Things to do
BEACHES
Stretching around the coast like a lazy brushstroke, there’s a beach for everyone in Yantai. For a back-to-unspoilt-nature experience, discover peace and quiet on the wildly beautiful Yangma island in the Muping District. Watch seabirds glide through salty air around rocky coves, then go for a bite to eat in a seafood shack tucked discreetly into the scenery. For a more leisure-resort atmosphere, spend an afternoon at the iconic No. 1 Bathing Beach in Zhifu. Featuring a picturesque promenade, the calm waters and soft sands sloping gently into the sea suit swimmers and paddleboarders alike.
HISTORY
The wolf-dung fires which once burned along the palace roof terraces during the 14th century reign of Emperor Hongwu no longer fill the air with smoke. But Yantai’s dynastic grandeur and mythological past still linger everywhere you look. Begin your trip through history at the thousand-year-old Penglai Pavilion – a series of courtyards, temples, timbered halls and prized inscriptions all wrapped in the Taoist legend of the immortals who crossed the sea using unique superpowers. Then go back even further, exploring Neolithic tombs and intriguing piles of prehistoric litter titled ‘Shell Mound’ at the Yantai Museum.
FOOD AND DRINK
Seafood fans will have their pick of the day’s catch – cooked and served in the restaurants along Fisherman’s Wharf. Pickled vegetables, crispy deep-fried scallops and crabs are popular staples, along with Drunken Abalone – a shellfish delicacy that goes perfectly with a glass of Yantai beer. Wine lovers should travel inland to the vineyards of boutique estates and the famous Changyu. Founded in 1892, it’s China’s oldest and largest winery – producing notable vintages grown from European and American vines. A lovely place to take in misty mountain views while sipping a full-bodied Changyu Noble Dragon and nibbling on smoked mackerel.
