Signal Hill Park is located in the heart of Qingdao City, named after the signal station built on the mountaintop to guide ships. With an elevation of 98 meters, the three red-domed mushroom-shaped buildings on the summit are particularly conspicuous. The tallest among them is the revolving observation deck, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Qingdao’s iconic ‘red-tiled green trees, blue sea, and clear sky’ scenery.
Upon entering the scenic area, instead of rushing to the revolving observation deck at a higher elevation, the South Slope offers the Wave-Treading Observation Platform, just below the Lianxin Bridge, which is an excellent spot for photographing the southern German-style architecture of the Guesthouse. On the Lianxin Bridge, red heart-shaped locks hang from the green railings, where couples can purchase a lock to symbolize their eternal vows on Signal Hill. It is said that walking hand-in-hand across the Lianxin Bridge with friends, loved ones, or family can bring blessings. For those unaccompanied, holding one’s own hand can be equally rewarding!Further ahead, you can visit the Wulongtan Fountain and other attractions, with four small dragons surrounding a larger central dragon, corresponding to the alternative name of Signal Hill, also known as Wulong Mountain, due to the presence of five roads with the character ‘dragon’ around the mountain: Longjiang Road, Longhua Road, Longkou Road, Longshan Road, and Fulong Road. Finally, reaching the top of the mountain, the revolving observation deck features colorful murals depicting the history of communication development.
Ascending to the observation deck, the sight of German-style buildings with red tiles and yellow walls nestled among greenery is truly astonishing. Looking southwest, the green roof of the Protestant Church stands out among a sea of red roofs, with the Zhanqiao Wharf and the small island of Qingdao across the sea visible in the distance. To the southeast, the Guesthouse is in close proximity, with the Xiaoyushan Park and the Lanchao Pavilion on its summit clearly visible in the distance; to the east, the Qingdao TV Tower on Taiping Mountain can be seen. The Guesthouse, located at the southern foot of Signal Hill, can be visited together with the park. Opening hours are from 06:00 to 20:30 from April 1st to October 31st, and from 06:00 to 20:00 from November 1st to March 31st. The revolving observation deck is open from 8:00 to 17:00, with ticket sales ending at 16:30. A must-see tip is to choose a sunny day to climb Signal Hill for a better view of Qingdao’s cityscape.
