May Fourth Square (五四广场) & Fushan Bay, Qingdao — The Red "May Wind", the Nightly Light Show, the Olympic Sailing Center & Modern Seafront 2026

Q: What is the 'May Wind' sculpture (五月的风) and why is it the city's icon?

The 'May Wind' (五月的风) is a flaming-red steel sculpture in the shape of a spiralling gust, about 30 metres tall, roughly 27 metres in diameter and weighing over 500 tons, making it the largest steel urban sculpture in China. It stands in the centre of May Fourth Square facing Fushan Bay, and was built to commemorate the May Fourth Movement of 1919, whose roots are tied to Qingdao. The fiery red colour and spiral form symbolise the city's energy and vitality. Today it is the photo spot and landmark that visitors to Qingdao come to tick off, looking good by day when the sun catches the red steel, and by night when it's lit.

The neighbourhood

What May Fourth Square & Fushan Bay are — and why this is the new face of Qingdao

Picture standing on a wide plaza by the sea. Behind you is a red steel spiral as tall as a ten-storey building — the symbol of the whole city. In front of you is a bay with white sailboats and a curve of high-rise towers tracing the shore. As the sun drops below the horizon, the entire line of towers switches on as one giant blue light show. This is May Fourth Square (五四广场) and Fushan Bay (浮山湾), the modern seafront face of Qingdao — a completely different mood from the red-tiled roofs of the old town to the west.

If the old town is Qingdao's German-colonial era, this area is the city's modern one — a seafront CBD on Fushan Bay full of office towers, big malls and high-rise sea-view hotels. The heart of it is May Fourth Square, an open plaza of about 100,000 sqm anchored by the red "May Wind" (五月的风) sculpture, the city's icon. Next comes the Fushan Bay promenade for strolling and watching the evening light show, and right beside it to the east is the 2008 Olympic Sailing Center (奥帆中心), a marina with restaurants, cafés and waterfront bars.

Ever felt like you only saw one side of a city and left thinking you missed the rest? Qingdao genuinely has two distinct faces. The old town gives you the classic, heritage feel, while the May Fourth Square–Fushan Bay area gives you a modern seaside city with real nightlife. If you want to see the new Qingdao, love sea views and a skyline, want to walk the bayfront for sunset and the light show, or enjoy big malls and an evening out, this is the area we'd point you to. Take Metro Line 3 to May Fourth Square station and you'll be there in a few minutes.

May Fourth Square, Qingdao — the red spiral 'May Wind' (五月的风) sculpture in the centre of the plaza on Fushan Bay, the city's icon — May Fourth Square — the open plaza on Fushan Bay anchored by the red "May Wind" (五月的风) sculpture, the icon of Qingdao and the city's modern seafront face

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The city icon

May Wind (五月的风)

Red steel spiral, ~30m tall · China's largest steel urban sculpture

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The plaza

May Fourth Square (五四广场)

Open plaza ~100,000 sqm · musical fountains · free, 24 hours

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Evening light show

Fushan Bay (浮山湾)

Towers light up in LED ~19:30-21:00 · largest in northern China

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Marina next door

Olympic Sailing Center

奥帆中心 · 2008 Olympic regatta venue · waterfront bars

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Nearest metro

May Fourth Square, Line 3

五四广场, Exit D, ~5-min walk · Line 2 also reaches the area

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Best time of day

Late afternoon to evening

Sunset and sea breeze, then the skyline light show

How it feels when you arrive

The feel of the area — modern, seafront, alive at night

This isn't the red-tiled old town — it's the new Qingdao: a wide plaza, towers along the bay, and a bayfront promenade people use day and night.

To be honest, May Fourth Square–Fushan Bay is the image of Qingdao that the whole country recognises. The red steel spiral on the plaza faces the sea, the high-rise towers curve along the bay, and the waterfront walkway draws families, couples and runners all day long. By day you get the sea breeze and the wide bay view; at sunset the light drops behind the towers; and after dark the whole skyline lights up as one synchronised show that looks like a film set. Nearby are big malls like Hisense Plaza and MixC for air-conditioned shopping, plus cafés, restaurants and waterfront bars on the sailing-center side for a relaxed drink. This is the area for travellers who want the modern, night-time side of Qingdao.

