Qingdao Olympic Sailing and Marine Culture Tourism Area is located in Shinan District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of approximately 5.28 square kilometers, covering Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, Qingdao Underwater World, Wheat Island Park and surrounding coastal areas. The scenic area features "sailing sports, marine science popularization, and coastal leisure" as its core, integrating Olympic culture, marine culture, and urban customs. Among them, Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center covers an area of about 45 hectares, with landmark facilities such as the Olympic Memorial Wall Wharf, Flag Square, and Lover's Dam. It once served as the venue for the sailing competitions of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and one of the venues for the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit. Qingdao Underwater World, with a construction area of about 7,000 square meters, is a marine-themed venue integrating underwater sightseeing and science education. The scenic area is equipped with supporting facilities such as a tourist service center (with a construction area of about 2,000 square meters), an ecological parking lot (with approximately 1,000 parking spaces), and multiple coastal catering areas, providing comprehensive services for tourists.
Historical Culture
The history of Qingdao Olympic Sailing and Marine Culture Tourism Area is closely linked to Qingdao's city brand of "Sailing Capital". In 2008, the sailing competitions of the Beijing Olympic Games were held here. Facilities such as the Olympic Memorial Wall and the Measurement Hall built during the event have become important carriers of Olympic culture, witnessing the development of China's sailing sports. The successful hosting of the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit made this area an important window for international exchanges, adding imprints of multicultural communication.
From the perspective of marine culture, the area around Laiyang Road where Qingdao Underwater World is located has been a key place for marine scientific research and popularization since the early 20th century, thanks to the establishment of Qingdao Aquarium (China's first aquarium), continuing the century-old tradition of marine exploration. The surrounding historical districts such as Xiaoyu Mountain and Badaguan integrate Chinese and Western architectural styles, and together with the coastal landscapes, they form the urban characteristic of "red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and clear sky", making the natural landscapes and cultural heritage of the scenic area complement each other.
Main Attractions
Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center covers an area of 45 hectares, and its core areas include the Olympic Memorial Wall Wharf (208 meters long), the Flag Square (with 20 national flags of participating countries standing), and the Lover's Dam (a 534-meter-long breakwater with a white lighthouse at the end). Tourists can visit the Olympic Sailing Museum (exhibiting cultural relics from the 2008 Olympic sailing competitions) or experience sailing and yacht trips (the sailing experience route is about 3 nautical miles long, with a sailing time of 1 hour, and the yacht rental price is about 600 yuan per hour). At night, the lights of the lighthouse and surrounding buildings are lit up, forming a brilliant coastal night view, which is a popular photo spot for photographers.
Qingdao Underwater World
Qingdao Underwater World consists of an underwater tunnel (82 meters long), an underwater hall, marine life exhibition areas, etc., displaying more than 300 species and tens of thousands of marine creatures. The underwater tunnel uses acrylic transparent glass, allowing 360° viewing of large marine creatures such as sharks and rays swimming overhead. The central performance area has 3 "human-shark dance" performances every day (10:00, 14:00, 16:00), where divers interact with sharks and sea turtles, creating a shocking scene. In addition, the scenic area also has a "Underwater Laboratory" science popularization area, which explains marine ecological knowledge through interactive devices, suitable for family visits.
Wheat Island Park
Wheat Island Park is a coastal park surrounded by the sea on three sides, covering an area of about 15.7 hectares, connected to the land by a plank road. The park features "island-circling sea viewing", with a 360° circular walking path (1.3 kilometers long) and multiple viewing platforms, from which you can overlook Fushan Bay and the "May Breeze" sculpture in Wu Si Square. The vegetation in the park is mainly lawns and native tree species. When rapeseed flowers bloom in spring and cosmos flowers in autumn, they form a fresh picture with the blue sea and sky, making it a popular place for citizens and tourists to camp and have picnics (the park is open for free, and the use of open flames is prohibited).
