Laoshan Mountain is located in the eastern part of Qingdao, bordered by the Yellow Sea to the east and south, and is known as the ‘Famous Mountain by the Sea’. Its highest peak, the Jufeng, stands at an elevation of approximately 1100 meters. Laoshan is renowned for its grandeur, spectacular views, unique features, and beautiful landscapes, making it a famous Taoist mountain. The Taoist temples, sunrise, and sea of clouds of Laoshan have long been celebrated.
Laoshan is primarily composed of seven major scenic areas: Jufeng, Liuqing, Taiqing, Qipanshi, Yangkou, Beijiushui, and Hualou. There are four tourist routes, three land routes (South, East, and Central lines), and one water route. The scenery of these areas, including Jufeng Sunrise, Taiqing Moon over Water, Fairy Isle of the Sea, Hualou Stacked Stones, and Jiushui Ripples, together form the Twelve Scenic Spots of Laoshan. Hualou, being far from the sea, is less frequented by tourists. Beijiushui is known for its water beauty, with streams and springs scattered throughout, creating a picturesque landscape. For most tourists, the truly worthwhile routes to explore are Jufeng and the Liuqing-Yangkou line, which are sufficient for a day each. These two routes are where the natural beauty of Laoshan lies. Liuqing-Yangkou, also known as the South Line, is an early developed scenic area of Laoshan, closely following the coastline and featuring the celebrity spot Taiqing Palace, which is the route taken by the majority of Laoshan visitors. The basic route into the scenic area is Liuqing-Taiqing Palace Scenic Area-Huayan Temple, ending at Yangkou. Since the essence of this route lies in Yangkou, it is advised to manage time well for the earlier spots. Taiqing Palace, the setting of the story ‘The Taoist Priest of Laoshan’ in Liaozhai Zhiyi, was inspired by Pu Songling’s visit and his subsequent writing of ‘The Taoist Priest of Laoshan’. Visitors can see the wall through which the Taoist priests are said to have passed in Pu Songling’s story. Hua Yan Temple, an existing Buddhist temple in Laoshan. Yangkou, being close to the Yellow Sea, offers views of the sea and a refreshing breeze. Apart from the beautiful scenery, Yangkou is also known for the challenging Mitian Cave, which is winding, steep, and narrow, with dark areas where one cannot see their hand, and narrow passages that require squeezing through, greatly enhancing the interest of the visit. One can either walk or take a cable car to Mitian Cave, and upon reaching the summit, there are opportunities for photography, sightseeing, and overlooking the Yellow Sea. Remember to bring a flashlight to fully appreciate the cave’s beauty. Apart from Yangkou, the second scenic spot in Laoshan is in the Jufeng Scenic Area. Jufeng is where the main peak of Laoshan is located, with the Laoding being the highest point. This area is mainly for mountain climbing and is the most physically demanding part of Laoshan tourism. Jufeng’s towering and layered rocks are majestic, offering views of the sea on clear days and a sea of clouds on overcast days, while sunrise at Laoding presents a breathtakingly beautiful scene. Opening hours: 06:00-19:00 from 07/01 to 08/31; 07:00-17:30 from 09/01 to 11/30; 07:30-17:00 from 12/01 to 02/28; 07:00-17:30 from 03/01 to 06/30. For cable car operation, please follow the official Weibo of Laoshan Scenic Area for real-time updates on opening and operation status.Preferential policies for the elderly: For those aged 60 years old and above (inclusive), holding valid certificates: ID card, household register, retirement certificate, senior citizen privilege card, new version social security card (containing personal photo and ID information), passport, driver’s license, pass for compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Admission tickets are free. Sightseeing bus tickets and cableway tickets are half price.
