, chaotic night market we expected. It was well-managed and packed with incredible street food: grilled squid, cold noodles, chicken steaks, lamb kebabs, stinky tofu, fried yogurt, duck intestines, lotus seed porridge... the list goes on. Our foodie family member (mom) was in heaven. Even our picky eater son found plenty to enjoy.
After dinner, we wandered through nearby Leke City shopping center. It was too late to explore the adjacent YinZuo mall, so we headed back to the hotel, where a complimentary fruit bowl was waiting in our room. Talk about hospitality!
Day 2: Polar Ocean World Magic
Day two was all about what our son had been waiting for—Polar Ocean World (极地海洋世界)! We woke up at 7 AM, got ready, and headed down for breakfast at 7:30. The hotel's breakfast buffet was impressive—Western and Chinese options aplenty. We all ate to our heart's content, fueling up for a big day.
The front desk staff, remembering we were heading to Polar Ocean World, gifted us three bottles of water and some fruit, plus repeated directions on how to take the subway. We rode Line 2 for over 30 minutes and arrived at our destination.
The oceanarium was absolutely packed—this place is popular! We made our way to the animal performance hall where sea lions took the stage. These sleek, black creatures waddled in with star quality, earning thunderous applause. The show was impressive: ball-balancing, single-hand spinning, ring-catching, even math problems—they could do it all!
The funniest moment was when the sea lion deliberately missed catching a ring thrown by a "mischievous" audience member. With a resigned look, it picked up the ring with its mouth, tossed it in the air, and—boom!—it landed perfectly around its neck. Then it wiggled its body as if to say, "I didn't lose, I was just showing off!" The crowd erupted in laughter.
The math problem segment was equally impressive—the sea lion listened carefully to addition and subtraction questions, then confidently picked the correct answer board with its mouth. Truly talented!
Then came the dolphins. These playful creatures swam gracefully, jumped energetically, and even spun hula hoops! Suddenly, the water went calm, and massive waves erupted—a trainer emerged riding a dolphin like a speedboat, racing toward the audience. Absolutely thrilling! Our son watched in absolute awe and didn't want to leave.
After a full day at the oceanarium, we returned to the hotel tired but happy. Not wanting to go out for dinner, we called down to inquire about the buffet. Good news: hotel guests get a discount! The dinner buffet was fantastic—wide variety of seafood, BBQ, hot dishes, and incredible desserts. Mom and son zeroed in on the desserts and ate until they couldn't move.
The hotel's surprise didn't end there: when we returned to our room, there was a foot bath basin waiting with a note saying they knew we were tired from playing all day and hoped we'd enjoy a relaxing soak. Five-star service indeed!
Day 3: Badaguan & Departure
On the third day, we took Subway Line 3 directly to Badaguan (八大关)—a scenic area famous for its colonial architecture and tree-lined streets. November in Badaguan is absolutely magical: golden leaves carpet the ground, creating perfect photo opportunities. Many spots here have become popular social media check-in locations.
We also visited Zhan Bridge (栈桥) and Yanzhou Island (燕儿岛)—Qingdao's iconic attractions. All accessible by subway in about 30 minutes. Badaguan's scenic area features many free attractions showcasing modern architecture, geographical landmarks, and historical culture. Perfect for families who want to explore without breaking the bank.
Before leaving, we called the hotel about a late checkout. They generously extended our checkout time to 2 PM—above and beyond their standard policy. After exploring the coastal area, we checked out and took the subway to Qingdao North Station, just 7-8 minutes away.
Summary
Two days flew by way too fast—we didn't want to leave! The hotel provided five-star service and amenities with a convenient location. If we return to Qingdao, we'd definitely stay at Qingdao Licang Blue Sea Hotel (青岛李沧蓝海大饭店).
Total Cost Breakdown (Family of 3):
- Accommodation: ~800 RMB (2 nights)
- Food (hotel buffet + street food): ~400 RMB
- Attractions: Mostly free!
- Transportation: ~400 RMB
Total: ~1,600 RMB (~$230 USD)
Amazing value for a family trip with such memorable experiences!