Yantai
Penglai Pavilion · Changyu wine · Coastal seafood · Changdao islands
Last updated 22 July 2026 · by the Walk Voyage Editorial Team
Visitor data snapshot
What travelers actually experience in Yantai
Verified visitor numbers, ratings, and ticket prices from a third-party travel platform. Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-03 · snapshot 2026-08-03.
40
Bookable attractions
4.55/5
Average rating
90K
Total reviews
17
Free entries
| Top attraction | Rating | Reviews | Ticket (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penglai Pavilion | 4.6 | 18,216 | $14.77 |
| Changyu Wine Culture Museum | 4.9 | 5,033 | $11.82 |
| Changyu International Wine City | 4.9 | 236 | $32.20 |
| Yantai Mountain Scenic Area | 4.7 | 1,564 | $0.00 |
| Suochengli Old Town | 4.7 | 530 | $0.00 |
| Jiuzhang Cliff | 4.7 | 838 | $16.10 |
| Changdao (Long Island) | 4.5 | 5,777 | $22.16 |
| Sanxian Mountain Scenic Area | 4.6 | 1,741 | $17.73 |
| Baxian Cross-Sea Resort | 4.5 | 3,030 | $11.82 |
| Penglai Water City | 4.6 | 112 | $0.00 |
Source: Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-03. Prices and review counts shift over time; check the source platform for current booking.
Yantai at a glance
Travel snapshot- Province
- China
- Best season
- May-Oct (summer for islands; Sep for seafood festival)
- Trip length
- 3 days recommended
- Avg budget
- $200 per person
- Top attractions
- 8 featured · 4 rated 4.7+
- Food picks
- 6 signature dishes
- Routes curated
- 3 multi-day itineraries
- Budget
- ¥2693 itemized
About Yantai
Yantai, on the north coast of the Shandong Peninsula facing the Bohai Sea, is one of China's most-photographed coastal cities. It is home to the legendary Penglai Pavilion (one of China's Four Great Pavilions, the gateway to the immortals' island), the Changyu Wine Company (China's first industrial winery, founded 1892 by a Chinese-Austrian partnership), the 40-island Changdao archipelago 7 km offshore in the Bohai-Yellow Sea border, and the Tsingtao-affiliated Yantai beer tradition. With 1,000 km of coastline, the city also boasts the Suochengli Ming-Qing old town, the Yantai Mountain lighthouse complex, and the longest grape-growing season in China (3,000 hours of sunshine). The seafood is a major draw - the Bohai and Yellow Sea fishery produces Yantai's celebrated sea cucumber, abalone, mackerel dumplings, and the Changdao sea urchin.
Best Season
May-Oct (summer for islands; Sep for seafood festival)
Days Recommended
3 Days
Avg Budget
$200
Location
Shandong, China
Must-See Spots
Top Attractions in Yantai
Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area (Penglai Ge)
One of the four great pavilions of China, perched on the cliff at the north coast of the Shandong Peninsula facing the Bohai Sea. The 4.6/5, 18,216-review attraction is the legendary gateway to the immortals' island where the Eight Immortals of Taoist legend crossed the sea on a windy day. The complex includes the main Penglai Pavilion hall (built in 1061, rebuilt 1815), the Sanxian Mountain (Three Immortals) temple group, the Penglai Water City (a Ming-dynasty naval port that protected Beijing from the sea), and the Baxian Cross-Sea scenic area. Trip.com 4.6/5 with 18,216 reviews. UNESCO-tentative list.
Allow 4-5 hours for the full complex (Pavilion + Sanxian + Water City + Baxian). The morning of clear days has the best Bohai-Sea view from the cliff. Take the cable car to skip the 200-step climb. Buy the 130 RMB combo ticket (Pavilion + Sanxian + Water City) at the gate for 25% savings.
Changyu Wine Culture Museum
China's first industrial winery, founded in 1892 by Zhang Bishi (a Chinese diplomat) and the Austrian Baron Max von Babo, with a 130-year continuous production history. The Trip.com 4.9/5, 5,033-review museum complex includes the original 1892 cellar (3,000 oak barrels stored in the 800-meter-long tunnel), the modern production-line tour, the vintage-tasting room (5 wines from Cabernet Gernischt to Ice Wine), and the underground bottle library. China's first golden bottle of wine and the founding documents of the winery are on display.
Buy tickets online for 10% off. The 1:00 PM English tour is the most informative. The Cabernet Gernischt 1931 vintage tasting (50 RMB extra) is the most-celebrated flight. Free shuttle from Yantai city center on weekends.