For children: For those under 6 years old (inclusive) or with a height of 1.4 meters (inclusive) and below, holding valid certificates: ID card, household register, new version social security card (containing personal photo and ID information), passport, pass for compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Admission tickets, sightseeing bus tickets and cableway tickets are free. For minors aged 6 years old (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive), holding valid certificates: ID card, household register, new version social security card (containing personal photo and ID information), passport, pass for compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Only admission tickets are half price. For students: Full-time college students and below, holding student ID cards. Only admission tickets are half price. For the disabled: Those holding disability certificates. Severely disabled people (severely disabled refer to those with disability levels 1 and 2 in the disability certificate) and one accompanying person of visually impaired people enjoy the same preferential treatment. Only admission tickets are free. For military personnel: Active-duty military personnel and military academy cadets of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force, holding valid certificates: military officer ID card, civilian cadre ID card, soldier ID card, military academy cadet ID card, disabled military personnel ID card, etc. For veterans and holders of military honor cards, holding valid certificates: military honor card, discharge certificate, demobilization certificate, decommission certificate, transfer certificate, military retired cadre certificate and other military discharge and demobilization certificates. Only admission tickets are free. For entitled groups and three categories of relatives: Key entitled groups with permanent residence in Qingdao City and enjoying regular government pension and subsidy, including relatives of martyrs, relatives of military personnel who died on duty, and relatives of military personnel who died of illness. Holding valid certificates: Relatives of martyrs present the ‘Shandong Province Regular Pension Certificate for Relatives of Martyrs’, relatives of military personnel who died on duty present the ‘Shandong Province Regular Pension Certificate for Relatives of Military Personnel Who Died on Duty’, and relatives of military personnel who died of illness present the ‘Shandong Province Regular Pension Certificate for Relatives of Military Personnel Who Died of Illness’. Only admission tickets are half price. For firefighters: On-duty, retired, and disabled fire rescue personnel and fire rescue academy cadets in the national comprehensive fire rescue team, holding valid certificates: national comprehensive fire rescue team cadre certificate, firefighter certificate, retirement certificate, cadet certificate, etc. Only admission tickets are free. For unpaid blood donors: People in Qingdao City who have won the national honor for unpaid blood donation, honor for unpaid donation of hematopoietic stem cells and lifelong honor award for unpaid blood donation volunteer service. Holding valid certificates: Qingdao City Unpaid Blood Donation Honor Card. Admission tickets and sightseeing bus tickets are free. For high-level talents: High-level talents introduced by Shandong Province and Qingdao City, holding valid certificates: Qingdao City High-level Talent Service Green Card, Shandong Huicai Card, Shandong Province High-level High-skilled Talent Service Green Card. Admission tickets and sightseeing bus tickets are free. For journalists: With press cards. Only admission tickets are free. For tour guides: Tour guides leading groups, with valid certificates: tour guide ID card and group itinerary. Admission tickets and sightseeing bus tickets are free. Supplementary note: Other matters not covered shall be implemented in accordance with relevant national regulations.Service Facilities: Parking Lot – Laoshan Visitor Service Center Parking Lot in Dadong District, Laoshan District. Reference Price: Free. Address: Laoshan Visitor Service Center, Dadong District, Laoshan District. Capacity: 1000 spaces.
Luggage Storage: Reference Price: Subject to on-site disclosure at the scenic area. Address: Within the Visitor Service Center. Transportation: Reference Price: Refer to Laoshan Mini Program online. Address: / Reference Price: Refer to Laoshan Public Account. Address: / Stroller Rental: Reference Price: Deposit. Address: Learn from Lei Feng Service Station. Restrooms: There are multiple restrooms located within Laoshan, including 1. South Route: Near Customer Service Center, Bashui River, Taiqing Palace, Longtan Waterfall, Taiqing Cable Car Lower Station, Huayan Temple, and Yangkou Cable Car Lower Station, etc. 2. Jufeng: Near Ticket Office, Cable Car Lower Station, and Cable Car Upper Station, etc. 3. Jiushui: Near Zero Transfer Center, Guankun Parking Lot, Guanpu Pavilion, and Weizhu Temple, etc. All are marked with clear signs. Dining: Laoshan has over a hundred farmhouse feasts, no self-operated restaurants. Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted.
