Atour S Hotel May Fourth Square Badaguan Qingdao — A Premium Design Base Between May Fourth Square & Badaguan, with a Pool, 16 Min to the Beach
Picture checking in, then waking up to a morning stroll under the leafy canopy of the Badaguan (八大关) villa quarter, with its hundreds of European-style villas — and carrying on about 16 minutes to the Third Bathing Beach (第三海水浴场) on the bay; then in the evening, walking the other way to May Fourth Square (五四广场), the Fushan Bay landmark whose red "May Wind" sculpture makes a great photo against the skyline of towers. That's the location of Atour S Hotel Qingdao May Fourth Square Badaguan (青岛五四广场八大关亚朵S酒店), a premium Atour S design hotel on West Hong Kong Road in Shinan District, sitting right between the modern CBD and the seaside colonial old quarter. Atour S is the upper line of the Atour chain — smarter, more stylish rooms, more polished service, and a swimming pool that most plain Atour hotels don't have. It opened in 2020 and has around 152 rooms, with a 9.6/10 score from around 3,277 real guest reviews — and the people who have been say the same things in chorus: stylish, modern rooms, that comfy Atour bed, a good breakfast and service that punches above the price. If you want a stylish design hotel close to the beach, Badaguan and May Fourth Square without paying 5-star rates, this is the most appealing pick in the zone.
Honestly, the first reason reviewers pick this place is, plainly, that it sits right between Qingdao's two worlds — the modern CBD on one side, the seaside colonial old quarter on the other. The hotel is at No.77 West Hong Kong Road (香港西路), Shinan District, a few minutes' walk from the edge of the Badaguan (八大关) villa quarter, famous for its hundreds of European-style villas under the trees — the neighbourhood people come to for photo walks and pre-wedding shoots. Keep going about 16 minutes and you reach the Third Bathing Beach (第三海水浴场) on the bay, while walking the other way along the shore brings you to May Fourth Square (五四广场) and the Fushan Bay (浮山湾) waterfront, with the red "May Wind" sculpture (五月的风), the skyline of towers and an evening light show. Guests say basing yourself here lets you do the beach, the old quarter and the new city all in one trip without long transfers.
The second draw is that Atour S is the upper line of the Atour chain — a clear step above a plain Atour. Atour (亚朵) is a mid-to-upper design chain in China known for how comfortable its bedrooms are and for its signature reading-library corner. The "S" (Selected) version is the premium tier, with smarter, more modern design rooms, better materials, and — the part many guests love — a swimming pool, which most plain Atour hotels don't have. Reviewers single out the Atour mattress and memory-foam pillows as very easy on the body after a full day out. The rooms are stylish, clean and warmly modern, with strong hot water, cold air-con and reliable Wi-Fi. The breakfast buffet earns praise for variety — guests say they don't get tired of it — and what many appreciate is the attentive service: the front desk looks after you well and is good at recommending sights and restaurants, and some find a food-delivery robot bringing things to the room.
One guest recalls: "We chose Atour S because we wanted nicer design rooms than a regular Atour, and it didn't disappoint. The room was very clean and modern, the bed was soft and we slept well, and there's even a pool. The location is great — in the morning you can walk to Badaguan and the beach, and in the evening to May Fourth Square. The staff were friendly and gave good tips on where to go, and the breakfast buffet had plenty to choose from. Great value for a spot like this." That review captures what most people say in chorus — stylish, clean rooms, a pool, a walk-everywhere location to the beach, Badaguan and May Fourth Square, and good value.
On the building and the feel: the real photo on this page shows a fresh, modern Atour S room — bright and airy, with a big window letting in the light and the warm, minimalist styling Atour does well. The hotel opened in 2020 and has around 152 rooms — a comfortable design-chain size. The lobby and public areas carry Atour's style, with the brand's signature book nook and lounge corners, plus a swimming pool and a gym. The surroundings mix the new city with the old quarter, with restaurants and cafés to wander between. People who stay in this zone mostly come to walk Badaguan, photograph the old villas, swim at the Third Beach, stroll May Fourth Square in the evening and ride the metro out to the German old town — it's a base that suits city sightseers who want both the beach and the colonial mood in one place.
