From Zhanqiao Pier to May Fourth Square — three night-view spots in Qingdao

From the lights of Zhanqiao Pier and Xiao Qingdao Island to the skyline of Fushan Bay, where the 2008 Olympic sailing events were held — a walkable, metro-linked route through Qingdao after dark.

Words · Editorial desk

Qingdao's night skyline tells two different stories. One is the old town around Zhanqiao Pier and Xiao Qingdao Island, left over from the German concession era; the other is the newer Fushan Bay district, built up around the 2008 Beijing Olympics sailing events. Here are three spots you can link together on foot or by metro.

Zhanqiao Pier and Huilan Pavilion — a gateway that never closes

Zhanqiao Pier is about a 10-minute walk from Qingdao Railway Station, or 5 minutes from Exit G of Qingdao Station on metro line 3. The pier juts out into the sea from the shoreline at 12 Taiping Road in Shinan District, and it's open free of charge, 24 hours a day, year-round — so arriving late in the evening is never a problem. Huilan Pavilion, the two-story structure at the pier's end, has an exhibition you can walk through; it's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays, with no separate admission fee. At night, the lights along the pier and the buildings on shore reflect on the water.

In winter (November to April), Siberian gulls gather around the pier. Daytime draws crowds hoping to feed them, but the evenings are considerably quieter. Xiao Qingdao Island is a short walk west along the coast, so it's worth pairing the two in a single evening route.

Xiao Qingdao Island — the night view known as "Qinyu Piaodeng"

A 10-minute walk west along the shore from Zhanqiao brings you to the entrance of Xiao Qingdao Island, at 26 Qinyu Road. The whole island is set up as a small park, and admission is a modest 5 yuan. The hours are short, though: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April through October, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from November through March — so check the sunset time in advance and plan to get in before closing.

The sight of the white lighthouse at the island's tip and the island's lights reflected on the water is known locally as "Qinyu Piaodeng" ("the floating lamp of Qin Island"), and it's long been considered one of Qingdao's defining night views. Because the gates close early, seeing it from inside means timing your visit before closing; once the island has closed for the night, you can get a similar view of it from the waterfront promenade back near Zhanqiao.

Fushan Bay — the evening lights of May Fourth Square and the Olympic Sailing Center

If Zhanqiao and Xiao Qingdao are the old town's night scene, heading east by metro brings you to a completely different mood in the newer district. May Fourth Square, the Olympic Sailing Center where the 2008 Beijing Olympics sailing events were held, and the breakwater between them known as the Lovers' Dam are all clustered in this stretch. The high-rise facade lighting is generally considered best between roughly 7 and 9 p.m., though the intensity and timing can differ between weekdays and weekends or holidays, and schedules sometimes change during special events — it's worth checking the day's local notices before you go.

One thing to plan around: the May Fourth Square metro station is sometimes temporarily closed during the crowded evening hours (typically after 5 p.m.), so it's more reliable to get off at Fushansuo or Yan'erdao Road station on line 2, or Yan'an San Road station on line 3, and walk from there. Holidays bring especially heavy crowds, so if you'd rather avoid the density, Taipingjiao or Huiquan Square on another stretch of coastline are worth considering instead.

※ Admission fees, hours, and lighting schedules are subject to change. In particular, please check local notices for the exact day-by-day schedule of the May Fourth Square area's evening lighting before visiting.

PARTNERS

제일타카 · JITOOL 우허비즈니스호텔 장수화로 한식당 천지골프연습장 크리스탈나로도 · ITM 킴스헤어 미용실 장춘연 변호사 법률사무소 CS 비즈솔루션 천진한국국제학교 블루아이 · 아시아부동산 JESSICA 패션 ELIC · 중국유학 천진 CN 렌트카