Golden Beach

Located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, it is called "Golden Beach" because of its golden color. It is one of the beaches with the finest sand, the largest area and the most beautiful scenery in my country, and is known as "Asia's No. 1 Beach".
The east side of Golden Beach is a trumpet-shaped beach facing the mountain. The strong wind from the Yellow Sea stirs up the waves, which rush onto the beach in groups of three or five, making the narrow beach look particularly spectacular.
You must try seafood at Golden Beach. The seafood is big, plump and nutritious. It is said that eating it can strengthen your body.

Attractions Location: Jinshatan Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province

Tickets: free

Opening hours:
All day

Time reference: More than 3 hours


Recommended itinerary for Golden Beach tours

1-Day Itinerary: Enjoying Golden Beach and Nearby Coastal Highlights

Spend a relaxing day at Golden Beach, one of Shandong’s most famous sandy beaches, enjoying sunbathing, swimming, and seaside walks.

  • Morning: Arrive at Golden Beach (located in Qingdao’s Huangdao District). Take taxi or local bus No. 202 from Qingdao city center (~40 minutes).
  • Afternoon: Explore the adjacent Laoshan National Forest Park (approx. 30-minute taxi ride). Walk scenic trails and enjoy natural beauty.
  • Evening: Return to Golden Beach area for dinner at a seafood restaurant overlooking the sea.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Golden Beach or Huangdao district for easy beach access. Recommended dishes include fresh seafood like steamed clams and grilled fish.

Souvenirs: Seashell crafts, dried seafood, local sea salt, beachwear and accessories.


2-Day Itinerary: Beach Leisure and Cultural Exploration

Combine leisure time at Golden Beach with visits to nearby cultural and historic sites.

  • Day 1: Follow the 1-Day itinerary.
  • Day 2 Morning: Taxi or bus to Qingdao German Governor Building (~40 minutes). Explore Qingdao’s colonial architecture.
  • Day 2 Afternoon: Visit Qingdao Beer Museum (bus or taxi, 15 minutes) to learn about Qingdao’s brewing history.
  • Evening: Dinner at Nanhai Road with coastal views and local specialties.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Golden Beach or city center. Enjoy beer chicken and seafood hotpots.

Souvenirs: Beer memorabilia, German-style crafts, local snacks.


3-Day Itinerary: Nature, History, and Urban Culture

Experience Qingdao’s natural beauty, historical sites, and lively urban culture alongside your beach time.

  • Days 1-2: Follow the 2-Day itinerary.
  • Day 3 Morning: Taxi or bus to Laoshan Scenic Area (about 40 minutes). Hike Taoist trails and visit temples.
  • Day 3 Afternoon: Visit May Fourth Square and the seaside park (bus or taxi, 30 minutes).
  • Evening: Explore Qingdao Old Town for dinner and local entertainment.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near downtown Qingdao or Golden Beach. Try local seafood and herbal teas.

Souvenirs: Taoist charms, Qingdao beer, crafts.


4-Day Itinerary: Full Qingdao Coastal and Cultural Tour

Delve deeper into Qingdao’s coastlines, museums, and scenic parks while enjoying the beach atmosphere.

  • Days 1-3: Follow the 3-Day itinerary.
  • Day 4 Morning: Visit Qingdao Underwater World or Maritime Museum (bus or taxi, 15 minutes).
  • Day 4 Afternoon: Climb Signal Hill Park for panoramic views (bus No. 302, 20 minutes).
  • Evening: Dinner at Nanhai Road or nearby beachside restaurants.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Nanhai Road or Golden Beach. Enjoy seafood hotpot and Qingdao beer specialties.

Souvenirs: Maritime crafts, beer gifts, local snacks.


5-Day Itinerary: Adding Leisure and Local Markets

Spend more time enjoying beach relaxation, local markets, and leisure activities.

  • Days 1-4: Follow the 4-Day itinerary.
  • Day 5: Visit local seafood markets and shopping areas in Huangdao district or Qingdao city (taxi or bus, 20-40 minutes).

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Golden Beach or Huangdao district. Sample grilled seafood and fresh shellfish.

Souvenirs: Fresh and dried seafood, sea salt, handmade crafts.


6-Day Itinerary: Coastal Day Trips and Relaxation

Balance your beach stay with day trips to nearby coastal towns and scenic spots.

