Laoshan is Qingdao’s most famous tourist attraction and its only 5A-rated scenic area. It is also one of China’s renowned Taoist mountains. Standing at 1,132.7 meters high, Laoshan features mountains on one side and the sea on the other, offering breathtaking scenery. There are three main routes to choose from: Beijiushui Scenic Area, where mountains and streams intertwine; Jufeng Scenic Area, home to Laoshan’s highest peak; and Yangkou Scenic Area, which offers stunning ocean views. We chose the Yangkou Scenic Area. The entrance to Yangkou is already quite elevated, so be cautious of scalpers in the parking lot. Simply ignore them and head straight to the cable car station to purchase your tickets.
The cable car is very old-fashioned—it’s the type that moves continuously at a constant speed. When boarding, you need to stand ready and then quickly sit down as it passes… When disembarking, there’s someone specifically assigned to help pull you up. The cabins are completely open with no enclosure, so if you have a fear of heights, this ride might not be for you… The cable car takes you up about 800 meters, after which you can begin hiking.
One distinctive feature of this place is the tradition of carving characters onto rocks… For example, this ‘Immortal Peach’…
This is the view of the sea seen from the cable car terminal:
Next, the hike begins through the Mitian Cave, which was completely unexpected. I had assumed it would be an easy climb with regular stone steps throughout. However, the cave turned out to be extremely narrow—only wide enough for one person—and required using both hands and feet to navigate. Water drips constantly inside, making surfaces wet and slippery. It’s also pitch dark, requiring phone flashlights for visibility. Moreover, it’s strictly one-way traffic—you can’t turn back once inside unless you reach the top. The ascent through the cave covers over 100 vertical meters, and it does feel somewhat hazardous. After exiting the cave, the remaining trail becomes much easier, mostly consisting of stone steps. At the very summit lies a rock inscribed with the words “Laoshan.”
You can descend via a gentler path at the back. In fact, when crowds are light, you could even take this route uphill—it’s far easier than squeezing through the cave.
The descending cable car faces directly toward the sea.
Overall, this is definitely a destination worth visiting. The entire trip takes around two hours. If time permits, consider exploring the other two scenic routes as well.
Photos taken with SONY A5100 + 35mm f/1.8, post-processed in Lightroom.
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