I spent three magical days discovering Qingdao's most romantic corners, far from the tourist crowds. From riding the Ocean Star Ferris Wheel at sunset over Aoshan Bay to wandering the European-style villas of Badaguan, every moment felt like falling in love. I soaked in natural hot springs overlooking the sea, sipped coffee in a glasshouse on the beach, and explored ancient tea houses nestled in Laoshan mountains. This journey revealed a side of Qingdao that few international travelers experience—a perfect blend of natural beauty, colonial history, and contemporary charm that makes China's 'Switzerland of the East' truly unforgettable.
Trip Overview
When: October (Autumn - mild weather, fewer crowds)
Duration: 3 days
Travelers: With friends
Budget: ~4,500 RMB (~$630 USD) per person
Transportation: Taxi + Subway + Private car for Laoshan
The ocean, sandy beaches, sunsets, glasshouses, Ferris wheels, candlelit dinners—these elements have always been synonyms for romance, sparking longing in everyone's heart. During my time in Qingdao, I managed to experience all of these in one unforgettable journey that felt like falling in love.
Day 1: Haichan Bay Resort (海泉湾度假区)
This Instagram-famous resort sits on Aoshan Bay, Qingdao's second-largest bay. With its kilometer-long golden beach and natural ocean hot springs, the European-style architecture creates an unmistakable vacation atmosphere.
I arrived in the late afternoon when the sunset painted the sky in brilliant reds and oranges, casting golden reflections across the rolling waves. The scene was absolutely breathtaking.
"If you love her, take her on the Ferris wheel." This was my first thought when I saw the Ocean Star, Qingdao's tallest Ferris wheel standing proudly by the sea. The 360-degree viewing cabins offer panoramic views of the Laoshan mountain range and the vast coastline. Watching the sunset from up there was pure magic—who could resist such romantic atmosphere?
🎯 Practical Info: Ocean Star Ferris Wheel
Height: 88 meters (Qingdao's tallest) Best Time: 30 minutes before sunset Duration: About 20 minutes per ride Price: ~¥80 (~$11) per person
The resort sits on a natural hot spring belt. I stayed at the Haichan Bay Ocean Spring Hotel where every room has private hot spring access. The hotel features five themed areas with indoor and outdoor pools, allowing you to soak while enjoying the sea breeze. I finished the day with a therapeutic spa treatment that melted away all my fatigue.
🎯 Practical Info: Haichan Bay Ocean Spring Hotel
Address: 即墨区滨海公路188号 (188 Binhai Road, Jimo District) Price: ~¥800-1,500/night (~$110-210) Includes: Private hot spring in room + spa access Tip: Book rooms with ocean view for sunrise
For dinner, I chose the Tianhai Japanese Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Haichan Bay. The exquisite decor and creative dishes made every course feel like a culinary masterpiece—a true feast for the senses.
The resort's commercial street features an outlet mall designed like a European town, creating an illusion of shopping abroad. With numerous brand stores and seafood restaurants, it's also perfect for Instagram-worthy street photography.
Day 2: Badaguan (八大关)
"If you only have one day in Qingdao, give it to Badaguan." This has been my unwavering belief through multiple visits to this city. With its red-tiled roofs, green trees, blue sea, and sky—no place can compare.
Badaguan contains over 200 buildings constructed in the 1930s, showcasing architectural styles from more than 20 countries including Russian, British, French, Danish, and Japanese. It's known as the "World Architecture Expo."
Huashi Lou (花石楼 / Flower Stone House), Hudie Lou (蝴蝶楼 / Butterfly House), Gongzhu Lou (公主楼 / Princess House)—these historic buildings silently tell their stories, stories of time passing. Tree-lined paths, stone walls, pointed roofs, and stained glass windows—every corner here exudes ancient romance.
🎯 Practical Info: Badaguan Scenic Area
Entry: Free to walk around Individual Houses: ¥8-20 (~$1-3) each Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon Duration: 2-3 hours Location: 市南区武胜关路 (Wushengguan Road, Shinan District)
Even without a destination in mind, wandering aimlessly here rewards you with heart-stopping beauty at every turn.
Next to Badaguan lies the Second Bathing Beach (第二海水浴场). A long wooden walkway extends into the sea. The weather was a bit overcast that day, giving Qingdao a different, more melancholic charm.
Day 3: Laoshan Mountain & Qingshan Fishing Village (崂山/青山渔村)
You haven't truly been to Qingdao without visiting Laoshan. As the highest peak on China's coastline, Laoshan offers mountain views and sea vistas merging into one—a worthy title of "Number One Mountain by the Sea."
Laoshan has several hiking routes, and I chose the Ju Peak (巨峰) route. Ju Peak is Laoshan's main summit and highest point, known as the "Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains."
Taking the cable car up, I felt that exhilarating "viewing all mountains small from the top" sensation. Strange rock formations dot the landscape, their shapes limited only by your imagination.
