Little Fish Hill Park (Xiaoyushan Park)

The basics

There’s a small charge to visit Little Fish Hill Park, which you can pay in cash on arrival. It’s easy enough to visit independently, but a guided city tour will save you piecing together Qingdao’s metro system. Most visits are just a short stop to enjoy the classically styled gardens and capture photos from Lanchao Pavilion, though you could always take a picnic and spend longer.

Things to know before you go

• Little Fish Hill Park is a good choice for photographers and sightseers.

• Allow 15–45 minutes to visit the park, depending on how many photos you are taking.

• Little Fish Hill Park is wheelchair friendly, with made paths, but Lanchao Pavilion has stairs.

How to get there

Little Fish Hill Park sits just above No. 1 Bathing Beach and the Qingdao Aquarium in central Qingdao. The best metro station is Huiquan Square (Line 3), which is about a 10-minute walk east of the park.

When to get there

Little Fish Hill Park is open seven days a week from early morning until late afternoon. It’s most popular at weekends. The best time to visit Qingdao in general is from March through November, when it's generally warm and sunny.

Things to do in nature in Qingdao

Besides Little Fish Hill Park, Qingdao offers a range of different parks and gardens: Signal Hill Park boasts spectacular views of the colonial Old Town, while Qingdao Lu Xun Park delivers pine trees and sea views. But the ultimate Qingdao nature destination is the Laoshan Scenic Area, a sacred mountain with sea views, rugged peaks, and Taoist temples. It’s about 25 miles (40 kilometers) outside the city center.