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Yantai — China travel

10 Days in Yantai

Ten days give the coast room — an overnight on Changdao, the 1122 Mazu temple on Miao Island, a Weihai day for Liugong Island and unhurried beach time.

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Best time: May-OctoberBudget: moderate

Quick Answer

Is 10 days enough for Yantai?

10 days lets you go beyond Yantai's core into neighborhoods, food markets, and one or two day trips at a relaxed pace.

Source: NihaoVisit Yantai guide

10-day Yantai itinerary at a glance

Use our full Yantai travel guide as the base and adapt it to 10 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Yantai Hill lighthouseChangdao islands overnightMiao Island Mazu templeGolden BeachLiugong Island in Weihai
1
Day 1

Arrival & Yantai Hill

The 42-metre harbour hill still carries the consulates that moved in after the 1861 treaty-port opening; the promenade south ends at the First Bathing Beach for a first look at the water.

Scenes from Yantai, China
  1. Yantai Hill lighthouse
  2. Binhai Square
2
Day 2

Old town heritage

Suochengli grew around a Ming garrison set up in 1398; the Fujian Guild Hall next door was begun in 1884 with timber carved in the south and shipped north, and Chaoyang Street handles the evening.

Scenes from Yantai, China
  1. Suochengli old garrison town
  2. Fujian Guild Hall
  3. Chaoyang Historic Street
3
Day 3

Wine heritage & museums

Changyu was founded in 1892 and the great cellar below the museum was dug between 1894 and 1905; the tour ends with a tasting, then the city museum fills in the treaty-port decades.

Scenes from Yantai, China
  1. Changyu Wine Culture Museum
  2. Yantai Museum
4
Day 4

Golden Beach day

A roughly 10-kilometre run of sand west of downtown, swimmable through the summer months; arrive by bus or taxi and stay for shore-side seafood at dusk.

Scenes from Yantai, China
  1. Golden Beach
5
Day 5

Yangma Island

Cross the short bridge to the island where legend says the First Emperor pastured horses on his eastern tour of 219 BC; cove walks on the ring road, a fishing-village lunch and slow afternoon lanes.

  1. Yangma Island
6
Day 6

To Penglai

An hour northwest by rail; the cliff-top pavilion has stood since 1061 and Qi Jiguang, the Ming general born in 1528, keeps a street of old houses. Sleep in Penglai and buy tomorrow's ferry ticket.

  1. Penglai Pavilion
  2. Qi Jiguang hometown streets
7
Day 7

Changdao overnight

The ferry takes about 40 minutes and around 45 yuan one way; sailings run year-round, thicken in summer and stop in strong winds. Among the archipelago's 32 islands between the two seas, walk the near-70-metre Jiuzhang Cliff and Moon Bay's pebble crescent before a homestay night.

  1. Changdao islands
  2. Jiuzhang Cliff
  3. Moon Bay pebble beach
8
Day 8

Miao Island & return

The Mazu temple on Miao Island dates to 1122 and is counted the oldest in northern China; boat loops — the bird island among them — sail only April-October, with gull chicks peaking in June. Evening boat back and the rail link to Yantai.

  1. Miao Island Mazu temple
  2. Changdao islands boat loop
9
Day 9

Weihai day trip

A day across in neighboring Weihai — under an hour by intercity rail — for Liugong Island, base of the Beiyang Fleet from 1888, with museum ships moored offshore; back to Yantai by evening.

  1. Liugong Island
10
Day 10

Markets & departure

A market breakfast, a last walk along the water, then the train; cherries travel well in May and June, and apple season opens from September.

  1. Yantai seafood market
  2. Binhai Square

Budget for 10 days in Yantai

TierPer day10 days total
BackpackerUSD $50–$80USD $500–$800
Mid-rangeUSD $100–$200USD $1,000–$2,000
LuxuryUSD $300+USD $3,000+

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Frequently asked questions

What is the daily budget for Yantai?
Budget travelers: USD $50–$80/day. Mid-range: $100–$200/day. Luxury: $300+/day. These cover hotel, three meals, transit, and one paid attraction per day.
Do I need a visa to visit Yantai?
It depends on your passport — see our <a href="/china-visa-2026/">China visa guide</a> for the latest country-by-country list. Most Western passport holders can enter visa-free for 30 days as of 2026.
How do I get from the airport to the center of Yantai?
Yantai's main airport connects to the city center via airport bus, taxi, or metro where available. See the airport transfer section of our Yantai guide.
Can I use 10 days for both Yantai and a side trip?
Yes — with 10 days you can pair Yantai with one nearby city (e.g. a short rail or bus side trip) and still have buffer days.
Is Yantai safe for tourists?
Yes. Yantai has very low violent crime rates and is widely considered safe for foreign tourists. Standard petty-theft precautions apply. See our <a href="/is-china-safe-2026/">is China safe</a> page.

See also: Yantai travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.