The Number One Bathing Beach is located at Huiquan Bay, Qingdao, Shandong province
Huiquan Bay is the most famous place of interest in Qingdao, a well-known resort City in China, which owns a beautiful coastline.Reputed to be the largest sandy beach in Asia, the No.1 Bathing Beach is situated on Huiquan Bay in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Also called Huiquan Bathing Beach, this beach is noted for its clear water, mild waves and soft sand. The beautiful scenery with its European ambience can compete with Hawaii, Bali or Samet Island in Thailand.
580m long, 40m wide, the No.1 Bathing Beach, with a 580m long and 40m wide sand beach, and a 380m wide sea area from the beach to the shark-proof net, welcomes 200, 000 tourists everyday at its peak time.
"The gentle slope, the tiny sand, the green water, the soft wave" are 4 characteristics of the No.1 Bathing Beach.
Blue sky, ocean, red coral reefs, and the green trees make up a fantastic picture of Huiquan Cape. Going west of the cape, you will see famous " 8 avenues", surrounded by oceans of flower, buildings after buildings.
Did you notice that the Huiquan Bay presents a "Moon " style when you overlook it from the higher place?
In summer, the male, the female, the young or the old in colorful swimming suits all enjoy the golden time at the first Bathing Beach. Did you see them running, playing, or making sandcastles? Did you hear the happy voice from the seawater, or on the beach or from the sun shading umbrellas? Why not come and join the "joyful party"!
The No.1 Bathing Beach is world famous since late Ch'ing Dynasty because of the historic reasons.
Qingdao was once the colony of Germany after the Government of the Ch'ing Dynasty was defeated by the Eight Power Allied Forces. After thoroughly designed and built up, Qingdao won its fame and attracted more tourists by the governors.
Besides that, there are more than 20 western style villas set up at that time. Then, Ch'ing became more attractive and was famous for its foreign style architectures.
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.
The bathing beach is divided into a swimming zone and non-swimming zone. July, August and September is the best time to visit. The neighboring spots include Huiquan Square, the Naval Museum and Lu Xun Park.
There are ample bathing compartments for changing to a swimsuit - 53 of them to be exact - some above and some beneath ground. The bathing compartments above ground have wood partitions, in the German Colonial Style (No. 1 Bathing Beach was in fact built by German occupiers during the 19th century Unequal Treaties period, when certain trade and territorial concessions were forced upon China... Qingdao thus became a German concession, and traces of the German Colonial Era are still found in the city, including the city's own Tsingdao Beer, "Tsingdao" being an earlier, Colonial designation for the city of Qingdao - think "Peking" instead of " Beijing " - to learn more about the origin of Tsingdao Beer, click here, and to learn more about the annual Tsingdao Beer Festival, click here). The beneath-ground bathing compartments have sky lights (sun windows) that provide natural lighting.
Other amenities, such as shower rooms, toilets and an information desk are located here as well, and there are snack stalls that serve both food and drink, so the sunbather's/ swimmer's complete needs can be satisfied here, meaning that one can spend an entire, carefree day at No. 1 Bathing Beach without need to go elsewhere to satisfy one's needs.
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
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.
Number Two Bathing Beach, tucked away in beautiful Badaguan (bā dà guān: 八大关), occupies a small cove along the Qingdao Seaside Sightseeing Pathway. This scenic area was popular with political figures such as Chairman Mao and other central government officials. Huashi Villa (Huā shí lóu: 花石楼) and Zhongshan Park (zhōng shān gōng yuán: 中山公园) are with in walking distance.
Number Three Bathing Beach , also called Zhanshan Beach (zhàn shān wān： 湛山湾), is 400 meters long and located at the eastern end of Taiping Cape (tài píng jiǎo: 太平角) in Badaguan (bā dà guān: 八大关). Available facilities include: restrooms and warm showers (10 rmb) as well as Kiosks that sell cold drinks, snacks, bathing suits, and sand-sculpting kits. Parralell to the beach is TaiPingJiao Yi Lu which has a few quaint restaurants and cafés with ocean-views.
Number Six Bathing Beach, also called Zhanqiao Bathing Beach, is located in Qingdao's old town near the Shinan District Train Station. Zhanqiao Pier(zhàn qiáo: 栈桥) is located at the eastern end of this short strech of sand. Tianhou palace (tiǎn hòu: 天后宫), formerly known as Tianfei Temple (tiǎn fēi: 天妃宫), is within walking distance.
Getting there: Bus: #25, # 202, #217, #304, #312, #316, #321 <Huo Che Zhan> Taxi: 18-20 rmb from central Qingdao
___________________________________________________ Shi Lao Ren （shí lǎo rén: 石老人）
ShiLaoRen (Old Stone Man) is perhaps Qingdao's most impressive tourist beach. It was named after shape of the prominent rock outcropping located just of the shirlaoren peninsula and is said to resemble an old fisherman waiting for his daughter to return from beneath the waves. With tables, chairs, tents, ATVs, speed boats, jet skis, showers, and a beautiful new boardwalk as well as continuing re-development for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta, this is an ideal place to spend an afternoon or warm summer evening. If you are into boogie boarding this beach, on occasion, will provide large enough waves to give you a decent ride.
Getting there: Bus: #104, #230, #301, #304, #311, #313, #321, #362 <Jin Jia Ling> Taxi: 20-30 rmb from central Qingdao __________________________________________________________ Golden Sand Beach (jīn shā tān: 金沙滩)
Golden Sand Beach, Huangdao's largest beach, offers travelers and beachcombers a golden sandy playground as far as the eye can see. It's perfect for frisbee, soccor, football, or just relaxing under the sun's rays; tents and tables are available for rent by the hour. Dozens of kiosks with food, drinks, beach gear, and souvenirs line the seashore.
Silver Beach , located on the southern part of Huandao's rustic coastline, is just a few kilometers south of Golden Sand Beach; this streach of undeveloped sand provides a place to get away from the crowds and enjoy and afternoon with close friends. It is an ideal place to camp under the stars during a warm summer night.
Qingdao was once the colony of Germany after the Government of the Ch'ing Dynasty was defeated by the Eight Power Allied Forces. After thoroughly designed and built up, Qingdao won its fame and attracted more tourists by the governors.
