Yantai

Understand

Yantai is home to Yantai Raffles (烟台莱福士船厂), which owns the largest shipbuilding crane in the world, towering over the eastern edge of the T shaped peninsula. Yantai is known for tasty fruit, especially cherries, apples, peaches and pears and is also the home of Changyu Wines, whose founder Zhang Bishi introduced viticulture and winemaking to China in 1892. The seaside is home to a promenade for walking or relaxing. Among the seaside attractions is a great water, light and sound show: nightly at the promenade. It is definitely worth seeing. Mandarin Chinese (普通话) is the lingua franca; the Yantai accent differs in tone distinction and is often described as gritty. Yantai is also the government seat for the surrounding areas and attracts many workers from those areas, each with a different flavor of Mandarin on a spectrum of intelligibility.

History

Yantai boasts a long and multifaceted history, evolving from an ancient coastal defense and fishing hub to a modern port and industrial city. Its development reflects the historical shifts of China's eastern coast, particularly the Shandong Peninsula. Human activity in the Yantai area dates back to the Neolithic period. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was part of Donglai Commandery. The name "Yantai" originates from the Ming Dynasty (1398 AD), when a beacon tower was built on the northern hill to warn of pirate attacks. The hill, and later the surrounding area, became known as "Beacon Tower Hill" (Yantai Shan). The nearby Dengzhou (modern Penglai) was a pivotal military and commercial port, serving as a key departure point on the ancient Maritime Silk Road to Korea and Japan. Emperors Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu Di are recorded to have visited the area. A pivotal moment came in 1861 when, following the Treaty of Tianjin, Yantai (then called Chefoo) was opened as a treaty port. This sparked profound change:Foreign consulates, trading firms, and churches were established, creating a distinct architectural quarter around Yantai Hill.Modern industry emerged, most notably with the founding of Changyu Pioneer Wine Company in 1892, China's first industrialized winery.The port flourished, exporting local products like vermicelli and lace. While Western education and medicine were introduced, cultural clashes occurred. After 1949, Yantai developed as an industrial and defense base. Its true transformation began in 1984 when it was designated one of China's first 14 coastal open cities. The establishment of economic and technological development zones attracted massive foreign investment, spurring growth in manufac

Getting there

By plane 1 Yantai Penglai International Airport (烟台蓬莱国际机场), Intersection of Konggang 2nd Road and Yingbin 8th Road, Chaoshui Town, Penglai District (蓬莱区潮水镇空港二路与迎宾八路交叉口), ☏ +86 535 6299999. International flights from Seoul, Osaka and Hong Kong are available. Domestic flights connect Yantai with more than 20 major cities in China, such as Beijing (daily, 1 hour), Harbin (daily, 2 hours), Jinan, (daily, 35 minutes), Shenyang, (daily, 2 hours), Ningbo (daily, 1½ hours), Dalian (daily, 45 minutes) Chengdu (4 hours), Guangzhou (3 hours), Kunming (4 hours), Shanghai (daily, 1½ hours), Shenzhen (3 hours), Wuhan (daily, 2 hours) and Xi'an (2 hours). The airport is 15 km (9 mi) northwest of the city. An airport shuttle bus is available to multiple destinations in the city, including bus stations and train stations, as well as certain hotels. There are also buses to neighbouring cities such as Penglai and Weihai. A taxi ride to Laishan or downtown can cost you about ¥40. (updated Jul 2020)

By train Yantai is easily accessible from Jinan and Qingdao with frequent trains daily. But rail transport may be inconvenient if you travel long-distance, as there are no direct or fast trains. Sometimes you need to transit at Jinan.Here are a few major high-speed rail routes that run from Yantai to surrounding cities

G6932. From Liaocheng. (updated Dec 2025) D6097. From Weihai (updated Dec 2025) C6566. From Qingdao (updated Dec 2025) D6032. From Jinan (updated Dec 2025) 2 Yantai Railway Station (烟台站), No. 135, Beima Road, Zhifu District, ☏ +86 535 296 5432. A first-class passenger station. (updated Dec 2025)