  • Days 1-5: Follow the 5-Day itinerary.
  • Day 6: Take a day trip by taxi or bus (approx. 1 hour) to nearby towns like Longkou or Yantai for coastal exploration and local cuisine.

Accommodation/Food: Return to Golden Beach or stay overnight in nearby towns. Enjoy local seafood and wines.

Souvenirs: Wine, seafood products, coastal crafts.


7-Day Itinerary: Complete Beach and Qingdao Experience

Enjoy a full week combining relaxation, sightseeing, cultural experiences, and local festivals.

  • Days 1-6: Follow the 6-Day itinerary.
  • Day 7: Leisure day at Golden Beach or Qingdao city for last-minute shopping and cultural events or festivals.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Golden Beach or downtown Qingdao. Savor a farewell seafood feast and Qingdao beer.

Souvenirs: Festival crafts, local snacks, maritime-themed art, beachwear.


User Reviews

By Don't like to go to bed early |

After taking the sleeper bus, we finally arrived in Qingdao in the early morning. Since it was an activity organized by the company, we didn’t go to many places.

Before I knew it, three hours had passed and we all went to the beach to enjoy the sunrise. It was so beautiful that all my sleepiness was gone. The sea water was not particularly cool but the breeze was warm.

I am not very used to eating seafood. I ate seafood every day in Qingdao for a few days. I don’t know if it’s because I am not used to it or the cooking is not good....

There was a bonfire party in the evening. Several young people in the company pulled a small speaker and danced to the beach in the breeze (???)

Being surrounded by a group of people hahahaha

By Spread Traveler |

It's far from the city, the sightseeing bus line 2 has been cancelled, and you can take the tunnel line 7 to get there. The sea view is good in Shandong. There are small vendors everywhere recommending you to stay and take boat trips. Photography and storage are one of the major features. The worst thing is that they charge for foot washing at the beach. I applaud the brains of all the unscrupulous businessmen, they really charge for everything!

By BAO |

The sand is very soft. It was September when we went there, so there weren't many people and we had a lot of fun.

By  Tracy in the Rye |

It should be a relatively niche route, but the popular route is really crowded. I had a lot of fun. I give a thumbs up to Sister Jin (broken voice)

By Dust on the road |

The scenery is nice and the sand is soft, but there are too few places to wash your feet

By Playing around |

It wasn't swimming season when I went there, it must be more lively in summer.

By At the foot of Qinling Mountains |

In winter, there is no one and the whole beach belongs to me. It feels great.

By Zhang Nanfei |

The scenery is really beautiful when I went there for the first time. It is very suitable for swimming and vacation in summer.

By Water Village Feelings |

Basically, I have been playing in the water with my daughter these days!!

By Lin Xiaobin |

The beach is great, the sand is soft and very clean. The surrounding restaurants are not expensive.

By xy |

There are many facilities to play, but there are too many people, so it’s difficult to take pictures.

By Dada |

Compared with the first and second baths, the sand at Golden Beach is softer and finer! I also encountered a small crab.

By Braids in the Clouds |

The sunrise time that day was 5:36. When I rushed there at five o'clock, there were quite a lot of people on the beach. It seemed that everyone was very sentimental.

I have seen sunrise twice on the mountain, once on the roof, and once while working all night on a picture. This is my first time to see sunrise over the sea. Everything is the best arrangement.

The light at sunrise is still so gentle, and this gentleness concentrates all its power on the most positive place, little by little, it is born, exploded, and released at that moment, so the whole world is illuminated, warmed, and healed. You can make a wish at sunrise!

At sunrise, the tide gradually rises. Some people go swimming in the sea at this time. They are really brave! This is what we call tide-riding. I just quietly and happily pick up shells at the beach, enjoying the happiness brought by the first ray of sunshine. Unfortunately, I didn't see any crabs.

By Feifei |

It's the right time to come here, with few people, good weather, and clear water. It's a great experience to set up a tent.

By Double Moon Fly |

The beach scenery is OK, but the downside is that there are a lot of people on the beach. If you want fewer people, it is not recommended to go there.

By THRU |

Online reviews say it is the best beach in Asia. It has the finest sand and the largest area in my country. There are really a lot of people here, and many locals also go there to play. Of course, every beach is crowded. No tickets are required, but showers, parasols, etc. all cost money.

