Xiaoqingdao Island & Lu Xun Park
小青岛
The island that gave Qingdao its name, with a white lighthouse and the “Floating Lights of Qin Islet.” Together with the adjoining Lu Xun Park’s red reefs, black pines and seaside path, it makes a classic old-town seaside route.
Xiaoqingdao sits in Qingdao Bay, east of Zhanqiao Pier. The islet covers just 0.024 square kilometers. It is shaped like an ancient Chinese zither, known as a qin, which is how it got its nickname “Qin Island,” and the city of Qingdao takes its name from it. In 1900 the Germans built a white octagonal lighthouse on the island, 15.5 meters high. It is now a nationally protected cultural heritage site. At night, the lighthouse and island lights reflected on the water are known as the “Floating Lights of Qin Islet,” one of the old Ten Scenic Spots of Qingdao. A 700-meter breakwater connects the island to the mainland. On the island you will find a statue of a qin player, black pines and cherry trees. A ring path offers views of Zhanqiao Pier, the old town skyline and the decommissioned warships of the Naval Museum. Lu Xun Park lies on the east side of Xiaoqingdao and extends about 1 km along the coast. Built in 1929, it features red reefs, black pine forest and seaside paths, making it the most characterful seaside park in old Qingdao. It has a statue of Lu Xun and a stone inscription reading “Lu Xun Park.” At low tide, visitors can walk out onto the reefs to gather marine life. The eastern end of the park connects to the No.1 Bathing Beach and Huiquan Bay. Admission to Xiaoqingdao is about CNY 10 (CNY 15 in peak season), and Lu Xun Park is free. Getting there: a 15-minute walk from People’s Hall Station on Metro Line 3 or Qingdao Station. From Zhanqiao, walk 10 minutes along the seafront to reach Xiaoqingdao, then continue east into Lu Xun Park. The suggested plan is to visit in the late afternoon, climb Xiaoqingdao to watch the sunset and the lighthouse come on, then walk the Lu Xun Park path to the No.1 Bathing Beach. The full walk takes about 1.5 hours. The neighboring Naval Museum, where you can board a submarine and a destroyer for about CNY 30, is good for families. Note: the breakwater is closed when winds and waves are strong. The reefs are slippery, and you should watch for rising tides while gathering marine life.
Opening hours
Little Qingdao 07:30–19:00 (extended in peak season); Lu Xun Park open all day
Nearby sights
- Zhanqiao Pier
- PLA Navy Museum
- Qingdao Tianhou Temple
- Qingdao German Prison Site Museum
- Lao She's Former Residence (Camel Xiangzi Museum)
- Qingdao Protestant Church
- Qingdao Underwater World
- Daxue Road & Yushan Road
Places to eat nearby
- Minguohai Seafood Dumpling Restaurant (Zhongshan Road Zhanqiao Branch)
- Wangjie BBQ (Zhongshan Road Branch)
- Chunhelou (Zhongshan Road Head Office)
- Yongle Beer House (Chengwu Road Branch)
- Yiqinghui · Seafood Qingdao Cuisine (May Fourth Square Flagship Store)
- Shuangheyuan · Seafood Dumplings Qingdao Cuisine (Xuanhua Road Branch)