A coastal city where immortals were said to live
Yantai, on the north coast of the Shandong Peninsula, is a city where sea and legend meet. Ancient Chinese mythology held that the island of Penglai — just across Yantai's waters — was home to the Eight Immortals, and the Penglai Pavilion complex still gazes out over the sea as it has for a thousand years, wrapped in mist and myth.
The city itself offers more than 900 kilometers of coastline. First Beach and Moon Bay are beloved for swimming, while the Changdao island chain is a scenic wonderland of cliffs, sea caves, and bird sanctuaries. Yantai Hill, with its restored European consulate buildings, recalls the city's treaty-port past.
Yantai is also China's wine capital. The region's temperate climate and mineral-rich soil make it ideal for vineyards, and chateaux such as Changyu — China's oldest winery — offer tastings and cellar tours. Fresh seafood from the Bohai Sea and a gentle seaside pace complete the picture of this alluring coastal escape.