We went to the west first, but there were too many people there, so we started walking east. The further we went, the more people there were. There were people swimming in the water and playing on the beach. It was very lively. From time to time, seaweed (the green, slippery stuff) would hit our legs with the waves.

By annieting |

The beach was full of people, vendors, and a lot of garbage. I was very disappointed. I took my kids to play in the water for a while and then left. However, the sand here is really fine. It should be good if you come in the off-season. I don't understand why the coastline is closed and only a small door is left for people to enter and exit. However, there are many marine entertainment facilities here. If you like crowds and excitement, you can also choose this place.

By Taoxi Liumo |

It's nice to go there during the day, with sunshine, beach, blue sea, fine sand, clean beach, and comfortable swimming. But it's not recommended to go there in the evening when the sun sets, because the high tide pushes all the seaweed and garbage on the beach back to the shore, where they gather together and are dirty and prickly.

By Xiao Xiaopang's Footprints |

This is probably the best beach in Qingdao. The sand is very fine. The water is relatively clear. But there are still some green algae that have not been treated, which makes it look dirty. Overall, it is very good. The sunrise is beautiful. The things in the beer festival and beer city are too rip-off.

By The flowers bloomed at that time |

The sand is very fine, there are no stones, and some areas are under construction, which is a bit out of place. There are fixed areas where you can bring your own tents. Umbrella rental is about 80 per hour, and you can bargain. Because I went in early July, I bargained and it was 150 for unlimited time, a big umbrella, four chairs, a tent at the back to change clothes, and a locker. There is no reference for the price in August, and you must bargain. You can eat in the seafood street. There are a lot of things to eat. It’s useless to look at the reviews. Just look at the number of people, seafood big names, and Tsingtao beer. Breakfast is also sold on this street. The taste is average and the price is a bit expensive. If you want to buy seafood yourself, there is an alley on this street in the morning.

By Shao Qi |

Today, the beach was cordoned off due to the typhoon, and I couldn't even touch the sand. I can only say that I came at the wrong time. In order not to disappoint my son, I bought a ticket to the beer festival and went to the beach next door to play! Weeds, fallen electric poles, and traces of the attack by Ambi are still there~~ I hope I won't be so disappointed when I go to the city tomorrow~~

By Chen Zhaoqi |

It is the hottest time in Qingdao recently, but I think it is OK. There is no filter, and the sky is very blue. I rented a tent to rest. There are a lot of seaweeds in the sea water near the beach. It is said that the sea in Qingdao is like this every year in these months. It costs 260 yuan to rent a tent + change clothes + store things (unlimited time), 20 yuan to rent a swimming ring, unlimited time, and 15 yuan for bathing. I rinsed at the diving place when I came back from diving.

There is a beer festival not far away. It is very lively. You can go in and have fun at night. There are all kinds of food and beer, but it is much more expensive than outside.

By I started crying while walking. |

There are really a lot of people coming here to play when it's hot, and the small shops on the shore are doing very good business. The beach is free, but there is a charge for changing clothes and playing water sports!

By Melinda |

It is said that because of the typhoon, there is a lot of seaweed blown in from the south, and the sea water is too dirty.

By ALiu Yue😘 |

Seaweed, seaweed, all seaweed swaying in the wind😂😂😂😂

By Ink without trace |

The little boy was very excited to see the sea. His father held him and chased the waves, laughing the whole time. He got soaked, but he didn't let his father go into the sea. He dug sand on the beach. When he saw his father go into the sea, he burst into tears. Maybe he was afraid that his father would be hit by the waves... There was no hot water for bathing at the beach, and it cost 30 yuan per person. We brought mineral water to rinse our feet, and now it costs 3 yuan per person to rinse our feet. The beach over there should be contracted out to every area. The place where we are renting a tent is 200 yuan for an unlimited time, otherwise it is 120/hour. There are several families sharing tents. The beach is still quite sunny at noon, and the sand is still very hot, so it is quite necessary to rent a tent. In fact, you can also order takeout on the beach. When we were ready to order, they were about to leave, so we didn't order.

By The witch and her cat |

This place is highly recommended, the sand is very fine, and you can go into the water and play with the waves. There are still a lot of seaweeds washed up, but it doesn't matter, how can it extinguish my mood for playing with the waves, I am super happy.

