A Northern Alternative to Sanya: Yantai’s 'Golden Coast' Full of Surprises

📌 Popular Itinerary Recommendation (3 Days 2 Nights)
Day 1: Relaxing at Golden Beach
- Morning: Golden Beach Park (Free! Wading, photography, playing in the sand)
- Noon: Mong Kok Fishing Village (Must-try: sea intestine rice, salt and pepper mantis shrimp)
- Afternoon: Lian Yantai Chapel (Instagram hotspot, stunning white seaside church)
- Evening: Housha Square (Watch the sunset + trendy glass plank road)

Day 2: Penglai Pavilion + Ocean World
- Morning: Penglai Pavilion (5A scenic spot, legendary site of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea)
- Noon: Jianxing Restaurant Penglai Noodles 🍜 (4 yuan per bowl, local favorite)
- Afternoon: Penglai Ocean Polar World (Great for kids, beluga whale show is super healing)

Day 3: Yangma Island Day Trip
- Rent an electric scooter 🛵 to circle the island (50 RMB/day)
- Must-visit spots: Zhang Island wooden plank road, Lotus Flower Sunset (jelly sea!)
- Before heading back, eat at: Xinyang Restaurant (warm scallop edges, mackerel 🐟 dumplings 🥟)

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
1. Near Golden Beach (sea view from the window)
- Yantai Golden Coast Hilton Hotel: prime sea view, family-friendly
- Yantai Bainaruitin Tianyue Bay Hotel: cost-effective, walking distance to the beach

2. Yantai City Center (convenient transportation)
- Yantai Shimao Hilton Hotel: city center, near train station
- All Season Hotel (Yantai University Branch): top choice for students, clean and affordable

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🍽️ Must-Try Foods
🦞 Seafood Trio:
- Sea Intestine Rice (Mong Kok Fishing Village)
- Mackerel Dumplings 🥟 (Penglai Chun Restaurant)
- Salt and Pepper Mantis Shrimp 🦐 (Rongxiang Seafood Hotel)

🍜 Specialty Snacks:
- Penglai Noodles (Jianxing Restaurant)
- Yantai Menzi (street stalls)
- Changyu Wine 🍷 (China’s oldest winery!)

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🚗 Transportation Guide
- High-speed rail: Yantai Station/Yantai South Station, 4h direct from Beijing / 5h from Shanghai
- Plane 🛫: Yantai Penglai International Airport, taxi to Golden Beach about 40 minutes
- City transport: Bus 🚎 Route 17 directly to Golden Beach, taxi starting fare 8 RMB

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💡 Travel Tips
✔ Best season: June to September (swimming allowed), September to October (fewer people, seafood is plump)
✔ Tide hunting time 🕑: Check "Yantai Tide Table," you can pick up little crabs 🦀 at low tide
✔ Must-bring items: sunscreen (strong UV!), slippers, sand digging tools

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📢 Notes
⚠ West section of Golden Beach is less crowded, east section has more recreational facilities
⚠ Ask prices before eating seafood, recommended restaurants have clear price tags
⚠ When renting electric scooters 🛵 on Yangma Island, remember to bargain and check battery level

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🌟 Why is this route so popular?
👉 Fewer people, beautiful scenery — fewer crowds than Qingdao and Weihai, equally clear sea!
👉 Super cost-effective — 500 RMB per person for three days, seafood for 50 RMB per person until full!
👉 Perfect for photos 📸 — chapel, glass plank road, Yangma Island, easily fill your social feed grid!

📩 Save this article and head straight here this summer! 🌞🦀