A Day Trip to Laoshan: Encountering Qingdao’s “Fairy Aura” Between Mountains and Sea

On the weekend, armed with a travel guide, I headed to Laoshan. I originally just wanted to stroll around casually, but by the end of the day, both my eyes and heart were fully filled with the mountain and sea scenery here. Departing from the city at 8 a.m., I took a tourist shuttle bus to Yangkou Scenic Area, which took about an hour. After getting off the bus and walking toward the scenic area, I saw the crystal-clear blue sea and the dark green mountains side by side from afar. The wind carried the salty sea scent mixed with the fragrance of plants, instantly blowing away the stuffiness of the city🌊. After buying the ticket to enter the mountain, I first walked along the stone steps toward Mitian Cave. The cave was narrow and steep, and in some places, I had to bend down to pass through. Shining the flashlight on the stone walls, I could see the wet moss. The moment I finished climbing the cave and stood on the viewing platform, all the fatigue was worth it—below me, layers of waves were crashing against the rocks, and the distant small islands looked like green gems scattered on the sea. The sky was especially blue, and even the clouds drifted slowly. At noon, I ate at a farmhouse restaurant at the foot of the mountain, ordering a plate of spicy stir-fried clams and seaweed buns. The taste was especially fresh, paired with local Laoshan beer, and every bite was super refreshing🍻. The owner said summer is the best time to come, as you can go tide pooling on the seaside rocks, but early autumn in Laoshan is less crowded and more comfortable for strolling. In the afternoon, I visited Taiqing Palace, the oldest Taoist temple in Laoshan. The red tiles and gray walls were hidden in the woods, and the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree at the entrance was lush and full of branches. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting flickering light spots on the ground. The temple was very quiet, and I could hear the Taoist priests ringing the bell. While walking along the path, I even saw a few squirrels jumping on the branches, not afraid of people at all🙈. Finally, I went to Huayan Temple and stood on the viewing platform behind the temple to watch the sunset. The setting sun dyed the sea golden, the mountain shadows stretched long, and when the sea breeze blew, even the strands of hair felt gentle. On the way down, the bus drove along the winding mountain road, and watching the scenery outside the window slowly recede, I suddenly felt that compared to squeezing into crowded spots, quietly watching the mountains and sea and listening to the wind is the most comfortable way to travel. If you come to Qingdao, be sure to spend a day at Laoshan. No need to rush, walk slowly, look slowly, and the mountains and sea will give you all the beauty.