10 experiences families won't forget
Ordered by what children tend to remember longest — not just the prettiest photo stops.
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This is the heart of a kids' trip in Qingdao — a soft-sand beach about 580 m long that slopes gently into the water, with light waves and a long shallow stretch, so children can build castles, dig and paddle safely. It is the city's oldest beach (open since 1901), with lifeguards on duty, showers and changing rooms, and it sits right next to the Underwater World aquarium, an easy walk away. Old red-roofed European villas climb the hillside behind it. A morning or afternoon the kids can stretch out for hours.
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For a day when you want kids wide-eyed at the underwater world — Qingdao Underwater World is the city's long-standing aquarium, on the western side of No.1 Beach beside Zhanqiao Pier. The big kid-win is the underwater fish tunnel, where you walk through with sharks, rays and shoals of fish swimming overhead. There is a glowing jellyfish hall that looks like a dream, and a mermaid free-diving show in the big tank that children love. It is a great indoor option for a rainy or scorching day, and pairs neatly with a morning on No.1 Beach.
For a day when kids want to watch big sea-animal shows — Polar Ocean World is a polar-themed marine park on the city's eastern shore. The highlight is the beluga, dolphin and sea-lion shows, with acrobatics and water ballet that thrill children. Beyond the shows, the polar zone has polar bears, penguins, walruses and seals to walk past, plus fish tunnels and several big tanks. It easily fills a day with kids, so allow time around the show schedule — check the show times at the entrance first.
For a day to let kids ride rides and run around in the shade — Zhongshan Park is a big central park with a small funfair zone: a Ferris wheel, a carousel, a kiddie train and gentle rides that little ones can manage. There is a lake for rowing boats, leafy shaded paths and lawns to picnic on. In early April the park bursts into cherry blossom from end to end and becomes the city's most famous spot to see it. It is a half-day the kids enjoy and the parents can sit down for, and it is close to a small zoo and Taipingshan hill too.
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For a day to let kids burn off energy in the open air by the sea — the Olympic Sailing Center is the marina that hosted the 2008 Olympic sailing events, now a wide, long bayfront promenade where kids can run, cycle and stroll easily. There are rows of yachts to look at and a spot to take a boat trip around the bay, with the city skyline and the cross-bay bridge in view. At dusk the sunset and the city lights across the bay are lovely. Kids love the sea breeze and the open space to run — a relaxed late afternoon and evening for the whole family.
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The easiest spot to reach on foot in the old town — Zhanqiao Pier is a long wood-and-stone pier that juts out into the sea, the emblem of Qingdao. At its end stands the octagonal Huilan Pavilion, and you can walk right out over the water for the breeze. Beside the pier is No.6 Bathing Beach (第六海水浴场), a small central beach that is shallow and easy to reach, fine for a short sand play. Seagulls wheel above it from late autumn to early spring, which kids love to watch. The pier is steps from the old-town pedestrian streets and restaurants, a good place to start touring the old town.
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A day trip out of town for families with older kids — Mount Lao is the highest coastal mountain in China, on the city's eastern side. A cable car carries you up for views of the wide sea and huge crags without having to walk the whole way. There are ancient Taoist temples, streams and viewpoints to stop at. It suits older kids who can handle some walking rather than toddlers, since there are stairs and ups and downs in places. Allow a full day for travel and sightseeing, and bring water, hats and good walking shoes. A day of proper nature.
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For a day when you want a calmer spot for sand play without the crowds — No.2 Bathing Beach (第二海水浴场) is quieter and less crowded than No.1, with the same shallow water to wade in. It sits beside the Badaguan quarter (八大关), a neighborhood of old European villas with leafy avenues named after eight passes of the Great Wall — a lovely place to stroll and photograph pretty houses. In spring and autumn the trees turn beautifully. It is a relaxed afternoon for families who like a quiet mood and good photos, and the beach pairs perfectly with a walk through Badaguan in one go.
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For a day when kids want to run in a big open plaza by the sea — May Fourth Square is a wide bayfront plaza with the red spiral-flame sculpture called "May Wind" (五月的风), the city's modern emblem. Kids can run loose to their hearts' content in the open space, with fountains and lawns, and you can walk on along the bay to the Olympic Sailing Center. At night the skyscrapers ringing Fushan Bay light up in a moving light show that kids find dazzling. It is an easy evening for the whole family to sit, catch the breeze and watch the lights, near several big malls with kids' zones and restaurants.
Good news for families — Qingdao food (Shandong cooking) is mild and not spicy, so kids will eat almost everything. The dishes children tend to like are mackerel dumplings (鲅鱼水饺), with a soft, sweet, gentle filling; congee and steamed buns that fill little tummies; clear noodle soup; and steamed seafood like prawns, clams and fish, all gently flavored, that kids can manage. Restaurants in the Fushan Bay malls have high chairs and varied menus. The famous draft beer served in a plastic bag, a Qingdao tradition, is for the grown-ups. For drinking water, buy bottled or boil it — don't drink the tap water.