Lover's Dam
Lover's Dam is a landmark landscape of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. The 534-meter-long breakwater extends into the sea, with bars, cafes, and seafood restaurants on both sides. The white lighthouse at the end of the breakwater is 20 meters high, which is a landmark building for couples to take photos, and it is particularly romantic when the lights are on at night. Strolling along the dam, you can enjoy various yachts moored in the sailing port, feeling the vitality of the "Sailing Capital". In summer evenings, there are often street performers, adding a leisure atmosphere.
Olympic Sailing Museum
Olympic Sailing Museum is located in the Olympic Sailing Center, with a construction area of about 9,400 square meters, divided into upper and lower floors. The first floor displays physical objects such as the participating boats (such as the champion boat "Qingdao"), medals, and athletes' equipment from the 2008 Olympic sailing competitions. The second floor restores the competition scenes through multimedia interactive devices (such as the simulated sailing driving system), allowing tourists to experience "virtual sailing competitions". The museum also has a special exhibition area for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit, displaying materials such as national gifts and venue arrangements during the summit.
Food
Tsingtao Beer Seafood Food Stalls
The seafood food stalls around the Olympic Sailing Center are characterized by "freshly caught and cooked". Recommended dishes include steamed swimming crabs (each about 200-300 grams, priced at 80-120 yuan), spicy fried clams (30 yuan per serving), and grilled squid (10 yuan per skewer). Enjoy the authentic way of "seafood with beer" with local Tsingtao beer (500ml/bottle, 10 yuan). The food stalls are mostly concentrated along Yan'erdao Road, with an average consumption of about 80-120 yuan per person, and are open until 22:00 in summer.
Seaweed Dumplings
Seaweed dumplings are a traditional snack in Qingdao. They are made by mixing fresh seaweed (such as laver and kelp) with pork and chives as fillings, and steaming them with wheat flour wrappers. They taste fresh and fragrant, with a hint of the sea's sweetness. You can taste them at the "Qingdao Specialty Snack Shop" next to the Olympic Sailing Center's tourist service center, with 6 pieces per serving, priced at 20 yuan, suitable as breakfast or snacks.
Oil-Splashed Abalone
Oil-splashed abalone uses fresh local abalones from Qingdao (each about 100-150 grams). After being steamed, hot oil is poured over to bring out the aroma of minced garlic and chopped green onions, retaining the tender texture of the abalone. This dish is common in seafood restaurants on Lover's Dam, with 4 pieces per serving, priced at about 120 yuan, and is a representative dish reflecting the "original flavor" cooking concept of Qingdao seafood.
Laoshan Green Tea Pastry
Laoshan Green Tea Pastry is a dessert that integrates local specialties. It adds Laoshan green tea powder to the pastry crust, and the filling is mostly red bean paste or lotus seed paste, with a crispy texture and a tea fragrance. It can be purchased at the specialty shops in the Olympic Sailing Center, with a box (10 pieces) priced at 30 yuan, suitable as a souvenir.
Tickets
Combined ticket: 238 yuan per person (including Qingdao Underwater World, battery-powered sightseeing bus in the Olympic Sailing Center, one-way shuttle bus between the Olympic Sailing Center and Qingdao Underwater World, cruise ship between the Olympic Sailing Center and Qingdao Underwater World, Qingdao International Conference Center, and Olympic Sailing Museum).
Ticket for Qingdao Underwater World: 170 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "青岛奥帆海洋文化旅游区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
- Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center: The park is open all day; the Olympic Sailing Museum is open from 9:00 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00);
- Qingdao Underwater World: 8:30 to 17:00 (April 1 - October 31), 9:00 to 16:30 (November 1 - March 31 of the next year); the performance time is subject to the announcement on the day;
- Wheat Island Park: 6:00 to 21:00 (summer), 7:00 to 20:00 (winter).
