Qingdao's Number One Bathing Beach - or No. 1 Bathing Beach, as it is most commonly written - is located at Huiquan Bay, a horseshoe-shaped bay whose open end points in a southwesterly direction. Qingdao's No. 1 Bathing Beach, which is also sometimes, for obvious reasons, referred to as Huiquan Beach, especially by the Chinese people themselves, is situated at the northeastern "corner" of the "horseshoe".
The first bathing beach is the best of its kind in Qingdao. It is famous for its gentle slopes,thin sands, clear water, and calm waves. Because of the erosion and the accumulation by sea waves , rocks around the Bend have been eroded into thin grits continuously and the eroded grits are accumulated along the beach of the bend into a beach of full silver sands.
The beach was first built in 1901 by the Germans after they invaded Qingdao. At that time, it was a famous entertainment place in East Asia but it was only open to foreigners. In 1984 and 2003, the local government repaired and expanded the place on a large scale. The beach took on a new look: it was enlarged and more public service facilities were constructed.
At present, the beach covers an area of 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres) and is well equipped. Colorful chalets built in various shapes lead visitors into a fairytale world. More than 900 showers are provided. Restaurants, ballrooms, bars, cafes and temporary chalets are all available. Emergency life-saving equipment has been improved. A security monitoring system covers the whole beach. Combined with the broadcasting, lighting and background music systems it ensures the security of visitors.
Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the beach is like the pearl of Huiquan Bay. The gentle slope and mild waves make the place a comfortable play area. Visitors can sunbathe here and swim near the coast, relaxing by playing volleyball or running on the sand and even dining on the beach. The region's comfortable weather makes it a good choice to avoid the summer heat. Even in winter this place is crowded with keen swimmers.
For accomodations, there are several hotels nearby, as well as traditional Chinese villas for rent, but of course the visitor can choose his or her accomodations anywhere near the downtown area without regard to the beach, since No. 1 Bathing Beach is only a short bus or taxi ride from the city center - in fact, if you are in need of a stroll for the sake of exercise, No. 1 Bathing Beach is easily within walking distance.
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Whole Day
Bus Route: 6, 15, 26, 214, 223, 304, 311, 312, 316
Travel Tips:
1) Qingdao lies at a somewhat more northerly latitude compared to many of China's more popular beaches farther south, which means that the water never gets stiflingly hot here - in fact, a trip to the water is a good way for sunbathers to cool down a bit. The best period for being in the water for extended periods is early July - late September. The water is a bit chillier at other times, but this does not discourage serious sunbathers from visiting No. 1 Bathing Beach at any time during the summer, as long as the sun is out, and many come to the beach even during the winter in order to get a bit of sun on their faces, a bit of seabreeze in their nostrils, and the sound of the sea in their ears.
2) There are 6 bathing beaches in Qingdao. Admission to four of the beaches is free; at No.1 Bathing Beach and at Old Stone Man Beach (see below), one must pay a small fee. Of the 6 bathing beaches, No.1 Bathing Beach is the closest to downtown Qingdao. The 6 bathing beaches - all located around the wharf area, and each corresponding to a different bay/ cove - are often featured in Qingdao tourist brochures in order to promote the city's tourism efforts. Old Stone Man Beach, renowned for its crystal-clear water, is also worth visiting (it gets its name from a large rock that resembles an old man). Old Stone Man Beach appeals more to teenagers and young adults, since the waves there are high enough on good days for body boarding (aka boogie boarding), a sport involving a square piece of specially constructed styrofoam that one can rest the upper torso on in order to ride the waves. Admission to the other four beaches is free.
3) If you have the time, you might want to check out Qingdao's other beaches; what they lack in handy proximity to the downtown area they often make up for "in other departments", i.e., the beach's water may be purer, its waves higher (or calmer), it may lie nestled in a more natural surrounding, or it may simply be less crowded. If the herd instinct doesn't appeal to you, then the greater the distance from the city center, the less crowded the beach is likely to be.
4) Other sightseeing venues nearby No. 1 Bathing Beach are: Luxun Park, Huiquan Square, Xiaoyushan Park, the former residence of Kangyouwei, the China Navy Museum, and the attraction that excites the most, Qingdao Underwater World, located on Laiyang Road at the intersection of (coastal) Laiyang Road and Yushan Road, adjacent to Xiaoyushan Park, near the northern apex of Huiquan Bay.