One of the most enjoyable and healing moments while traveling was walking through parks with distinct seasonal charms—green grass, vibrant autumn leaves, and pure white snow. While every city has one or two landmark parks, Qingdao offers several must-visit parks, likely due to its vast land area in China. Even within the city, there are beautiful parks like Zhongshan Park, but today, I want to introduce a park worth visiting, slightly away from downtown Qingdao.
Located in Chengyang District, Qingdao, Century Park (世纪公园) was created to commemorate the 2008 Beijing Olympic sailing events held in Qingdao. This massive park, covering an area of 430,000 square meters, is also known as the “Olympic Park.” It features Olympic-related sculptures such as a torch platform, Olympic rings, and statues of athletes, alongside lawns, walking trails, and a lake—making it an ideal spot for a leisurely visit. The park also offers small amusement rides like bumper cars and carousels for children, as well as paddle and electric boats for use on the lake. Locals frequent this spot for activities like tai chi and square dancing, especially on weekends when it becomes very lively.
Interestingly, this park is also home to the second-largest meteorite in China, a fun sight to track down during your visit.
Another highlight of this park is its proximity to a Korean town. If you miss Korean food or enjoy it, this is a must-visit. The area, known as CMP, has a concentration of Korean restaurants, particularly in “Insadong” and the Nantang area.
Century Park Admission & Hours
• Admission: Free
• Hours: Open year-round, 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
How to Get There
• Subway: Take Qingdao Metro Line 3 to Chengyang (near Chengyang Railway Station). From there, it’s a 20-minute walk. Use the “Auto Navi” app and search for “世纪公园.” Since the walk doesn’t have much to see, you might prefer taking a taxi. Use the “DiDi” app and set your destination as “世纪公园.” Taxi fares are about 15 RMB.
• Bus: Convenient from downtown Qingdao. From 5.4 Square or Taidong Night Market, take bus #502, which stops right in front of the park. The bus stop is named “Century Park” (世纪公园).