Yantai Mountain Scenic Area (Yantai Shan)
The lighthouse-crowned hill at the harbor mouth of Yantai, the symbolic heart of the old port city. The Trip.com 4.7/5, 1,564-review park includes the 1905 granite lighthouse (still active), the old consulate district (12 European-style buildings from the 1860s-1900s), the Dengzhou Museum (free, with the 6,000-year-old Beizhuang shell-mound artifacts), the Ice Ship replica (the Russian 1860 warship moored at the foot), and the panoramic view over the Yellow Sea from the lighthouse balcony. The 30-meter lighthouse tower is the city's most-photographed landmark.
Free entry. Sunset is around 6:30 PM in summer, 5 PM in winter - the lighthouse-view sunset is the iconic Yantai photo. Allow 2-3 hours. Combine with the adjacent Suochengli old town for a half-day walking tour.
Suochengli Old Town (Suocheng Li)
Yantai's 600-year-old original walled town, restored in 2020 as a pedestrian cultural district. The Trip.com 4.7/5, 530-review old town includes 50+ restored Ming-Qing courtyard houses, the 1381 Lai Zhou government office, the Yantai Folk Museum (free), the 100-year-old cloth shops, and the 600-meter east-west main street with traditional Shandong food stalls. The atmospheric 'old Yantai' that survived the colonial-era port-city rebuild.
Free entry. The Friday-Sunday evening lantern market (5-9 PM) is the most-photographed scene. Allow 2-3 hours. Try the Yantai mackerel dumplings and Penglai noodles at the central courtyard stalls.
Changdao (Long Island) Island Chain
The 32-island archipelago 7 km offshore in the Bohai-Yellow Sea border, accessible by ferry from Penglai. The Trip.com 4.5/5, 5,777-review island group offers sea caves, cliff walks, the Jiuzhang Cliff (a 70-meter sheer cliff with a 1.5-meter sea-eroded stone path at the base), the Yueliang Bay pebble beach, the Wanmiao Tang bird island (April-July for migratory birds), and the famous 7-km underwater trench separating the two seas (visible from the cliff). A 1-2 day excursion with overnight on Changdao Island.
Ferries from Penglai Port run every 30 min in summer (08:00-17:00), every 90 min in winter. Buy the 160 RMB ferry+island combo at the port. Stay overnight in the Changdao Island fishing village (200-400 RMB) to catch the sunset and sunrise.
Penglai Water City (Penglai Shuicheng)
The Ming-dynasty naval port that protected Beijing from the sea, an important Song-Ming naval shipyard. The Trip.com 4.6/5, 112-review complex includes the restored 5-km water channel, the 1,400-year-old Song-dynasty Songshan Water Fort, the Song-Yuan ship ruins, the Water City Museum, and the panoramic view from the lighthouse. The water city walls are still intact and walkable.
The Penglai Pavilion combo ticket (130 RMB) covers this site. Allow 2 hours. The Songshan Water Fort section is the most-photographed. Combine with Penglai Pavilion for a 5-hour day.
Jiuzhang Cliff (Jiuzhang Ya) on Changdao
The 70-meter sheer cliff on the north side of Changdao Island, the iconic Changdao view. The Trip.com 4.7/5, 838-review cliff has a 1.5-meter-wide sea-eroded stone path at the base (the most-photographed spot on the island), the Eight Immortals Crossing Sea stone group (a local legend of the same-name immortals), and a cliff-walk trail along the top. Best at sunrise.
Included in the Changdao ferry+island combo. The 5-km cliff-walk trail is moderate. Sunrise is the best light - start at 5 AM. Bring water and non-slip shoes.
Yantai Municipal Museum
The municipal museum in central Yantai, with 30,000+ artifacts of Yantai's coastal history. The Trip.com 4.5/5, 171-review museum has the 6,000-year-old Beizhuang shell-mound pottery, the Yangjialong prehistoric settlement artifacts, the 1,500-year-old Qi-Lu maritime trade ceramics, the late-Qing Yantai port photographs, and the 1860 Battle of Yantai dioramas. Free entry with ID card.
Free entry with ID card. Closed Mondays. The Beizhuang shell-mound pottery gallery is the most-photographed. Allow 2 hours. Pair with the Yantai Mountain for a half-day walking tour.
