Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area (Baxian Guohai) is located on the north side of Binhai Avenue, Penglai District, Yantai City, Shandong Province, bordering the Yellow Sea. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area takes the mythical legend of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" as its core theme, combining classical garden architecture with coastal natural scenery to create a highly mythical "fairyland" landscape. Its characteristic is that it takes the culture of the Eight Immortals as the thread, and reproduces the legendary scenes through sculptures, buildings, gardens and other forms, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the charm of mythical stories. Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area covers an area of about 55,000 square meters, of which the water area accounts for about 40%, and the construction area is about 12,000 square meters. The overall layout is in the shape of a treasure gourd, implying "double fortune and prosperity", echoing the legendary mood of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea". The pavilions, terraces, buildings and towers in the garden are scattered in an orderly manner, surrounded by sea water, showing the elegant and beautiful atmosphere of a "fairy mountain on the sea".
History and Culture
The legend of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea originated in the Northern Song Dynasty and has been passed down for thousands of years, becoming one of the most influential mythical stories in Chinese folk. According to the legend, eight immortals including Tieguai Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lü Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu, after getting drunk in Penglai Pavilion, crossed the sea with their respective magic weapons. Thus, the allusion "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, each showing their magical powers" came into being. This legend is not only recorded in classics such as "Dongyou Ji", but also widely spread through operas, paintings, folk stories and other forms, becoming a symbol of the wisdom and courage of the Chinese nation.
Relying on this profound cultural heritage, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area was officially opened to the public in 2000. Although it is a newly built scenic area in modern times, it strictly follows the legendary context and traditional architectural style, integrating mythical elements with historical culture. A large number of sculptures, inscriptions, couplets and so on retained in the scenic area are all themed on the legend of the Eight Immortals, among which there are many works by famous artists. They not only continue the inheritance of mythical culture, but also provide tourists with a material carrier to understand folk legends and Taoist culture, making the cultural symbol of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" presented in a concrete way.
Main Attractions
Baxian Archway
Baxian Archway is the entrance archway of the scenic area, 9 meters high and 12 meters wide. It is a four-pillar, three-bay and seven-story antique building with exquisite carvings. The four characters "八仙过海" (Baxian Guohai, means Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea) on the archway forehead were written by a famous calligrapher. The two sides of the archway are carved with patterns of the magic weapons of the Eight Immortals, corresponding to Tieguai Li's gourd, Han Zhongli's fan, Zhang Guolao's fishing drum, etc., symbolizing the respective magical powers of the Eight Immortals. It is the first cultural landscape to enter the scenic area, highlighting the theme of the scenic area and containing auspicious meanings.
Wangying Tower
Wangying Tower is one of the landmark buildings in the scenic area, 38 meters high, divided into five floors, and is an octagonal pyramidal roof pavilion with viewing platforms on each floor. The tower is magnificent with carved beams and painted rafters. Climbing the tower, you can overlook the magnificent sea view of the Yellow Sea and the whole scenic area. The tower displays murals and wood carvings about the legend of the Eight Immortals, detailing the story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. Among them, the large mural "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" on the third floor is 15 meters long and 3 meters high, with bright colors and vivid characters, which can be called a masterpiece of art.
Baxian Temple
Baxian Temple is the core place for enshrining the statues of the Eight Immortals, with a construction area of about 600 square meters. It is a single-eave gable and hip roof building. In the middle of the temple, there are colored statues of the eight immortals in turn, about 2 meters high, with different expressions, lifelike, reproducing the classic images of the Eight Immortals. The walls on both sides of the temple are carved with poems and allusions related to the Eight Immortals. There is a Bagua array in the courtyard outside the temple. Tourists can feel the integration of Taoist culture and mythical legends here, and it is a popular place for praying in the scenic area.
Huixian Pavilion
Huixian Pavilion is located on a small island in the middle of the scenic area, connected to the main scenic area by a cross-sea bridge. It is 26 meters high and is a four-story pavilion-style building. The pavilion enshrines statues of the Three Pure Ones of Taoism and various gods, showing the scene of "a gathering of immortals". Climbing to the top of Huixian Pavilion, you can enjoy the sea view and garden scenery in 360 degrees with a wide view, making it an excellent place to watch the sea and enjoy the scenery in the scenic area. There is a large group sculpture of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea on the square in front of the pavilion, 5 meters high and 10 meters long, vividly depicting the moment when the Eight Immortals crossed the sea with their respective magical powers, and it is a landmark landscape for tourists to take photos as a souvenir.
Seal Island
Seal Island is a natural interactive landscape in the scenic area, located in the sea area in the northeast of the scenic area, covering an area of about 800 square meters. Dozens of spotted seals live on the island. Tourists can watch the living conditions of seals at close range through the sea viewing corridor, and also participate in feeding interactions (under the guidance of staff). The setting of Seal Island not only enriches the visiting experience of the scenic area, but also adds the fun of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, which is especially loved by parent-child tourists.
Food
Eight Immortals Banquet
Eight Immortals Banquet is a distinctive themed banquet in the scenic area. Inspired by the legend of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea", each dish corresponds to an immortal and his magic weapon, cleverly matching seafood with local ingredients. For example, "Zhongli Treasure Fan Shrimp" uses shrimp balls to simulate the shape of a fan, "Guolao Riding Donkey Pastry" uses pastries to shape the image of Zhang Guolao riding a donkey, and "Xiangu Jade Dew Soup" is made of white fungus, lotus seeds, etc. into a sweet soup. The whole banquet is not only exquisitely shaped and auspicious in meaning, but also integrates the freshness of Penglai seafood. It is an excellent choice to experience the culture of the Eight Immortals and local food. The Wangying Tower Restaurant in the scenic area can provide this banquet.