By dbaomei |

The beach is average, not the best in Qingdao.

By Elly |

Heavy fog is very common in Qingdao in June, so there are few tourists on the beach and the sea view is completely invisible. Fortunately, the weather is cool and the children can play comfortably in the sand, which is very fine and soft.

By  |

The beach is full of seaweed and garbage from the waves, it's very dirty, this is the most disappointing place I've ever been to. If you want to play in the sea, don't come here!

By sssadie |

Seeing the blue sky and the sea, I felt relaxed for some reason. I chartered a speedboat to tour the entire sea area. I was so happy. Be sure to bargain for half the price😊

By Own this moment |

Any random picture can be used as a background image

By Aniu is a tiger |

The first beach in Asia, with a long coastline and good sand quality, not painful at all, but it is crowded in summer

By That's all |

It was my first time walking barefoot on a real beach. It felt really comfortable.

By Jenny |

I went there during the National Day holiday. The weather was not as cool as in midsummer, so some people just sat on the beach. I don't know if it was due to the weather or the region, but the beach and the sea were not particularly beautiful. The services of some of the beach attractions were also average, which might be because there were too many people, which is understandable.

By Lonely Years |

The sand is really fine, and there are few people if you go early, so it is suitable for walking.

By 🎏 Lu. Ti |

A must-visit place in Qingdao. The beach is clean. The waves are big. It's super fun. I recommend going there in the morning. Play from morning to noon. When there are many people, it's just right to go back to the city.

By Tucao hole |

It is just like the saying: the water is clear and the sand is fine, it is really very good

By XXX |

The sand is fine, the sea water is yellow, quite clear, and there are fewer people.

By Lazy Cat |

In Huangdao District, the beach is open for free, there are paid bathing areas, and there are also some recreational facilities and catering services.

By CIRO Yueru |

It was my first time to see the sea, and I was very excited. But now it is autumn, and I would have been even more excited if I went there in summer! There is an auntie who specializes in taking pictures on the beach. It costs 10 yuan for three pictures, but she will take a lot of pictures at a time. If you don't order it in advance, you can only pay more for all of them. I also went to do a motorboat, which costs 100 yuan in the off-season. I was splashed with water. It was very cold, really, very cold. Then I went to Silver Beach. Maybe because there are fewer people and it is not commercial, I have a better impression of Silver Beach.

By Winter velvet flowers |

It's very popular, the sea water is OK, it feels good

By MelodyLlll |

This time there were big storms and waves, which was quite unique.

By Maxine |

There are a lot of people on the beach, and it's not very clean. There are a lot of parasols and tables and chairs, but they are all contracted by small vendors. It costs dozens of yuan to sit for a while, which feels like a rip-off.

By Love life |

The city by the sea has a lot of water, and it is so comfortable to walk on the sand. You can take pictures of different beautiful scenery at every time period.

By Little Camel (Silly Camel) |

In Huangdao District, a little far away, there are buses from the airport to Huangdao District, it is very convenient to transfer to the bus after arriving in Huangdao, the scenery is not bad, and there are fewer people than the first and second bathing beaches

By Tuoba Yunxiao |

In one word, there are too many people, much more crowded than Silver Beach. The beach is very clean, but there are too many people, a huge area, the sea water is clear, free of charge, foot washing 2 yuan, mailing depends on the place, some places are 5 yuan, some are 10 yuan, there is a place to mail and change clothes not far from the entrance, only 10 yuan together

By Good luck |

I went there at night. There were still a lot of people on the beach, but not many people in the commercial street. There was a wide variety of shell products on display.

By FF. |

The sand is very fine! It's very big! I had a lot of fun playing there. It's better than the planning of Shinan District! The roads in Shinan District are small! Qingdao Station is super congested

By Flying Pigs |

It is highly recommended. I have already planned to go to the beach next year. It is better than the first bathing beach. There are few people, fine sand, super good, and there are many small creatures at low tide. It is very fun.

By make a sightseeing tour |

Southeast of Qingdao Economic Development Zone (Huangdao), on the Yellow Sea, the sand is very fine and golden. It is a 4A scenic spot, open to the public free of charge.

