Walk the Water's Edge at Moon Lake and Laixi Lake
Step into the crescent-shaped Moon Lake Park at the heart of the city and understand why Laixi calls itself Qingdao's Back Garden. The park traces the curves of the reshaped Su River, a 24-hour open space where you can walk the shoreline and watch how a city has reclaimed and reimagined its waterfront. If you want to venture further, Laixi Lake lies 10 km outside the city near Lakeside Park—a larger, quieter expanse ringed by restaurants and small hotels that still holds the rural atmosphere of the Jiaodong Peninsula, free to visit anytime.
Immerse Yourself in Local Culture at Museums and Performance Spaces
The Laiyi Culture and Music Museum sits opposite Moon Lake, where you can watch live performances of traditional Laiyi music and try playing the instruments yourself. Its collection of porcelain and stone carvings opens a window onto Laixi's deep cultural layers. For a more hands-on encounter with living heritage, visit the Lacey Puppet Art Museum to operate the intricately carved puppets—you control their blinking eyes, turning heads, and voices, learning the craft that has survived as Laixi's distinctive intangible cultural heritage. The Luxiangge Museum, located on Nanjing North Road, showcases local history and art while offering locally made crafts and souvenirs that carry the city's character home with you.
Taste Wine and Pick Fruit in the Rural Countryside
Laixi's reputation rests on grapes and winemaking. At Chateau Nine Peaks in Yuanshang Town, you can tour the underground cellar, taste wines of different vintages, and learn how Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are cultivated in this northern climate. The vineyard sits on beautiful grounds—ideal for photography or camping. For a broader farm experience, Shuanglongquan Family Farm offers fruit picking, fishing, suspension bridges, and slides suitable for families and team outings. Both venues let you see where the region's agricultural reputation comes from.
Explore Mountain Landscapes and Ancient Roots
Xianzu Mountain Scenic Area, 10 km northwest of the city, combines natural beauty with historical and cultural significance. The site features the "Fairy Footprints" said to be left by Zhang Guolao, remnants from the Sino-Japanese War, and Laixi's only temple, the Guanyin Temple. Multiple orchards dot the slopes where you can pick chestnuts, cherries, and tea. For those interested in deeper history, the Nanlan Ruins on Provincial Road 307 preserve pottery, stone tools, and architectural remains from the late Neolithic Age—a direct link to the ancient civilizations that shaped this landscape. Both sites are free and open around the clock.
Relax at Lakeside Thermal Springs and Ecological Parks
Bailuhu Hot Spring Resort on Changguang Road offers natural hot springs with therapy pools, indoor and outdoor facilities, private rooms, and lakeside trails—a place to decompress after exploring. The Qingdao Lakeside Ecological Park, the largest of its kind on the Jiaodong Peninsula, opens at 05:00 if you want to catch the morning light across the water. Both are designed for the kind of unhurried leisure that draws visitors to this corner of Qingdao.
Laixi rewards visitors who slow down and engage with its particular blend of rural heritage, contemporary water-front design, and working vineyards. Start planning a visit around grape-picking season or one of the traditional festivals—Spring Festival with its dragon dances, or the Mid-Autumn Festival's moon-viewing ceremonies—to catch the city at its most alive.