By road The Yantai-Weifang (272 km/169 mi), Yantai-Qingdao (276 km/172 mi) and Yantai-Weihai (86 km/53 mi) high quality superhighways have been put into service. Minibuses run between Yantai and nearby cities, such as Qingdao (3½ hours) and Weihai (1½ hours). The long-distance bus station is southwest of the railway station on Qingnian Lu.The expressways leading to surrounding cities can all be accessed at the Yangmadao Expressway Toll Station. Below are the numbers of the highways leading to surrounding cities from each section

Yantai-Qingdao Expressway (S13). (updated Dec 2025) 3 Yantai Bus Terminal (烟台汽车总站), No. 86, West Street, Zhifu District, ☏ +86 535 666 6111. Yantai Bus Terminal, a national first-class passenger bus station, is adjacent to the railway station and port station, serving as a core transportation hub in the downtown business district. (updated Dec 2025)

By water There are seven slow boat departures daily to Dalian at the ferry termina

Getting around

By bus All bus lines only cost one yuan (¥1) as of January 2019. Besides cash, you can also use AliPay or 'Citizen Card' (市民卡) to pay. There are about 30 public bus lines in service. Bus Line No.10 and 17 are by far the most useful for travelers for sightseeing purposes. No. 10 goes from the railway station, then passes Nan Dajie and turns east down the coast. No. 17 goes from the railway station to the coast and all the way to the municipal government in newly developed Laishan District. No. 1 is also a good choice, as it crosses the centrepiece of Zhifu District.

By taxi Taxi is a good means of going places with a flagfall fare of ¥8 (Although many taxis still have ¥7 posted). A 30-minute of taxi ride would probably cost you around ¥30. There are no fixed taxi pick-up points throughout Yantai city, and you can only hail a taxi by waving on the street. Alternatively, you can also use Chinese taxi apps to make a call, such as Didi Dache and T3 Chuxing. Hailing a taxi during mealtimes (around 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00) can be especially difficult due to a tradition of cultural breaks and siestas.

By bicycle You can use the Shared Bike app to find shared bike rides around you. However, it is best to carefully assess the degree of wear and tear on bicycles, as many faulty shared bicycles are still being put into use. They may have issues with their tires or the handlebars may not turn

See

Museums 1 Changyu Wine Culture Museum (张裕酒文化博物馆), 56 Dama Rd, Zhifu District (芝罘区大马路56号) (at the formal site of Chongyu Wine Company; take bus no. 3, 18 28, 38 or 61 and get off at the Changyu Museum bus stop; or, take bus no. 32, 43 or 46 and get off at the Yantai Hospital bus stop), ☏ +86 535 6632892. 08:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30. Traces the history of the winery from 18th century up to 21st century. Changyu was founded in 1892 as the first Western-style winery in China by Zhang Bishi (also known as Cheong Fatt Tze, known for his eponymous mansion in George Town, Malaysia). It has developed into a brand including brandy, red wine, vermouth and riesling white wine. A display area showcases the development through pictures and videos. An underground cellar covers an area of over 2,600 m², and contains eight interlocked arches. It was the first underground wine cellar in Asia when it was completed in 1903. There are over 600 barrels in the cellar. Three King-Barrels, each with the capacity of housing 15 tones of wine, are the largest wine barrels in Asia, which have a history of over 100 years. There is a bar inside the cellar, where travelers can taste a variety of wine. While opening to tourists, the cellar is still in use for wine storage. ¥80. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Polaris Museum of Watch Culture (北极星钟表文化博物馆), 21 Guangren Road, Binhai Scenic Area, Zhifu District (芝罘区滨海景区广仁路21号) (take bus no. 32, 43 or 46 and get off at either Yantai Hill (烟台山) or Yantai Hill Hospital (烟台山医院). The museum is a couple of hundred meters east of the bus stop), ☏ +86 535 6611259. 08:30-17:30. Polaris Watch is a Chinese watch brand, affiliated with Yantai Polaris Watch (Group) Co., Ltd. Its predecessor, Yantai Baoshi Clock Factory, was founded by Li Dongshan in 1915, marking the beginning of China's modern mechanical clock manufacturing industry. The company primarily produces mechanical clocks, quartz clocks, time synchronization systems, and other products, covering both civilian and precision timing fields ¥30. (updated Dec 2025) 3 Yantai Art Museum (烟台美术博物馆), 20 Hai'an Road, Zhifu District (芝罘区海岸路20号) (less than 100 m southeast of the Polaris Museum of Watch Culture), ☏ +86 535 6224281. 09:00-16:30, closed on Mondays. Free. (updated Aug 2020) 4 Yantai Museum (烟台市博物馆), 61 Nanda St, Zhifu District (芝罘区南大街61号) (take bus no. 1, 2, 5, 10, 45, 51, 52, 62, 81, High-Speed Rail Bus 2 (高铁巴士2号线) or the Yantai Sightseeing Bus (烟台旅游观光巴士). Get off at the Culture Center (文化中心) bus stop), ☏ +86 535 6232976, [email protected]. May-Oct: 09:00-17:00, Nov-Apr: 09:00-16:30, no entry in l

