Why go
Penglai, now a Yantai district, is where the eight immortals crossed the sea according to legend, and where sea mists occasionally produce optical 'mirages' that made the pavilion famous. The Song-dynasty complex sits on a cliff above the strait where the Yellow and Bohai seas visibly meet.
The Changdao islands north of Penglai are a slower world of fishing harbours, cliff-boardwalks and a seal colony in spring. Back on the mainland, the Changyu winery — founded 1892 and now China's biggest — runs tours and tastings in Yantai's international wine district.
- Penglai Pavilion — one of China's Four Great Towers, home of mirages
- Changdao (Long Island) — 32 islands, fishing villages, seabird cliffs
- Changyu Wine Culture Museum — China's first winery, 1892
- Beach-and-cliff drives along the Binhai road
Where to go
Day one: Penglai Pavilion and the strait viewing decks. Day two: Changdao island loop, or wine chateaus and beach time south of downtown.
What to eat
Seafood soup with sea cucumber and abalone when splurging; otherwise grilled oysters, salt-baked prawns and a bag of Yantai apples or cherries in season.
Getting there
- Yantai airport 45 min; HSR from Qingdao ~1h30
- Role
- Port city, Shandong province
- Changyu winery
- Founded 1892, China's oldest
- Apples
- China's flagship apple region