Now the honest caveats, compiled from real guest reviews, because they're real and worth knowing before you book. First, the branch name is confusing — this zone has several Atour hotels very close together: this "S" branch on West Hong Kong Road, a plain Atour at the Third Beach, and other May Fourth Square branches. When booking, check carefully that it's the "亚朵S酒店" (Atour S) at Badaguan / West Hong Kong Road, not a plain Atour in a different building. Second, prices swing hard with the season — in summer and during the beer festival rates can jump several times over and rooms fill fast, because this is a beach-close location everyone competes for. Third, this is a 4-star design chain, not a full sea-view resort — yes, you walk to the beach and Badaguan, but most rooms have a city view rather than a wide sea view. If you want to wake up to the sea from your room, look at the Hyatt Regency (on Shilaoren Beach in Laoshan) or the Sea View Garden (Badaguan / No.2 Beach) in our list instead.
Standard rates start around ~¥450 (฿2,250) a night, with the usual range running roughly ¥450–800 (about ฿2,250–4,000) depending on season, day of the week and room type. Qingdao is a seaside holiday city where prices swing hard with the calendar, and because this branch is close to the beach the swings are sharper at peak. The high season is the summer school holidays (June–August), when domestic travellers flood in for the beaches — and especially the Qingdao International Beer Festival (August), when rates can jump two-to-three times (averages have been seen around ¥1,100/night at peak) and rooms fill very fast — plus the long public holidays such as Golden Week (1–7 Oct) and Labour Day (1–5 May). Outside the holidays, and in winter, prices drop noticeably and the sea breeze is cool. The Badaguan–Third Beach zone fills especially quickly in high season because it's so close to the sea, so reserve several weeks ahead for peak dates — particularly around the beer festival — and pick a free-cancellation rate up front, since pricing moves around a lot.
Friend-to-friend bottom line — Atour S Hotel May Fourth Square Badaguan suits travellers who want a premium design-chain hotel with stylish, modern rooms, a soft Atour bed, a swimming pool and a good breakfast, within walking distance of the Badaguan villa quarter, the Third Bathing Beach and May Fourth Square, at better value than a 5-star beach hotel. If you're planning a Qingdao trip that wants the beach, the colonial mood and the new city all in one, this is the most appealing base in the design-chain bracket. If you'd rather wake up to a full sea view, or want a true beachfront resort, look at the Hyatt Regency or the Sea View Garden in our list; and if you'd rather sleep in the German old town by Zhanqiao Pier, compare the Mercure Zhanqiao first. Remember that a good Qingdao trip usually combines the beaches and Badaguan with the German old town (Zhanqiao Pier / the cathedral) and a glass of fresh Tsingtao beer.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Excellent location — between Badaguan and May Fourth Square, about a 16-minute walk to the Third Bathing Beach
- ✓ Atour S smart-design rooms, comfy Atour beds, and a swimming pool
- ✓ Good service; friendly staff who give good sightseeing and restaurant tips
- ✓ Very clean rooms, a breakfast buffet with plenty of choice, high value for money
- ! Confusing branch name — the zone has several Atour buildings, so check it's the "S" one
- ! Prices swing hard with the season — summer / the beer festival fills fast and runs pricey
- ✓ Clean Atour S design rooms; strong hot water, cold air-con, good Wi-Fi, a library corner
- ✓ A swimming pool and gym, which plain design-chain hotels often lack
- ✓ Walk to Badaguan, the Third Beach and May Fourth Square; near Metro Lines 2/3
- ✓ Helpful, attentive staff who sort things out and give good recommendations
- ! Most rooms have a city view, not a wide sea view from the room
- ! A 4-star design chain, not a full beachfront resort
- 💡If you're worried about booking the wrong branch · this zone has several Atour hotels very close together — this "S" branch on West Hong Kong Road, a plain Atour at the Third Beach, and other May Fourth Square branches · fix → book specifically the "亚朵S酒店" (Atour S) at Badaguan / No.77 West Hong Kong Road, and check the photos and address before you confirm.
- 💡If you're on a budget or travelling at peak · prices swing hard with the season — in summer and during the beer festival (August) rates can jump two-to-three times and rooms fill fast because it's close to the beach · fix → reserve several weeks ahead for peak dates, pick a free-cancellation rate, or travel outside the holidays / in winter when prices drop a lot.
- 💡If you want a sea view from your room · this is a 4-star design chain — you walk to the beach and Badaguan, but most rooms have a city view, with no wide sea view from the room · fix → look at the Hyatt Regency (on Shilaoren Beach in Laoshan, sea views) or the Sea View Garden (Badaguan / No.2 Beach) in our list, which are genuine sea-view hotels.