Do

Summer - Escape the heat at the golden beaches of Yangma Dao (Horse-Raising Island), perfect for swimming and water sports. Enjoy cool sea breezes, vibrant night markets, and fresh seafood along the bustling coastal boulevard. It's the city's most lively and energetic season. There are two major beaches in Yantai, the First Beach (第一海水浴场) and Second Beach (第二海水浴场), and another one called Golden Beach in the Economic Development Zone (about 25 min from city centre).

Winter - There is a skiing place in the Tashan Park during winter.Experience a serene coastal charm. Brave the crisp air for dramatic winter seascapes and frost-kissed beaches. Warm up indoors with a hearty Shandong hot pot​ featuring the season's freshest local seafood, offering a cozy and authentic taste of the region.

Buy

1 MIXC (Wanxiang Hui), No. 228, Guanhai Road, Laishan District (at the intersection of Guanhai Road and Yingchun Street in Laishan District), ☏ +86 535 295 1999. Daily 09:00-22:00. Yantai MixC, as a brand-new commercial complex, is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Yantai and becoming an important part of residents' daily lives. It not only provides a wide range of shopping and dining options but also enhances the cohesion and vitality of the community through diverse activities and services. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Changyu Winery (Changyu Pioneer Wine Company), No. 56, Dama Road, Zhifu District, ☏ +86 535 663 2890. Daily 09:00-17:00. The Changyu Wine Culture Museum tells the story of corporate culture and wine culture knowledge, with the main line being the more than 100-year history of Changyu Company. It introduces the arduous journey of China's wine industry and the rise of Chinese national enterprises. It is one of the few world-class professional museums in the global wine industry. You can taste and purchase wine here (updated Dec 2025)

Eat

In fact, the local cuisine in Yantai is highly diverse. It encompasses Shandong cuisine, which is suitable for entertaining guests at gatherings, as well as fast food that aligns with international standards (McDonald's, KFC, Domino's). In different regions, each place boasts its unique cuisine. For instance, Muping District is renowned for its barbecue. Notable local specialties include sea cucumber soup (海参汤 Hǎishēn tāng), the "Yantai" variety of apple (烟台苹果 Yāntái píngguǒ), and sweet cherries (甜樱桃 Tián yīngtáo)

1 Jackies Cuisine (Jie Ke Xi Can Ting), Southeast Entrance of Orient Haitian Hotel, Laishan District, ☏ +86 535-6881800, [email protected]. Serves great Western-style food in a nice hard rock cafe-style environment, with many Europeans, Americans, Australians, and Chinese businessmen and women. It is a good place to meet some fellow English speakers, and also to just sit at the bar, eat peanuts and drink some great imported beers. They serve quesadillas, burgers, fries, fajitas (beef or chicken), chili, chips and salsa, fish and chips, et al. Jackie keeps the only real cheese inventory in Yantai, so if your hankering is for cheese, drop by and pick up a brick. Jackie is kind and fun loving. The staff speaks English very well. The TVs are often buzzing with concert videos of Queen, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and other great Western musical acts. (updated Mar 2019) 2 Penglaichun Restaurant, No.13 Dingxi Rd. It is a time-honored restaurant and specializes in cooking seafood. It's said that the dishes are tasty but not too expensive. The Quanjiafu (Hotchpotch), soft-fried oyster and scrambled eggs with agarics are particularly good. 3 Xile Restaurant, No.52 Huanshan Rd. Recommended for its food but its service and environment are not so good. Menu items that are particularly good include the fish dumplings, garlic-style scallop, and fried leek dumplings. 4 Shunshui-renqing, No.34 Haibin Rd. Quite good environment as it is near the Golden Beach. Recommended food: dove soup and pumpkin pie. 5 Yantai Impression, Near No. 2-125, Lifeng Street, Zhifu District. Daily 11:00-21:00. Yantai Impressions is a renowned restaurant specializing in authentic Shandong cuisine. It captures the essence of coastal culinary traditions, offering classics like Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, Oil-Stewed Prawns, Sweet and Sour Carp, and the local favorite Yantai Fried Starch Jelly. Each dish showcases exquisite technique and the rich, fresh flavors of Shandong. ¥150. 6 Juxiangyuan Casserole, No.7 Huamao Street. It specializes in casserole, a dish with soup cooke

