Complete Guide to Whale Watching at the Yellow River Estuary

🐳 Hidden gem in Dongying! The Yellow River estuary meets whales in one frame! A healing wetland guide!

A seriously underrated coastal town in Shandong, I’m so afraid it will become popular. This is not Weihai!! Nor Yantai!

The Yellow River flows into the Bohai Sea here, creating a unique wetland ecosystem with vast blue waves, swaying reeds, and flocks of migratory birds.

Unexpectedly, Dongying’s wetland scenery is stunningly beautiful and refreshing, a niche secret spot with no worries about crowds. In this vast wetland, you can breathe freely and explore. Perfect for National Day holidays, family trips, and nature adventures.

Two-day one-night itinerary
Day 1: Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area - Red Beach - Yellow River Estuary
Day 2: Yellow River Delta Bird Museum - Gudong Sea Dyke - Dongying City Center if time permits
Day 3: Sunzi Culture Park - Dongying Museum - Dongying Science and Technology Museum

Practical tips
Location: Dongying, Shandong
Transportation: High-speed rail/train to Dongying Station; attractions in Dongying are quite spread out

Recommended to drive
Suggested duration: 2 days 1 night, a relaxed pace is more comfortable
Notes:
Coastal weather is really unpredictable! A few days ago at Dongying beach, the sun was blazing, so I ordered sunscreen and cold beer via Taobao Flash Delivery, and it arrived instantly, no interruption to the fun. Last time was even more extreme: it rained and cooled down halfway through, I was shivering, luckily I could order thermal pants via Taobao Flash Delivery, they arrived quickly, and I warmed up immediately! You really can’t go out without Taobao Flash Delivery; wherever you play, it delivers there, so reassuring.

📍Address: Dawenliu Management Station, Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve, Kenli District, Dongying City
⏰Opening hours:
May to September 08:30-17:00
October to April 08:30-16:30

💥Must-do activities:
1️⃣ Birdwatching Tower
360° panoramic view of the entire wetland! In April, watch red-crowned cranes’ courtship dance; in November, see swan migrations. Don’t forget your binoculars!
📸Tips: The spiral staircase is very photogenic; wear light-colored clothes to match the reeds.

2️⃣ Yuanwanglou Boat Tour
Ride the "Yellow River No. 5" speedboat! 30 minutes straight to the river-sea boundary; if lucky, you might see finless porpoises leap out of the water~
⚠️Note: Two daily departures at 11:00 and 14:00, queue up half an hour early.

🌊 Hidden check-in spots:
• Heart-shaped Bay on the Wetland Boardwalk (500 meters east from the Science Museum)
• Bird Release Area (pelican show at 3 PM is super cute)
• Red Carpet Scenic Area (in September-October, Suaeda salsa turns red like fire)

🍲 Food recommendations:
▫️ Yellow River Estuary hairy crabs (freshly caught at farmhouses near the scenic area entrance)
▫️ Pan-fried buns with crucian carp soup (local breakfast staple)
▫️ Reed-wrapped rice dumplings (sweet glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves)

💡Avoid pitfalls:
• Don’t buy "wild bird eggs" from roadside vendors
• Bring a windbreaker after October! The sea wind is very strong
• Drones must be registered in advance (fill out a form at the security booth)