Yantai 烟台 — Wine Capital — Fairy Coast of the Bohai Sea
Yantai is one of China's most enchanting coastal cities, perched on the northern coast of the Shandong Peninsula where the Bohai Sea meets the Yellow Sea. The city's name means "Beacon Tower," derived from the ancient warning towers built along this coast to alert against Japanese pirate raids. Today, Yantai is best known for two things: its legendary connection to Chinese mythology — specifically the tale of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea from Penglai — and its status as China's wine capital, producing 40% of the country's wine.
Yantai's coastline stretches for over 900 kilometers, offering some of the cleanest beaches and clearest waters in northern China. The Penglai area, 70 kilometers northwest of the city center, is one of China's four most famous fairy-tale landscapes. According to legend, the mythical Penglai Islands — home of the immortals — lie just beyond the horizon, and on rare, clear days, visitors can see the magical "mirage" (海市蜃楼) where distant islands seem to float in the sky. This optical illusion has been documented for over 2,000 years and draws sightseers to the coast year-round.
Beyond mythology, Yantai has a rich modern history. It was one of the earliest treaty ports opened to foreign trade in 1861, resulting in a charming colonial quarter with consulates from 17 countries. The city is home to the Changyu Wine Culture Museum, built around China's first modern winery founded in 1892, and the vast underground wine cellars that store millions of bottles in century-old stone tunnels. In 2020, Yantai was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, recognizing its unique blend of coastal seafood and wine culture.
One of China's four great ancient pavilions (alongside Yueyang Tower, Yellow Crane Tower, and Tengwang Pavilion), Penglai Pavilion sits atop Dan Ya (Red Cliff) on the Bohai Sea coast. Built during the Song Dynasty (1061 AD), the pavilion is the earthly gateway to the mythical Penglai Islands — the legendary home of the Eight Immortals in Chinese Taoist mythology. Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BC) and Emperor Wu of Han (156–87 BC) both sent expeditions to find these islands and the elixir of immortality said to exist there.
The scenic complex covers approximately 18.5 hectares and includes the five-story Penglai Pavilion, the Tianhou Palace (Temple of the Queen of Heaven), the Dragon King Palace, the Luzu Temple, and the Penglai Water Fortress (an ancient naval defense installation). The most thrilling experience is the "mirage observation" — on clear days from March to June and September to October, atmospheric conditions occasionally create stunning mirages where distant islands, ships, and even cityscapes appear to float above the horizon. Even without the mirage, the view across the Bohai Sea is magnificent, with the Changdao Islands visible on the horizon. The complex also features folk culture performances, acrobatics, and the vivid "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" theatrical show.
Hours: 7:00–17:30 (summer), 7:30–17:00 (winter)
Admission: ¥100 (includes all temples and fortress)
The Changdao Archipelago, officially known as Miaodao Archipelago (庙岛群岛), consists of 32 islands scattered across the Bohai Strait between the Shandong Peninsula and Liaodong Peninsula. Often called the "Fairy Islands" (仙岛), Changdao has been associated with immortality myths since ancient times — many scholars believe the mythical Penglai Islands were based on Changdao. The largest island, South Changshan Island (南长山岛), is connected to North Changshan Island by a bridge and serves as the main tourist base.
Changdao offers some of the most pristine coastal scenery in northern China. Moon Bay (月牙湾) on North Changshan Island is a crescent-shaped beach composed entirely of smooth ballast stones (鹅卵石) rather than sand — the colorful pebbles create a surreal, photo-worthy landscape. The Jiuzhang Cliff (九丈崖) features dramatic 70-meter sea cliffs with natural rock arches and sea caves, best viewed at sunset. The Xianjing Cliff (仙境源) area offers a mystical landscape of sea stacks, tidal pools, and fishing villages. Between May and October, the waters around Changdao host pods of spotted seals and, occasionally, dolphins. The ferry ride from Penglai Pier to Changdao takes approximately 40 minutes and itself offers spectacular views of the archipelago emerging from the sea.
Hours: Ferries from Penglai: 6:00–18:00 (frequent); attractions 8:00–17:30
Admission: Ferry ¥30 one way; unified island ticket ¥135 (includes major sites)
Yantai Mountain (literally "Beacon Tower Mountain") is a 42.5-meter hill at the northern tip of downtown Yantai, marking the spot where the city's name originated. In 1398, the Ming Dynasty built a beacon tower (烽火台) here to warn of approaching Japanese pirates, and the settlement that grew around it became known as Yantai. Today, the hilltop park preserves this historic site while offering panoramic views of the harbor, city, and the Bohai Sea.
The park contains a wealth of colonial-era architecture, including 17 former foreign consulates built between the 1860s and 1930s. The most notable are the British Consulate (the oldest surviving Western building in Shandong), the Danish Consulate, and the Japanese Consulate — each reflecting its country's architectural style. The old beacon tower site, marked by a stone monument, sits at the summit alongside a historic lighthouse. The hillside is planted with cherry trees, peach trees, and ginkgo, making it especially beautiful in spring and autumn. A museum inside the former customs building chronicles Yantai's development as a treaty port. From the top, you can see the entire harbor area, Zhifu Island (the largest island in the Yantai archipelago), and on clear days, the distant coast of Liaoning province across the Bohai Strait.
Hours: 6:00–21:00 (summer), 7:00–19:00 (winter)
Admission: Free
Located at the original site of China's first modern winery, the Changyu Wine Culture Museum is the premier wine tourism destination in China. Founded in 1892 by overseas Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Bishi, Changyu Pioneer Wine Company revolutionized Chinese winemaking by introducing French grape varieties and European vinification techniques to China's oldest wine-producing region. The museum complex includes the restored original winery buildings, the historic underground cellars, and interactive exhibits spanning 130 years of Chinese wine history.
The highlight of the visit is the underground cellar complex, excavated from the hillside stone over three years (1894–1897). The cellars extend over 2,676 square meters and contain more than 600 oak barrels, including three massive barrels — each holding 15 tons of wine — that are considered the largest in Asia. The stone tunnels maintain a constant temperature of 14–15°C and 70% humidity year-round, ideal for wine aging. The museum tour includes a wine tasting session where visitors can sample Changyu's award-winning wines, including its premium Cognac-style brandy, dry whites made from the local Dragon Eye grape, and ice wine. The surrounding district features European-style streets lined with wine shops, restaurants, and cafes. Yantai's Changyu International Wine City, a modern facility with even larger cellars, is located 15km south and offers a more industrial-scale experience.
Hours: 8:00–17:00 daily
Admission: ¥79 (includes wine tasting)
Yantai's cuisine sits at the intersection of Shandong's land traditions and its abundant seafood. As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Yantai takes its food seriously — the city claims to have invented or perfected dozens of iconic Shandong dishes.