By Jun's promise must be fulfilled |

The attraction I visited before leaving became a reason to go to Qingdao next time. The beach is long, wide, and the sand is fine, which meets my standard imagination of the beach. If I hadn't visited this place at the end, it would have been just average. I had a lot of fun here, and it was my first time to run into the sea. On the way back, I felt that I hadn't had enough fun and wanted to go again. Next time I go, I will come here as the first stop, and I will come here again before leaving.

By ARLENE LAVIGNE |

Although it is an artificial beach, the sand is really fine. It is larger than the beach, and there are quite a lot of people. But we saw the Stone Man along the way, which is also very good. The sea water is not very dirty, but it has become commercialized. The price of yachts is high, but everything else is good. There is a hotel called Qianna Yinshe Boutique Hotel, which is worth a visit for students.

By Darling |

The scenic spot is still very beautiful, the sea water is very clear, and the sand on the beach is so comfortable to step on. But don't go on that yacht. There are people soliciting customers to play on the yacht next to it. They first ask you to pay money and say that you can play a big round for 200 yuan. Then when you get on the boat, the boatman will pull you out a few hundred meters and ask you for a red envelope. If you give 200 yuan, he will pull you out for a good ride. If you don't give, he will pull you back. The whole process does not exceed five minutes. In addition, after I ate a meal at a small restaurant on the other side of the pier and was cheated, I instantly lost my good impression of Qingdao. It turns out that Qingdao prawns are not eaten for free, so remember to go to the scenic spot to see the scenery, and don't spend money easily. Of course, the rich can do whatever they want. You can buy souvenirs. They are sold in the underground mall of the pier and the small shops on the beach. They are quite beautiful, but my mood was instantly ruined by a few people from Qingdao.

By China-TravelNote users |

The sand is very fine and relatively large, and there are wooden plank roads along the way, which is very suitable for running.

By China-TravelNote users |

Very beautiful, probably the best beach in Qingdao, a must-go beach when you go to Qingdao. It will be hot in a few days, so there should be more people. The grilled squid is especially delicious. If you want to lose weight, add WeChat, 174102977

By MMJ |

Highly recommended, the sand is soft and feels really good when you step on it. Looking into the distance, there is no coastline, it is an ideal sea

By Yueyue |

I came here with my boyfriend. The sea water is very clean, cleaner than the bathing beaches in Qingdao. The sea water is still a little cold now, but I had a lot of fun.

By mafenglb |

The kind of... the vast sea and sky...

By Backpackers |

The sand is very good, there are not too many people, and there are some recreational facilities.

By I thought_Sun Yuxuan, |

Ahahaha! I came here during the Chinese New Year! It’s so beautiful and so quiet. That’s how it feels.

By Kiko |

The sand is really different from the one in the city. Oh, beautiful.

By Swing the sword to cut through the world |

When I went there, it was the end of summer, the water was a little cool and it was cloudy.

By Ever |

Not bad, it feels good, I like it very much, haha

By Can't let go of tenderness |

The water quality and sunshine are pretty good. I really want to bring my family back here in the summer.

By A bottle of Yakult |

The sand is so soft and fine that I thought it was just an ordinary beach, but it turned out to be quite beautiful. Watching the blue glow of the sea in the evening

By gtxtreme |

This is the best beach in Qingdao, the sand is very fine and the sea water is very clean

By Find the real ME |

The water quality is relatively clear~Catch up with the beer festival~~~~

By Make sentences with Beijing Ye |

Generally, no tickets are needed, just go swimming~~~~

By _Red Milkshake_ |

It is not recommended to go there because the journey is quite far, it takes about 1 and a half hours by bus, it is in Huangdao District, and there are few attractions around it, it is very desolate!

By Honey is bland |

After visiting Yalong Bay, you will feel that the beaches here are just like this.

By What does ice say? |

The sand is very fine, it is definitely recommended. If there is a sunset on a sunny day, it must be beautiful.

By ^ Cultivate the mind^ |

The sea water in Qingdao is very clean. It is really comfortable to go to the beach in summer. It is worth going there in summer, swimming in the sea, and eating seafood. Just thinking about it makes me feel great!

By Prisoners on the road to freedom |

I went there in April 2012. There were very few people there and the beach was very large and clean.

By ^*^ Xiao Hui♡ |

Nice, nice scenic spot, the sand is relatively fine, I prefer places with mountains and water, so this kind of place is my love!