Qingdao, a city designated as the tourism and cultural capital of the SCO for 2024-2025, boasts a myriad of distinctive recreational activities on winter days such as watching snow-covered landscape, feeding sea gulls, taking a hot spring bath, going to a fair, walking around old streets, looking for trendy Chinese items, tasting tea and eating Shandong cuisines, which can help drive a new surge in cultural tourism in winter

The Laoshan Mountain Scenic Spots will take on a new look in winter. As the weather turns colder, such exceptional scenery as sea of clouds, soft rime and ice cascade will appear in a successive manner. On winter days, tourists can take the sea route “Going after Sea Gulls and Chasing Waves” to watch on the sea the picture of harmonious co-existence between Zhanqiao Pier, sea gulls and old urban areas. When night falls, thanks to the dedicated route “A Night of Thanksgiving and Venture on the Sea” which began on November 8 and will last until November 30, tourists can take a night tour of Foshan Bay to have utterly new experience.

As winter unfolds, an imminent ice-snow feast will be put on. Ice and snow resort with distinctive characteristics such as Sunac Cangmashan Ski Resort, Yueji Mountain Ski Resort, Beizhai High Mountain Ski Resort emerge in an endless stream. 11 cultural tourism companies have founded the “Sea Spring Cultural Tourism Alliance” to complement each other’s advantages, roll out innovative products and improve services. Coupled with Yellow River Bazaar, fine food designated as intangible cultural heritage, handicrafts and local Liu Opera and Mao Opera performances, such recreational activities will present thriving cultural tourism in winter.  (Ma Xiaoting)

Tourists are having fun with sea gulls on Zhanqiao Pier. By Wei Nibang