Local Flavors
What to Eat in Yantai
Yantai Mackerel Dumplings (Yantai Baoyu Jiao Zi)
The Yantai specialty dumpling, made with fresh mackerel (baoyu) caught the same day, mixed with chives and ginger. The dumplings are boiled in seawater, giving them a unique subtle-salty flavor. Served with vinegar-garlic dip. Found at every Yantai seafood restaurant and the morning markets along the harbor.
Recommended: Wangjiao Mackerel Dumplings (旺角鲅鱼水饺) on Chaoyang Street, or any harbor-side restaurant
Penglai Noodles (Penglai Xiao Mian)
The signature noodle of Penglai, with a 600-year tradition, made from wheat flour and shaped into thick chewy strands, served in a clear seafood broth with clams, shrimp, and pork. The Penglai-style thin noodles (xiao mian) are the local breakfast staple, found at every morning stall in the Penglai old town.
Recommended: Penglai Old Town morning stalls near Suochengli west gate
Yantai Braised Sea Cucumber (Yantai Hui Shen)
Yantai is the top producer of premium sea cucumber in China, and the local braised preparation (hui shen) is a banquet signature. Made with rehydrated dried sea cucumber (the best grade has 200+ heads per jin) braised in oyster sauce and abalone stock for 4-6 hours. The Yantai sea cucumber has a denser texture than southern varieties. Served at every Yantai seafood restaurant.
Recommended: Haiyue Bay Seafood (海湾壹号) on Binhai Square, or Penglai Hotel restaurant
Seafood Menzi (Hai Xian Men Zi)
A Yantai snack street specialty - the local version of the Shandong menzi (steamed sweet-potato starch cake), pan-fried and topped with seafood sauce, garlic, and cilantro. Found at every Yantai night market and the Suochengli Old Town food street.
Recommended: Suochengli Old Town food street, or Chaoyang Street night market
Changyu Cabernet Tasting Flight
China's first industrial winery (1892) offers daily wine-tasting flights in the original 1892 cellar, featuring 5 wines from the 130-year production line - the Cabernet Gernischt (the original grape of Changyu), the sweet white Riesling, the dry red Cabernet Sauvignon, the Ice Wine (the first Chinese ice wine, made from frozen grapes picked at -8°C), and the 30-year XO brandy. The Yantai grape-growing region has 3,000 hours of annual sunshine and the longest wine-grape growing season in China.
Recommended: Changyu Wine Culture Museum cellar tasting room (entry ticket 80 RMB includes 1 flight)
Yantai Apples (Yantai Ping Guo)
Yantai is the most-famous apple-growing region in China, with the Fuji, Red Delicious, and the local Guoguang (Guang) varieties, harvested in October-December. The Yantai apples are sweeter and crisper than other regions due to the coastal climate. Found at every market and most restaurants. The Yantai apple festival is held annually in October.
Recommended: Any Yantai market, or the Laiyang Apple Distribution Center
Curated Itineraries
Suggested Routes in Yantai
Yantai Classic 3-Day Trip (Penglai + Changdao)
A 3-day first-time Yantai trip covering the iconic Penglai Pavilion, the Changyu Wine Museum, the Yantai Mountain lighthouse, the Suochengli old town, and a ferry day to Changdao Island. Best May-October; summer adds the beach season. The route starts and ends in Yantai city center.
Yantai + Qingdao 5-Day Shandong Coastal Trip
A 5-day combination trip starting in Yantai (Penglai Pavilion + Changyu wine + Changdao), continuing south to Qingdao (Tsingtao Beer Museum + Mount Lao + German concession). Best April-October; combines Jiaodong coastal culture with the international harbor city.
Yantai 2-Day Weekend Trip (Wine + Lighthouse + Old Town)
A 2-day weekend trip from Beijing, Shanghai, or other major cities. Saturday covers Yantai Mountain + Suochengli + harbor seafood. Sunday covers Changyu Wine Museum + coastal promenade. The most efficient first-time Yantai visit for tight schedules.
Trip Planning
Travel Budget for Yantai
Transport
Food
Attractions
Accommodation
Total estimated budget: $200 per person
Actual costs vary by travel style, season, and booking choices.
Common Questions
Yantai Travel FAQ
What is the best time to visit Yantai?
May-Oct (summer for islands; Sep for seafood festival) is generally the best season, with comfortable weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
How many days are recommended for Yantai?
3 days is a practical baseline for first-time visitors covering major highlights.
What is a typical travel budget in Yantai?
A common reference is around $200 per person, depending on hotel level, transport, and attraction choices.
Is Yantai suitable for family travel?
Yes. Yantai has diverse attractions, flexible route options, and accommodation levels suitable for family trips.
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