1⃣️ Take Metro Line 4 towards Dahedong Station, about a 1-hour ride. Exit from A, where you’ll find the Dahedong Visitor Center with free luggage storage available.
2⃣️ After arriving, head into the Laoshan ticket hall. Student tickets are available offline, while full-price tickets can be purchased online for 130 RMB per person. Choose the Taiqing Route (valid for Taiqing, Yangkou, and Huayan Temple).
3⃣️ Use your ID for ticket verification, then board the sightseeing bus to the scenic area. This route offers even more beautiful views than Bus 618; sit on the side by the window for the best view. On the way to Taiqing, sit on the right side.
4⃣️ Disembark at Taiqing Palace. Inside, you’ll find a statue of Laozi, which requires a ticket for entry. If you’re not interested, you can climb along Laozilu Trail. Reaching the pass takes you to the Qing Shan Fishing Village archway below.
5⃣️ Qing Shan Fishing Village can be toured on foot. There’s a so-called pink shell beach, but it’s mainly broken shells. We hired a local villager’s car for 15 RMB to get back up to the pass and the 618 bus station. You may prefer to view the village from afar, but if you want to explore, it’s possible. At the village shop, Laoshan Cola is 4 RMB and Laoshan Sparkling Water is 6 RMB. Remember to buy from the shop, not street vendors.
6⃣️ Take Bus 618 to the Yangkou Scenic Area. There are many stops along the way, and wait times for buses are short. From the pass to Yangkou, sit on the right side for sea views.
7⃣️ The Taiqing Route ticket includes entry to Yangkou Scenic Area. Swipe your ID to enter. There’s a cable car (35 RMB one-way) that takes you near Mitiandong. On the cable car ride, the right side offers great scenery, so don’t miss it! Mitiandong and Tianyuan have incredible views of the ocean and mountains.
8⃣️ To leave Yangkou, you can walk down or take the cable car; we opted to walk, taking in the mountain views on the way. The path is easy to follow and takes about 30 minutes.
9⃣️ If time allows, visit the beach at the foot of Yangkou. Near the bus stop, there’s a vendor selling starchy sausage for 5 RMB per pair, a good snack if you’re hungry. After a bit of waiting, we couldn’t catch a bus, so we shared a ride with a local driver to the metro station for 15 RMB each. If you have more time, you can also take the sightseeing bus to Huayan Temple. We didn’t go due to time constraints, but the scenic buses stop at multiple spots, making travel easy. The 130 RMB ticket covers various routes and is well worth it, even if you only spend a day. My experience was great thanks to the perfect weather and the varied travel options by bus, cable car, and footpath.
Travel Tips
🌈 On Bus 618, sit near the driver’s side for sea views.
🌈 Scenic area buses run every 20 minutes along the coastal road, and there are no random stops.
🌈 Qing Shan Fishing Village has free entry. Photos from the observation deck (marked by the “Qing Shan Green Water” sign) offer scenic views. If you enter the village, plan for 2 hours, as walking takes about 20-30 minutes. Local villagers offer rides too.
🌈 Sandzi Bay is most picturesque before 4 p.m. when the sun hits right. If you’re not focused on photos, you can skip it.
【🚉 Metro Transfer Guide】
- Jufeng: Take Metro Line 4 ➠ Exit A at Dahedong Station, go to the Dahedong Transfer Center, and take the Jufeng Line sightseeing bus.
- Taiqing: Take Metro Line 4 ➠ Exit A at Dahedong Station, go to the Dahedong Transfer Center, and take the Taiqing Line sightseeing bus.
- Jiushui: Take Metro Line 11 ➠ Get off at Beijiushui Station, and transfer to the sightseeing bus at Beijiushui Transfer Center.
- Yangkou: Take Metro Line 11 ➠ Exit A at Pulai Station, then transfer to a bus to reach Yangkou.
- Huayan: Transfer from Yangkou to the sightseeing bus or take Bus 618 to reach Huayan.
【🚎 Sightseeing Bus Transfer Guide】
🎟️ Sightseeing Bus Ticket Purchase: Sightseeing bus tickets are not sold separately and must be purchased bundled with the scenic area entrance ticket. It is recommended to buy the Taiqing Route Combo Ticket (excluding Jufeng) for 130 RMB (90 RMB for the entrance ticket + 40 RMB for the sightseeing bus ticket).
⏰ Sightseeing Bus Operating Hours:
- 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM (March 1 – June 30)
- 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM (July 1 – August 31)
- 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM (September 1 – November 30)
- 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM (December 1 – February 28 of the following year)
♻️ Sightseeing Bus Transfer Routes:
- From the Laoshan Visitor Transfer Center ➠ Bashui River ➠ Taiqing Square ➠ Taiqing Cableway Entrance ➠ Walk to the Pass Parking Lot ➠ Huayan ➠ Yangkou (better views on the driver’s right side).
- From Yangkou ➠ Huayan ➠ Pass Parking Lot ➠ Walk to Taiqing Cableway Entrance ➠ Bashui River ➠ Laoshan Visitor Transfer Center (better views on the driver’s side).