1

Travellers who want modern Qingdao and the icon shot

Modern Qingdao · City icon · Photo spot

Where the old town gives you the classic mood, this area gives you the modern seaside city. The red "May Wind" sculpture is the check-in shot every visitor to Qingdao takes, and the towers along the bay are the city's best skyline backdrop. Want to know what else is around the city? See all the Qingdao sights worth visiting and the deep-dive in the full May Fourth Square guide.
2

People who love sea views, sunsets and a bayfront walk

Sea views · Sunset walks · Fushan Bay promenade

The Fushan Bay promenade runs continuously from the plaza to the sailing center, so you can stroll past bay, boats and towers at an easy pace. Late afternoon is the best window because you get the sunset and then the lit-up towers — it's one of the most enjoyable free things to do in the city. See more seafront sights in Qingdao attractions.
3

People who like big malls and a bit of nightlife

Modern malls · Nightlife · Waterfront bars

Around the plaza are big malls like Hisense Plaza and MixC for air-conditioned shopping, while the Olympic Sailing Center side has lively waterfront bars and restaurants in the evening. If you want a seaside city with somewhere to sit, have a drink and watch the bay, this area works better than the old town. Plan the whole trip with the Qingdao 2-day itinerary.
4

Travellers who want a high-rise sea-view base with good transport

High-rise hotels · Sea views · Metro base

This area is full of international high-rise hotels, many with rooms looking out over Fushan Bay and the lit-up towers — wake up to the sea, and watch the light show from your room. Metro Line 3 from May Fourth Square station reaches the old town and the other sights easily. Still unsure which side to stay on? Read where to stay in Qingdao for a first trip before you decide.

What to see

The key sights in the area — all along the bayfront

🌀 The "May Wind" sculpture (五月的风)

This is the shot every visitor to Qingdao takes. It's a flaming-red steel sculpture shaped like a spiralling gust of wind, about 30 metres tall, roughly 27 metres in diameter and weighing over 500 tons — the largest steel urban sculpture in China. It stands in the centre of May Fourth Square facing Fushan Bay, and was built to commemorate the May Fourth Movement of 1919, whose roots are tied to events around Qingdao. The fiery red and the spiral form symbolise the city's energy and vitality. It looks good by day, when the sun catches the red steel, and by night when it's lit. It's free. Read the deep-dive in the full May Fourth Square guide.

⛲ The wide plaza and musical fountains

May Fourth Square covers about 100,000 sqm, running from the municipal government building to the north down to Fushan Bay in the south. It's an open space where people stroll, fly kites, take photos and sit in the sea breeze. There are musical fountains that run on a schedule and green lawns to rest on. It's free and open 24 hours. Early morning or a weekday daytime is quieter and best for clear photos of the sculpture, while the evening fills up as people arrive for the sunset and the light show. Fountain times can shift with the season, so check on the spot.

🌃 The Fushan Bay skyline light show (浮山湾灯光秀)

The evening highlight here is the Fushan Bay skyline light show. The entire line of towers ringing the bay turns into a giant canvas for a synchronised LED display, generally around 19:30-21:00. It's one of the largest coastal light shows in northern China, first staged in full when Qingdao hosted the SCO summit in 2018, and built around a signature "Qingdao Blue" palette. The best vantage point is the promenade on the May Fourth Square side, looking across the bay to the towers on the sailing-center side — or walk over to the sailing-center side for the full CBD skyline. Arrive a little early because it gets busy. Times and runs can change with the season and holidays, so check before you go.

⛵ The 2008 Olympic Sailing Center (奥帆中心)

Right next to May Fourth Square to the east is the Olympic Sailing Center (奥帆中心), the sailing venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, now a marina lined with moored yachts and white sailboats. It has piers, restaurants, cafés, waterfront bars and walkways with bay views. At times you can take a boat cruise out onto Fushan Bay to see the Qingdao skyline from the water. Just walk along the bay from the plaza and you're there — the two pair up easily in one outing. Late afternoon into the evening is best, for the sunset, the sea breeze and the lit-up towers. Read more in the full Olympic Sailing Center guide.

🛍️ The malls and seafront CBD

Around May Fourth Square is the seafront business district, with big malls for air-conditioned shopping — both Hisense Plaza and MixC gather brands, restaurants and cinemas. Office towers and high-rise hotels line the bay, so the area combines a city skyline with big-city convenience. If you're out on the bayfront and the sun gets fierce or it rains, a mall is an easy place to duck into. It's an area that brings sea views, shopping and hotels together in one place.

Olympic Sailing Center, Qingdao — a marina of white sailboats on Fushan Bay, the 2008 Olympic regatta venue beside May Fourth Square — The Olympic Sailing Center (奥帆中心) — a marina of white sailboats on Fushan Bay, an easy walk along the shore from May Fourth Square

Eat and drink

Food in the area — seafood, fresh beer and waterfront bars

Eating around Fushan Bay is the easy, modern-city kind — from seafood and fresh Tsingtao beer to cafés and waterfront bars on the sailing-center side with a bay view.

