The Jelly Sea at 37°N Latitude and the Fireworks Old Town — Yantai

Yantai Travel Guide: The Jelly Sea at 37°N Latitude and the Fireworks Old Town, this pit-avoidance guide lets you explore like a local!

"On the cliff walkway of Yangma Island in Yantai, I suddenly understood what 'priceless' means — a 20°C sea breeze carrying a salty freshness, the seawater beneath my feet as clear as jelly, and when the sun shines, even the pebbles on the seabed are clearly visible. Turning around and stepping into the bluestone alleys of Suochengli, freshly cooked hairtail fish dumplings steaming hot, the owner smilingly handing over a bowl of Yantai steamed jelly for just 5 yuan... Half of the beauty here lies in the fairy-tale sea, and the other half in the lively street atmosphere."

Transportation Guide: How to Get There & Getting Around
1. Major Transport
- Plane: Penglai International Airport, take the airport shuttle bus for 40 minutes to the city center (add 20 yuan for the coastal expressway route to watch the sunrise).
- High-speed Rail: Prefer Yantai Station (city center); Yantai South Station is farther, taxi to Yantai costs about 25 yuan.

2. City Transport
- Bus: Must take Route 17 "Sea Bus," with sea views all along the way; the newly opened cultural tourism special lines (Line A for city coast, Line B for Yangma Island) offer unlimited rides with panoramic sunroofs that are stunning.
- Taxi/Self-drive: For Yangma Island and Penglai, car rental is recommended; the island’s coastal road is one-way, electric scooters rent for 50 yuan/day.

In-depth Attractions: Fees + Hidden Photo Spots
🌟 Top 5 Must-Visit
1. Yangma Island (Free)
- Activities: Shoot epic waves crashing at Zhang Island Red Pier, sunset at Qin Fengya Church ruins (wearing a white dress makes for better photos).
- Hidden Spot: At low tide, collect pink shells at the back sea (actually discarded scallop shells, but with dreamy colors).

2. Fisherman’s Wharf (Free)
- Spirited Away-style railway tracks: Shoot at low tide! Navigate to "Binhai Middle Road Bus Stop" for panoramic overhead shots.
- Night Tour: European-style castle light show + "Little Red Bucket BBQ" spicy stir-fried clams.

3. Penglai Pavilion (100 yuan)
- Yellow and Bohai Sea dividing line: Climb the main building to see the S-shaped sea water convergence, take photos of the ancient pavilion and sea together at the Su Gongci stele.
- Combo: Feed seagulls at Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area (80 yuan), visit the Sanxianshan ancient architectural complex (120 yuan).

4. Yantai Hill (Free, lighthouse 10 yuan)
- Photo spots: From the lighthouse top, overlook red tiles, green trees, and blue sea; take Republic of China style photos at the Bingxin Memorial Hall.

5. Suochengli (Free)
- Night tour: When lanterns light up, try tie-dye crafts, eat intangible cultural heritage hairtail fish dumplings, and don’t miss the "Zhifu Small Restaurant" steamed jelly around the corner.

3 Divine Routes: Copy Exactly, No Pitfalls
📅 Classic 3-Day
- Day 1: Yantai Hill → Chaoyang Street (eat sea cucumber rice) → Suochengli → Fisherman’s Wharf (sunset + light show)
- Day 2: Yangma Island cycling around the island → Pink shell beach → Yantai University snack street (grilled cold noodles + Coconut No.2 coconut jelly)
- Day 3: Penglai Pavilion → Sanxianshan → Return trip.

📅 In-depth 4-Day
- Add a day trip to Changdao (feed seagulls at Waniao Island, sunset at Jiuzhang Cliff) or grape picking and winemaking at Zhangyu Winery (includes exclusive wine gift).

Taste of Yantai: 5 Local Hidden Gems
1. Mong Kok Little Fishing Village: Sea cucumber rice (98 yuan/serving), crispy and tender sea cucumber with Wuchang rice.
2. Dongmenli Hairtail Fish Dumplings: Old shop in Suochengli, fresh and sweet fish meat without fishy smell.
3. Yantai University Snack Street: Eat until full for 20 yuan! Grilled cold noodles + steamed jelly + grilled oysters.
4. Jianxing Restaurant: Penglai small noodles 4 yuan/bowl, scallop broth so fresh it’ll make your eyebrows raise.
5. Gan Hai’er Restaurant: Must order abalone rice on Chaoyang Street.

Pit-Avoidance Tips: Hard-Learned Lessons
1. Sunscreen: UV rays are very strong by the sea, SPF50+ is essential! Apply even on cloudy days.
2. Tides: Download the "Global Tides" app, go beachcombing at low tide (Fisherman’s Wharf, Yangma Island back sea).
3. Avoid Overcharging: Seafood weight should be "without skin," avoid shops marked "market price."
4. Accommodation: Stay near Yantai Hill in Zhifu District (convenient for night tours), choose sea view homestays on Yangma Island (like Island Diary).

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**Ending Interaction:**
"Do you love Yantai’s jelly sea more, or the lively old street atmosphere? Tell me your heartwarming moment in the comments!🔽"