🎯 Practical Info: Laoshan Mountain
Entry Fee: ¥120 (~$17) + Cable car ¥40 (~$6) Opening Hours: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Duration: Full day (4-6 hours) Distance: ~40 km from city center Transport: Subway Line 11 to Laoshan, then taxi
On the way there, I passed Qingshan Fishing Village (青山渔村), a coastal village that has become an Instagram sensation. Its red-roofed houses stacked on hillsides look strikingly similar to Italy's Cinque Terre from above.
The best viewing spot is the large archway entrance to Qingshan Fishing Village. Unfortunately, time was limited that day, so I couldn't explore the village itself.
Saronik Wedding Venue (圣罗尼克一站式海岛婚礼殿堂)
"If love has a destination, it must start with a romantic island wedding." This phrase outside Saronik reflects what many dream their wedding could be.
Saronik faces the sea, with its long coastline and fine sandy beach witnessing the happiest moments of countless couples' lives.
The venue offers three outdoor wedding spaces—garden weddings, beach weddings, and viewing platform weddings—plus two indoor halls with forest and Korean crystal themes. Each space radiates romance.
Located not far from Laoshan, even if you're not planning a wedding here, it's worth a detour for photos. The trendy decor elements make every shot Instagram-perfect.
Spending a night in one of the standalone themed villas is also a delightful experience.
Yuming Shantea House (御茗山房)
White walls and gray tiles create an elegant, peaceful atmosphere. Looking up, you see the Laoshan peaks; looking down, you hear birds singing among the greenery.
The Chinese-style courtyard decorated with red lanterns and the sound of trickling water made me feel like I'd been transported to a Jiangnan garden.
The complex includes tea rooms, tea banquets, a study, and guest rooms. You can also watch tea masters perform traditional tea ceremonies and even try your hand at roasting tea leaves.
A visit here isn't complete without experiencing the tea banquet—exquisite dishes infused with subtle tea aromas create a unique culinary experience.
Various themed guest rooms offer tasteful decor. If you're visiting the Laoshan area, it's worth staying here.
Flora Coffee & Bookstore (花神书咖)
What could be more romantic than sipping coffee and reading a book in a glasshouse by the sea? This coffee shop is the answer.
Flora Coffee is one of Qingdao's hottest Instagram spots right now. Located at Shilaoren Beach (石老人海水浴场), the floor-to-ceiling glass windows open onto the sea and sand. By day, you see blue ocean and sky; by night, sunsets and city lights—the romantic atmosphere is off the charts.
🎯 Practical Info: Flora Coffee & Bookstore
Address: 崂山区石老人海水浴场 (Shilaoren Beach, Laoshan District) Price: Coffee ¥30-50 (~$4-7) Best Time: Sunset for golden hour photos Features: Books, flowers, art merchandise
The coffee and desserts are delicious. Sitting by the window with a good book, I could easily spend an entire day here.
This isn't just a coffee shop—it's a creative lifestyle experience center with flowers, books, creative merchandise, and art pieces, full of artistic atmosphere.
Ruoqi Aesthetic Space (若七美学空间)
Converted from an abandoned factory building, its striking design and fashionable exterior contrast sharply with the noisy surroundings.
The owner, Zhong Feng, is a third-generation Laoshan native and one of ten "Laoshan Craftsmen." She has promoted Qingdao-inspired designs that have earned industry acclaim worldwide.
This is a museum where deep blue display cases showcase nearly 400 gemstone minerals and antique jewelry pieces, introducing the origins of gemstones, jewelry history, and design systems—and it's free to the public.
This is also a workshop where talented designers led by Zhong Feng create various artworks and lifestyle products.
And this is a coffee shop where rich coffee and delicious food healed my tired feet after a day of exploring.
An art gallery and youth apartments are still under construction here. I'm really looking forward to seeing what it becomes.
Taipingjiao Park (太平角公园)
Not far into the park, you'll discover a 48-meter "Love Road" designed for the "2021 Qingdao Ocean Romance Culture Week" held in late September.
Cute cupids, pink hearts, "I love you," "I LOVE YOU"—various love-themed elements appear on the road surface, witnessing the happiness of everyone who passes by in the name of love.
Love-themed Subway Train (爱情地铁专列)
A love-themed subway train—this was definitely a first in my life. The dreamy pink decor made my inner romantic absolutely melt.
I heard there are six themed trains in total: Meeting, Knowing, Understanding, Falling in Love, Staying Together, and Loving. Each theme features different scenes covering various romantic photo spots.
If you happen to catch one, make sure to soak in all that pink bubble atmosphere!
Early autumn in Qingdao brings slightly cool weather, yellowing leaves, and sweet air.
This city has so many romantic places—wouldn't you want to bring someone you love to see them together?