🍺 Seafood and fresh Tsingtao beer

You can't come to Qingdao without fresh seafood and fresh-poured Tsingtao beer (青岛啤酒). Around Fushan Bay there are seafood and Shandong-cuisine restaurants at every level, from mall outlets to waterfront spots, and many serve the keg beer that locals actually drink. A local favourite is stir-fried clams (辣炒蛤蜊) with a cold beer. Seafood here runs a little pricier than the markets on the old-town side because it's a seafront CBD location. For what to order, see the full Qingdao food guide.

🍸 Cafés and waterfront bars at the sailing center

The eating-and-drinking charm of this area is on the Olympic Sailing Center side, where cafés, restaurants and waterfront bars line the marina. Sip a coffee by day looking at the sailboats, or a drink in the evening watching the towers light up across the bay — a seaside-city mood you won't find in the old town. Prices sit at a big-city waterfront level, with a typical meal around ¥50-120 (~฿250-600) per person. It's a great place to linger for the sunset into the light show. Pair it with the Qingdao attractions for the wider picture.

The high-rise skyline along Fushan Bay, Qingdao — the modern CBD with restaurants, malls and waterfront bars around May Fourth Square — The skyline along Fushan Bay — the modern CBD that gathers seafood, fresh Tsingtao beer, big malls and waterfront bars in one area

Where to stay in the area

Why stay around Fushan Bay — and how to pick your spot

This is Qingdao's best high-rise, sea-view hotel area — wake up to the bay, watch the light show from your room, and ride the metro to the old town.

The upside of staying in the May Fourth Square–Fushan Bay area is that you get a modern seafront base with plenty of high-rise hotels to choose from. Many face Fushan Bay, so you wake up to the sea and sailboats and watch the towers light up from your room at night. Step downstairs and you're at the plaza, the bayfront promenade, the malls and the sailing center. To reach the red-tiled old town or other sights, just take Metro Line 3 from May Fourth Square station. If you like a seaside city with real nightlife and you want a view, this is the area that fits best.

One thing to know: this is a CBD, so room rates — especially bay-view rooms — run a bit higher than the old-town side, and the mood is big-city rather than classic old town. If you want the European red-tiled roofs, old churches and lanes, the Shinan old town may suit you better. And if you're after the famous beaches and old villas, look at the Badaguan–Huiquan Bay area. Still weighing up which side to stay on? Read the full comparison in where to stay in Qingdao for a first trip.

Top 10 hotels in Qingdao

Every area, ranked by real review scores — compare before you decide

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Where to stay in Qingdao?

A get-lost-proof area guide — Fushan Bay vs the old town vs the beach areas

Getting to May Fourth Square / Fushan Bay

The transport heart of the area is Metro Line 3 at May Fourth Square station (五四广场), Exit D, about a 5-minute walk to the plaza. Line 2 also runs along the Fushan Bay side and the eastern districts to reach the area. Within the area, walking the bayfront is easiest, since the plaza, the promenade and the sailing center all line up along the shore. Qingdao has a full metro, and you pay by scanning.

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May Fourth Square (五四广场)

Line 3

Exit D, ~5-min walk · the main station for the area

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Into the bay area

Line 2

¥2-7 · runs along Fushan and the eastern districts

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Olympic Sailing Center

Walk along the bay

奥帆中心 · within walking distance from the plaza

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From Jiaodong Airport (TAO)

Metro Line 8 / taxi

~40 km away · Line 8 ~50-60 min · taxi ~¥120-150

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From the HSR stations

Qingdao / Qingdao North

Transfer by metro · North is the main hub (Lines 1/3/8)

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Bike / on foot

Walk the bayfront

Shared bikes · sights line up along the shore

Tip: The Qingdao metro is new and clean with full English signage, and you pay by scanning Alipay or WeChat, or with a transit card. From Jiaodong Airport (TAO), about 40 km from the city, take Metro Line 8 into town in roughly 50-60 minutes, or a bus or taxi (a taxi is around ¥120-150). Within the area, the bayfront is best on foot. See how to get around the whole city in getting around Qingdao and how to pay in the Alipay/WeChat payment guide.

