Hey there, This is Jack from InternChina back with 5 hidden gems of Qingdao. I have lived in this awesome city for over 2 years now and have found some places which aren’t the ‘top’ attractions but deserve to be discovered! So read on and go and see them for yourselves!
Xiao Qingdao
Little Qingdao Island is located in the old town of Qingdao, it is joined to the mainland by a small road and is in the shape of a Guqin (an ancient Chinese instrument) so some locals call it Qin Island.
In the mid 90s, after the German’s colonised Qingdao, a lighthouse was built on Little Qingdao Island to guide ships entering and leaving the Bay.
In the late 80s the island was made into a park covered with flower gardens and trees. The Qinnü statue (woman playing the Guqin), waterside pavilions and arbor make it a charming place to spend some time and relax. There is also a nice café in the middle and you can have fun spotting ‘about to be wed’ couples taking photos in the pavilions.

Laoshan mountain areas
Laoshan Mountain (i.e. Mount Lao), located at the seashore of the Yellow Sea, is a famous tourist destination. It has the highest coastal peak of China, Laoding, 1,133 meters above sea level. Since ancient times, Laoshan Mountain was regarded as the birthplace of Taoism and is littered with beautiful temples and monasteries.

On Laoshan Mountain, there are beautifully landscaped rocks, deep caves as well as clear springs and towering waterfalls. There are many tours and walking routes you can take – generally the north of the range is where you will find the temples and cable cars taking you to the summit. The south of the range is more of a national park, lots of walking trails, waterfalls, pools, rivers etc.
If you know InternChina or some locals in Qingdao I would fully recommend you take a walk in the south with them and swim in the pools! Don’t got by yourself though as the area is massive and easy to get lost.. –

The Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Zhongshan Park every Spring, when they have more than 2000 cherry blossom trees. The park is nice anyway and you can find a Zoo and the TV tower inside also for 360 degree views of Qingdao.

Badaguan Scenic Area
Badaguan is a must-see attraction in Qingdao. Here you can see more than 20 different architectures with Russian, English, French, German, American, Japanese and Danish styles. At the foot of the area is Qingdao number 2 beach… my favourite. Secluded, sandy and clean it’s a great place to work on your tan, go for a swim or just stroll along. Most locals swarm on number one beach so this one is a great way to avoid the crowds!

Zhanshan Temple is the only Buddhist temple in the urban area of Qingdao. Zhanshan temple consists of a courtyard, several halls and the palace of the heavenly king. You can see monks wandering around and lots of people praying. It’s a very tranquil site and a nice place to escape the busyness of the city without having to go far.

A lotus pond sits in front of the temple and is full of koi. In the east of the temple, a seven-floor brick pagoda stands twenty meters high.

My next blog will include 5 more hidden gems of Qingdao including the Qingdao eastern bear park, signal hill, Shilaoren lovers sightseeing park, tianhou palace and one more to be revealed!