Tour Route
It is recommended to arrange a 1-day itinerary: Arrive at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center at 9:00 am, visit the Olympic Sailing Museum (1 hour), then experience sailing (1 hour); have lunch at a restaurant near Lover's Dam, tasting seafood at food stalls; go to Qingdao Underwater World at 2:00 pm, watch the "human-shark dance" performance and visit various exhibition areas (about 2 hours); walk to Wheat Island Park at 4:30 pm, stroll along the island-circling path to enjoy the scenery (1 hour); go to Wu Si Square at 6:00 pm, admire the "May Breeze" sculpture and Fushan Bay light show (starting at 7:30 pm), and end the trip. The total walking distance is about 5 kilometers, and you can take shared bikes around the scenic area or public transport connections (such as bus routes 316 and 321).
Transportation
- Metro: Take Qingdao Metro Line 2 to "Yan'erdao Road Station" (about 1.5 kilometers from the Olympic Sailing Center) or Line 3 to "Yan'an Third Road Station" (about 2 kilometers from the Olympic Sailing Center), and walk or ride a shared bike after getting off;
- Bus: Bus routes such as 316, 321, and 504 directly reach "Olympic Sailing Center Station", with a journey of about 30 minutes (from Qingdao Railway Station) and a fare of 1-2 yuan per person;
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Qingdao, drive east along Donghai West Road to the Olympic Sailing Center parking lot. The parking fee is about 8 yuan per hour in peak season (May - October). It is recommended to avoid the parking peak from 10:00 to 16:00;
- Taxi: A taxi from Qingdao Station to the Olympic Sailing Center costs about 15 yuan, with a journey of 15 minutes; a taxi from Qingdao North Station costs about 40 yuan, with a journey of 30 minutes.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center: Experience sailing (3-nautical-mile route), visit Olympic relics, and enjoy the lighthouse night view at night.
- Qingdao Underwater World: View marine life in the 82-meter underwater tunnel, watch the "human-shark dance" performance, suitable for parent-child science popularization.
- Wheat Island Park: Walk around the island to view the sea, enjoy rapeseed flowers in spring and cosmos in autumn, and experience coastal natural landscapes.
- Lover's Dam: Check in at the white lighthouse, taste seafood at food stalls, and experience the romantic coastal leisure atmosphere.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to choose 9:00-11:00 am for sailing experience, as the sea breeze is suitable and the sea is calm at this time. In summer, it is necessary to make an appointment through the scenic area's official account 1 day in advance (to avoid on-site queuing).
- The "human-shark dance" performance at Qingdao Underwater World is very popular. It is recommended to arrive at the performance area 30 minutes in advance to get a seat. On holidays, you can choose the first show (10:00) to avoid crowds.
- Wheat Island Park has many tourists in peak season (May - October). It is recommended to go before 9:00 am or after 5:00 pm for a better experience; bring your own moisture-proof mat for camping, and setting up tents in the park is prohibited.
- For dining, it is recommended to choose chain seafood restaurants around the Olympic Sailing Center (such as "Chuangeyu Dumplings"), with transparent prices and an average consumption of about 100 yuan per person. You can taste characteristic pasta such as mackerel dumplings and cuttlefish dumplings.
- The coastal ultraviolet rays are strong in summer (July - August), so it is necessary to take sun protection measures (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses). The sea breeze is strong in the evening, so you can bring a thin coat.
Notes
- Before sailing, follow the coach's instructions, wear a life jacket, put valuables such as mobile phones in waterproof bags, and those who are prone to seasickness can take seasickness medicine in advance.
- Using flash photography in Qingdao Underwater World is prohibited to avoid scaring marine life; follow the staff's instructions in the touch pools (such as the starfish touch area) and touch the creatures gently.
- Wheat Island Park is an ecological protection area. Littering and picking flowers and plants are prohibited. Pets must be on a leash to keep the park clean.
- The traffic around the scenic area is congested in peak season (May - October). It is recommended to give priority to public transport. For self-driving, you can park your car in a parking lot of a distant shopping center (such as Hisense Plaza) and then walk to the scenic area.
- The Fushan Bay light show starts at 19:00 in winter (November - March of the next year) and 19:30 in summer (April - October). Arrive at the viewing platform of Wu Si Square 10 minutes in advance to get a seat, and take care of your belongings.