Drink & nightlife

Chaoyang Street is known as the Bar Street among the expats is the place to be seen in Yantai! Although it has a slightly seedy reputation within the city, Chaoyang Street is most definitely the expats' first port of call when feeling homesick. Trendy locals and ex-pats mix along the street, and for many westerners it's the only place where you can bump into other native English-speakers.

1 Bohemia Bar, Chaoyang Jie (on the corner of the northern, seaside-end of the street). A welcoming and relaxing western-owned joint to start an evening in. 2 Havana bar. It's midway down Chaoyang street, plays good western music and has a fantastic atmosphere after midnight if you want to dance (again, western staff). 3 Druid's Irish Pub & Restaurant. An Irish pub with typical Irish decor. With Guinness, Kilkenny, Magners Irish Cider, Strongbow, Stella Artois and Heineken on tap, good Irish music and soft rock, genuine wood interior, satellite tv, pool room, library with wireless internet, it is the place to go. Located midway down Chao Yang Jie, number 56. Has a great Western Restaurant downstairs as well. 4 Baby Face Club. It's downtown, and the only real clubbing experience Yantai offers. Baby Face Club has loud house music, laser lights galore, poor bar service, cover charge and cross dressing bartenders.

Sleep

1 Binhai Marina (滨海码头), No. 45, Binhai Middle Road, Laishan District, ☏ +86 535 679 2699. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The Fisherman's Wharf Tourist Scenic Area is located on Binhai Middle Road in Laishan District, bordering the Yellow Sea to the east, the Second Beach to the north, and the former fishery wharf to the south. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the scenic area integrates various elements such as tourism, dining, leisure, entertainment, shopping, and vacation, including attractions such as the Yantai Haichang Whale Shark Aquarium, Yantai Haichang Yudaishan Hot Springs, Food and Cultural Street, Binhai Specialty Commercial Street, and high-end residential areas. The most core attraction is the Haichang Whale Shark Aquarium, whose architectural appearance adopts a unique Nautilus-like shape. Inside, there are exhibition areas for whale sharks, sharks, sea turtles, and other attractions. ¥400. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Crowne Plaza Yantai Seaview, No.299 Gangcheng East Main St, ☏ +86 535 689 9999. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Crowne Plaza Hotel is the first platinum five-star hotel in Yantai, invested and built by Yantai Nanshan Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., and will be managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group, the world's largest multinational international hotel management company, which boasts 3,700 five-star hotel chains in nearly 100 countries and regions. ¥850. (updated Dec 2025) 3 Golden Gulf Hotel, No. 34, Coast Road, Zhifu District, ☏ +86 535 298 0555. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The greatest advantage of Yantai Golden Bay Hotel lies in its unparalleled geographical location. It is nestled at the foot of Yantai Mountain, with part of the hotel directly built on the sea, allowing guests to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Bohai Bay from their rooms or restaurants. The hotel is surrounded by a dense network of tourist attractions, and within walking distance are famous sites such as the Yantai Mountain Scenic Area, Changyu Wine Culture Museum, and Chaoyang Street Historical District, making it highly convenient for tourists. Furthermore, the hotel is only about 1.5 kilometers away from Yantai Railway Station and Yantai Port, providing excellent transportation convenience ¥600. (updated Dec 2025) 4 Fulitai International Hotel (孚利泰国际大酒店), Aucma Street, Laishan District, ☏ +86 535 298 8999. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The hotel boasts 363 guest rooms and 12 banquet halls. It is equipped with renowned restaurants specializing in Shandong, Cantonese, Sichuan, and Hunan cuisine, a western restaurant, and a