Plan your visit

A walking route — late afternoon into evening is the best window

🌅 Afternoon to evening (~3-4 hours · sunset and the light show)

16:30 — Take Metro Line 3 to May Fourth Square station, Exit D, and start at the "May Wind" sculpture for the icon shot
17:00 — Walk the Fushan Bay promenade for the bay, the boats and the skyline
17:45 — Carry on to the Olympic Sailing Center and find a waterfront spot to wait for sunset
18:30 — Sunset behind the towers, with a drink at a waterfront bar
19:30 — The skyline light show begins, the whole line of towers lit up together

🌃 Stretch it to a full day (+ malls and the old town)

If you have a full day, start this area in the afternoon and add:
14:00 — Shop Hisense Plaza or MixC in the air conditioning before the sun softens
15:30 — Take a Fushan Bay boat cruise from the sailing center (if running) to see the skyline from the water
Next morning — Ride Metro Line 3 over to the old-town side and walk Shinan and the classic seafront

This area pairs with the old-town side in the same trip — take Metro Line 3 to the Shinan old town or the Badaguan–Huiquan Bay area. See everything worth visiting in Qingdao attractions, and plan the whole trip with the Qingdao 2-day itinerary.

Frequently asked

FAQ · May Fourth Square / Fushan Bay, Qingdao

Where is May Fourth Square / Fushan Bay in Qingdao, and who is it for?

May Fourth Square (五四广场) sits in the modern district along Fushan Bay (浮山湾) on the eastern side of Qingdao, a high-rise CBD that's a different face from the old town to the west. The plaza itself covers about 100,000 sqm and is anchored by the red "May Wind" (五月的风) sculpture, the city's icon, facing out to Fushan Bay. The area suits travellers who want modern Qingdao, who love sea views and a skyline, who want to walk the waterfront for sunset and the evening light show, and who enjoy big malls and a bit of nightlife. Take Metro Line 3 to May Fourth Square station (五四广场), Exit D, about a 5-minute walk; Line 2 also reaches the area. It's free and open 24 hours. See all the Qingdao sights.

What is the "May Wind" sculpture (五月的风) and why is it the city's icon?

The "May Wind" (五月的风) is a flaming-red steel sculpture in the shape of a spiralling gust, about 30 metres tall, roughly 27 metres in diameter and weighing over 500 tons, making it the largest steel urban sculpture in China. It stands in the centre of May Fourth Square facing Fushan Bay, and was built to commemorate the May Fourth Movement of 1919, whose roots are tied to Qingdao. The fiery red colour and spiral form symbolise the city's energy and vitality. Today it is the photo spot and landmark that visitors to Qingdao come to tick off, looking good by day when the sun catches the red steel, and by night when it's lit. Read more in the full May Fourth Square guide.

What time is the Fushan Bay light show and where do you watch it?

The high-rise towers ringing Fushan Bay turn into a giant canvas for a synchronised LED light show in the evening, generally around 19:30-21:00. It's one of the largest coastal light shows in northern China, with a signature "Qingdao Blue" palette. The best vantage point is the promenade on the May Fourth Square side, looking across the bay to the towers on the Olympic Sailing Center side, or you can walk over to the sailing-center side and look back at the full CBD skyline. Arrive a little early because it gets busy and the good photo spots fill up fast. Times and runs may shift with the season and holidays, so check before you go. See the Olympic Sailing Center too.

Is the Olympic Sailing Center (奥帆中心) nearby and what is there to do?

The Olympic Sailing Center (奥帆中心) sits right next to May Fourth Square to the east, an easy walk along the bay. It was the sailing venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and today it's a marina lined with moored yachts and white sailboats, with piers, restaurants, cafés, waterfront bars and walkways with bay views. At times you can take a boat cruise out onto Fushan Bay to see the Qingdao skyline from the water. Late afternoon into the evening is the best window because you get the sunset, the sea breeze and the lit-up towers. Just stroll along the bay from May Fourth Square and you're there — the two pair up easily in one outing. Read more in the full Olympic Sailing Center guide.

How do you get to May Fourth Square / Fushan Bay, and can you take the metro?

Qingdao has a metro and this area is very easy to reach. Take Metro Line 3 to May Fourth Square station (五四广场), Exit D, and it's about a 5-minute walk to the plaza. Line 2 also runs along the Fushan Bay side and the eastern districts to reach the area. Fares are cheap, around ¥2-7 (~฿10-35), and you pay by scanning Alipay or WeChat. Besides the metro there are buses, taxis and DiDi. From Jiaodong Airport (TAO), about 40 km from the city, take Metro Line 8 into town in roughly 50-60 minutes, or a bus or taxi (a taxi is around ¥120-150). Within the area, walking the bayfront is easiest. Read how to get around the whole city in getting around Qingdao.

The full Qingdao guide

Hotels, sights, transport and everything to know before you go to Qingdao

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Shinan old town

Classic Qingdao — red-tiled roofs, old churches and the German-era seafront

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Qingdao food guide

Seafood, fresh Tsingtao beer and Shandong dishes, with real spots and prices

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