Qingdao Independent Travel Guide: All You Need to Know About Eating, Staying, and Getting Around!

**Qingdao Travel Guide: Budget + Full Itinerary**
(Includes ticket prices for attractions, accommodation, and food price references)

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### 💰 **Budget Reference** (Per person/3 days 2 nights)
- **Budget**: 800-1200 RMB
- **Comfortable**: 1500-2500 RMB
- **Premium**: 3000 RMB+

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### 🎫 **Attraction Ticket Details**
1. **Must-visit Free Attractions**
- Xiaomai Island, Zhanqiao Pier, Badaguan, University Road, Taidong Pedestrian Street
2. **Paid Attractions**
- **Laoshan Scenic Area**: 90 RMB in peak season (includes sightseeing bus), Yangkou Cableway one-way 35 RMB
- **Tsingtao Beer Museum**: 60 RMB (includes one glass of original draft beer + beer nuts)
- **Signal Hill Park**: 15 RMB (observation deck revolving hall requires an additional 10 RMB)
- **Underwater World**: 170 RMB (recommended for family trips)

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### 🏨 **Accommodation Price Reference**
- **Hostels/Airbnbs**: 80-150 RMB/night (high cost performance in the old city)
- **Budget Hotels**: 200-400 RMB/night (chains like Home Inn, Hanting, etc.)
- **Seaview Hotels**: 600-1500 RMB/night (recommended near May Fourth Square/Shilaoren)
- **Special Recommendations**:
- German-style old villa Airbnb (300-600 RMB, experience European vintage style)
- Seaview apartment near Polar Ocean World (500-800 RMB, sea view from the window)

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### 🍺 **Food & Drink Guide**
1. **Seafood Markets** (self-purchase + processing)
- **Yingkou Road Market**: oysters 15 RMB/jin, clams 8 RMB/jin, processing fee 5-15 RMB/portion
- **Beer House Processing**: recommended steamed or spicy stir-fried, about 80-120 RMB per person to eat to fullness
2. **Must-try Restaurants**
- Chuange Fish Dumplings: mackerel dumplings 38 RMB/portion, about 60-80 RMB per person
- Huachun Restaurant: iron plate egg tofu 28 RMB, about 40-60 RMB per person
- Sister Wang BBQ: grilled squid 15 RMB/skewer, about 50-70 RMB per person
3. **Beer Prices**
- Bagged fresh beer: 5-8 RMB/jin (street stalls)
- Original draft beer: 15-20 RMB/glass (beer houses)

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### 🚌 **Transportation Costs**
- **Airport → City Center**: Metro Line 8 costs 7 RMB, taxi about 80-100 RMB
- **Getting Around the City**:
- Metro: 2-6 RMB per trip (download "Qingdao Metro APP" for QR code)
- Taxi: starting fare 10 RMB (3 km), taxi between old city attractions about 15-30 RMB
- Electric scooter rental: 50-80 RMB/day (highly recommended for coastal rides!)

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### 📝 **Classic 3-Day Itinerary + Costs**
**Day 1: Old City Arts Tour**
- Morning: St. Michael's Cathedral (free) → Qingdao Book House (coffee 30 RMB)
- Afternoon: Signal Hill Park (15 RMB) → University Road Instagram Wall (free)
- Evening: Taidong Night Market (snacks about 50 RMB per person)
**Cost**: Tickets 15 + Food 80 + Transport 20 = **115 RMB**

**Day 2: Mountain and Sea Romance Day**
- Morning: Laoshan Yangkou Line (90 RMB + cableway 35 RMB)
- Afternoon: Xiaomai Island (free) → Shilaoren Beach (free)
- Evening: Beer Museum (60 RMB) + seafood feast (about 100 RMB per person)
**Cost**: Tickets 185 + Food 100 + Transport 50 = **335 RMB**

**Day 3: Seaside Slow Life**
- All day: Huangdao Golden Beach (free) + Coastal Road cycling (bike rental 50 RMB)
- Evening: May Fourth Square light show (free)
**Cost**: Bike rental 50 + Food 80 = **130 RMB**

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### 💡 **Money-saving Tips**
1. Student ID gets half price! Almost all paid attractions offer discounts.
2. Avoid processing seafood in scenic spots; choose beer houses in residential areas (like Sifang Road).
3. Combining metro + shared bikes saves half the transportation cost compared to taxis.

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**Total Budget Reference** (excluding major transportation):
- **Backpacker Version**: 800 RMB (stay in hostels + public transport + mainly free attractions)
- **Standard Version**: 1500 RMB (comfortable hotels + moderate seafood feasts)
- **Luxury Version**: 3000 RMB+ (seaview hotels + seafood every meal with original draft beer)

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