Step into Hayao Miyazaki’s summer fairy tale! The ultimate Qingdao family trip guide

Who gets it, family! Took the kids to unlock the real-life version of "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea"‼️ Chasing glowing jellyfish on a bioluminescent beach, diving into a 2,000㎡ ocean bubble pool, teaching kids to make starry sky jelly with seaweed... My 5-year-old came back shouting to everyone, "Qingdao is my second hometown"🐚 Here’s a freshly baked nanny-level guide👇

📍【Don’t get lost with navigation!】
▫️Shazikou Beach location: "109 Laoshan Road" (bioluminescent sea every Wednesday after the tide!)
▫️Taxi from Qingdao North Station to downtown takes 40 minutes, business car recommended (super convenient for kids and luggage)

🏨【Stay in the castle from Finding Nemo】
✨Qingdao Haichuan Bay Crowne Plaza Resort is a must! Comes with a singing ocean hot spring♨️ + 360° sea view Ferris wheel🎡
✨Must-book room types:
❶ Navigator Family Suite — features a LEGO wall + climbing slide, watch dolphins swim past the glass wall from bed
❷ Starry Sky Tent Room — automatic roof opening, teach kids to find the Big Dipper with a telescope✨
✨Mini bar with 20 kinds of imported snacks all free❗️Kids can freely enjoy Yakult
✨Hermès toiletries + Dyson hairdryer, tired moms no longer need to carry bottles and jars

🐚【Secret family fun revealed】
✅ Bioluminescent sea adventure: from 8 PM in July-August at Shazikou Beach, teach kids to catch glowing jellyfish in glass jars (super dreamy!)
✅ Navy mini class: at the Navy Museum, touch a decommissioned torpedo and experience a 1:1 ship cockpit
✅ Seaweed lab: at Mingyue Seaweed World, observe dancing algae under a microscope and DIY glowing seaweed bottles
✅ Shell revival contest: at the Shell Museum, teach kids to restore ancient fossils, which can be taken home as paperweights

🗺️【Perfect 4-day, 3-night itinerary】
DAY1️⃣ Old Town Stroll
7:30 Feed seagulls at Badaxia Square (bring fried dough sticks, most popular!)
10:00 Take Miyazaki-style transition videos at the university road’s famous wall
15:00 Make hand-painted canvas bags on Longjiang Road comic street (free paint)
19:00 Watch building light show at Third Bathing Beach, buy glowing balloons for silhouette photos

DAY2️⃣ Ocean Scientist
9:00 Hisense Exploration Center liquid nitrogen ice cream experiment (wear cold-proof clothes!)
12:00 DIY rainbow seafood dumplings at Chuange Fish Dumplings (squid ink + spinach juice, super fun)
15:00 Touch beluga whale chin at Polar Ocean Park (book keeper experience)
20:00 Night glow party at Golden Beach (fire show every Friday/Saturday)

DAY3️⃣ Laoshan Little Immortal
8:00 Ride the rainbow cable car at Qingshan Fishing Village, pick dew tea as souvenirs
12:00 Dig razor clams at Shazikou Beach (salt method works wonders!)
15:00 Take cliff sea view photos at the infinity pool on the rooftop of Mohai Homestay
19:00 Learn ancient printing at Laoshan Academy, carve mountain and sea onto rice paper

DAY4️⃣ West Coast Adventure
7:00 Rush to Liansan Island for sea foraging (so many little crabs you’ll question life!)
10:00 Cycle at Tangdao Bay Wetland Park (rent family tricycles, super cool)
14:00 Challenge level 11 typhoon simulation at Qingdao Science Museum (hold tight to the pole!)
17:00 Chase sunset at Yumingzui Village, teach kids to fish jumping fish with bread

🍤【Foodie family bucket list】
▫️Must-eat trio: squid ink dumplings + wild wontons + Wanggezhuang big steamed buns
▫️Hidden menu: Chuange Fish’s "Finding Nemo" set (smoking shell platter!)
▫️Family DIY: make glowing fruit jelly at Mingyue Seaweed World

⚠️【Lessons learned from experience】
1️⃣ Sea foraging gear:
▫️Kids’ water pants + stainless steel clips (plastic ones get snapped by crabs!)
▫️Foldable buckets save more space than hard-shell buckets
2️⃣ Photo tips:
▫️Shoot empty frames of St. Michael’s Church at 6 AM
▫️Spray mineral water on kids’ backs for glowing hair in backlight
3️⃣ High alert:
▫️Navy Museum captain’s talk on Wednesday mornings
▫️Laoshan cable car stops at 4 PM, go early!

This summer, you have to take the kids into an ocean fairy tale! Watching my kid run with a glowing water bottle in the night suddenly made tutoring classes seem less appealing😭 (location attached, remember to bring mosquito repellent!)

💡Hidden bonus: Qingdao Beer Museum’s family ticket includes DIY beer ice cream experience, and the front desk lady will give kids a "Little Brewer" badge~