Surrounding Food
Penglai Noodles
Penglai noodles are a local traditional pasta with a history of more than 100 years, and can be found everywhere in the noodle restaurants around the scenic area. The noodles are made of high-quality flour by hand, thin and chewy, with marinade made from seafood such as snapper and mullet, which is rich in umami. Common ways to eat are "clear soup noodles" and "braised noodles", with chopped green onions and coriander to enhance the flavor, with a rich taste. It is the first choice for Penglai people's breakfast, among which the Penglai noodles in "Jianxing Noodle Restaurant" are particularly famous.
Steamed Swimming Crab
Penglai is located in the Bohai Bay. Swimming crabs have tender meat and rich nutrition. Steamed swimming crab is the most classic way to eat locally. Choose fresh swimming crabs, wash them and steam them directly. After being served, eat them with ginger vinegar sauce to retain the original flavor of the crab to the greatest extent. It is available in many seafood stalls near the scenic area. Autumn (September-October) is the most plump season for swimming crabs, and the taste is the best when tasted at this time.
Tickets
The ticket price is 70 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "八仙过海" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are adjusted with the seasons: from April 1 to October 31 (peak season), the opening hours are 7:00-18:00; from November 1 to March 31 of the next year (off-season), the opening hours are 8:00-17:00. The opening hours may be appropriately extended during holidays, such as the Spring Festival and National Day. It is recommended that tourists check the latest information through the official website or phone before traveling.
Tour Route
After entering the scenic area, tourists can first visit the Baxian Archway at the entrance to understand the symbolic meaning of the magic weapons of the Eight Immortals, which takes about 15 minutes; then walk along the main road to Baxian Temple to watch the statues of the Eight Immortals and the Bagua array, and feel the Taoist culture, which takes about 40 minutes; then go to Huixian Pavilion to climb the pavilion to overlook the sea view and watch the group sculpture of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, which takes about 1 hour; at noon, you can taste the Eight Immortals Banquet or light meals in the Wangying Tower Restaurant in the scenic area. In the afternoon, cross the cross-sea bridge to Seal Island to watch the seals and participate in interactions, which takes about 40 minutes; finally, climb Wangying Tower to overlook the whole scenic area and enjoy the murals to end the tour. It is recommended to arrange 3-4 hours for the whole trip. If you want to have an in-depth experience, you can appropriately extend the stay time.
Transportation
- Bus: In Penglai District, you can take buses No. 2, 5, 6 to "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area" station, and walk for about 5 minutes to reach the entrance of the scenic area; from Yantai urban area, you can take the intercity bus from Yantai to Penglai (ticket price 25 yuan), get off at Penglai Bus Station, and then transfer to bus No. 2 to go there.
- Self-driving: Starting from Yantai urban area, drive along Rongwu Expressway (G18) towards Penglai, get off at Penglai Exit, go straight along Binhai Avenue for about 8 kilometers to reach the scenic area. The charging standard of the scenic area parking lot is 5 yuan per hour for small cars and 10 yuan per hour for large cars.
- Taxi/Online Car-hailing: Taking a taxi from Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area to Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area takes about 10 minutes, with a cost of about 15 yuan; taking a taxi from Penglai Bus Station takes about 15 minutes, with a cost of about 20 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Baxian Temple: With a construction area of about 600 square meters, it contains statues of the Eight Immortals and related allusion displays. It is a core attraction to understand the legend of the Eight Immortals, and the Bagua array outside the temple adds interactive fun.
- Huixian Pavilion: A 26-meter-high four-story pavilion. Climbing to the top, you can enjoy the sea view and garden scenery in all directions. The group sculpture of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea (5 meters high and 10 meters long) in front of the pavilion is a landmark landscape of the scenic area, with great ornamental and photography value.
- Wangying Tower: The tallest building in the scenic area (38 meters high). The mural "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" in the five-story pavilion is a masterpiece of art. Climbing the tower to overlook the Yellow Sea, the view is wide and the scenery is magnificent.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to go there from May to September. At this time, the climate is pleasant and the sea water temperature is moderate. You can not only enjoy the sea view, but also have a high probability of seeing the "fairyland" scene of sea fog in the morning or evening.
- Most of the scenic area is visited on foot, and some sections are close to the sea. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes and carry sun protection products. In summer, you can prepare a thin coat to resist the sea breeze.
- When visiting, you can rent an electronic guide (rental fee 20 yuan per unit) or participate in the free tour group in the scenic area (once a day at 9:00, 11:00 and 14:00) to have an in-depth understanding of the cultural connotation of the legend of the Eight Immortals.
- If time permits, you can visit Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area together with the adjacent Penglai Pavilion and Sanxianshan Scenic Area, and buy a joint ticket (the joint ticket for the three scenic areas is about 220 yuan) to save money and fully feel the "fairyland culture" of Penglai.
Matters Needing Attention
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Climbing ancient buildings and sculptures is prohibited. Please take good care of the environment and cultural relics when visiting.
- The coastal area is windy, especially in winter and evening. Please pay attention to wind protection and keep warm, and avoid getting close to the edge of the coast without guardrails.
- When participating in the feeding interaction on Seal Island, you must follow the guidance of the staff, and it is forbidden to feed non-designated food without permission to avoid harming animals.
- The prices of goods in the scenic area are relatively high. Tourists can buy snacks, drinking water and other items in Penglai urban area outside the scenic area, which is more cost-effective.
- There are many tourists during holidays. It is recommended to travel during off-peak hours (such as entering the scenic area before 8:00 am or after 16:00 pm) to avoid crowds and improve the visiting experience.