Yantai

People27s_Republic_of_China

Yantai (烟台 Yāntái) is a port city in Shandong province, China.

Yantai is a small sleepy port city on the Shandong coast that to this day still retains some of its colonial charm. The city is fairly small but there is a bustling development zone and large container and shipbuilding ports. There are a number of western expats working here on the docks and teaching English.

Yantai is home to Yantai Raffles (in Chinese: 烟台莱福士船厂) (Coordinates: 37°35′48″ N,121°23′39″E), which owns the largest ship-building crane in the world, towering over the eastern edge of the T shaped peninsula. Yantai is known for tasty fruit, especially cherries, apples, peaches and pears and is also the home of Changyu Wines.

The seaside is home to a promenade for walking or relaxing. Among the seaside attractions is a great water, light and sound show: nightly at the promenade. It is definitely worth seeing.

Mandarin Chinese (普通话）is the lingua franca; the Yantai accent differs in tone distinction and is often described as gritty. Yantai is also the government seat for the surrounding areas and attracts many workers from those areas, each with a different flavor of Mandarin on a spectrum of intelligibility.

  • Changyu Wine Culture Museum, 56 Dama Rd (at the formal site of Chongyu Wine Company. Traces the history of the winery from 18th century up to 21st century. Changyu was founded in 1892 as a small wine maker. It has developed into a brand including brandy, red wine, vermouth and riesling white wine is. A display area showcases the development through pictures and videos. An underground cellar covers an area of over 2,600 m², and contains eight interlocked arches. It was the first underground wine cellar in Asia when it was completed in 1903. There are over 600 barrels in the cellar. Three King-Barrels, each with the capacity of housing 15 tones of wine, are the largest wine barrels in Asia, which have a history of over 100 years. There is a bar inside the cellar, where travelers can taste a variety of wine. While opening to tourists, the cellar is still in use for wine storage.
  • Polaris Museum of Watch Culture. Opened in 2009, this museum is based on the old watch factory of Old Chefoo/Zhifu.

Changyu Wine Culture Museum, 56 Dama Rd (at the formal site of Chongyu Wine Company. Traces the history of the winery from 18th century up to 21st century. Changyu was founded in 1892 as a small wine maker. It has developed into a brand including brandy, red wine, vermouth and riesling white wine is. A display area showcases the development through pictures and videos. An underground cellar covers an area of over 2,600 m², and contains eight interlocked arches. It was the first underground wine cellar in Asia when it was completed in 1903. There are over 600 barrels in the cellar. Three King-Barrels, each with the capacity of housing 15 tones of wine, are the largest wine barrels in Asia, which have a history of over 100 years. There is a bar inside the cellar, where travelers can taste a variety of wine. While opening to tourists, the cellar is still in use for wine storage.

Polaris Museum of Watch Culture. Opened in 2009, this museum is based on the old watch factory of Old Chefoo/Zhifu.

Nanshan Park.

Tashan Park.

Yantai Hill Park.

  • Changdao County/the Long Island. Changdao National Forest Park and Changdao National Nature Reserve are on the islands, which are on a cross-Bohai Sea flyway. The islands are often referred to as the Temple Islands (Chinese: Miaodao Qundao) because of the large number of temples that were built there. Xianying Palace is a temple that was built during the Northern Song Dynasty, starting in 1122. It was built as a Taoist temple to the sea goddess Matsu, but became Buddhist later. The local government has restored the temple to its Ming Dynasty appearance, although many additions had been made during the Qing. The Changdao Islands are now open to non-Chinese nationals.
  • Yangma Island. Although the name means Horse-breeding Island in Chinese, it is a great place for beachcombing.
  • Mu Family Manor. Traditional Chinese architecture of mid-late Qing Dynasty style. It's associated with a popular TV series aired in China.
  • Mount Kunyu. The birth place of Taoism in Yantai city. There is a mountain cave not far from kunyu mountain shaolin Kung Fu school (called Yan Xia cave) where it is said the founder of Taoism meditated for many years. There are eight statues, "The Eight Immortals," of important Taoists inside this cave today as a mark of respect.

Changdao County/the Long Island. Changdao National Forest Park and Changdao National Nature Reserve are on the islands, which are on a cross-Bohai Sea flyway. The islands are often referred to as the Temple Islands (Chinese: Miaodao Qundao) because of the large number of temples that were built there. Xianying Palace is a temple that was built during the Northern Song Dynasty, starting in 1122. It was built as a Taoist temple to the sea goddess Matsu, but became Buddhist later. The local government has restored the temple to its Ming Dynasty appearance, although many additions had been made during the Qing. The Changdao Islands are now open to non-Chinese nationals.

Yangma Island. Although the name means Horse-breeding Island in Chinese, it is a great place for beachcombing.

Mu Family Manor. Traditional Chinese architecture of mid-late Qing Dynasty style. It's associated with a popular TV series aired in China.

Mount Kunyu. The birth place of Taoism in Yantai city. There is a mountain cave not far from kunyu mountain shaolin Kung Fu school (called Yan Xia cave) where it is said the founder of Taoism meditated for many years. There are eight statues, "The Eight Immortals," of important Taoists inside this cave today as a mark of respect.

Summer - Go to the beach during the day and go to the bar at night.

There are two major beaches in Yantai, the First Beach (第一海水浴场) and Second Beach (第二海水浴场), and another one called Golden Sand Beach in the Economic Development Zone (about 25 min from city centre).

Winter - There is a skiing place in the Tashan Park during winter.

If you are the shopping type, Three Stations (pronounced in Mandarin like: San Jang; taxi drivers all know it well) market has almost everything you can imagine, including Chinese cultural nicknacks, calligraphy sets, silk paintings, tea houses, and tea shops, sculpture and statue shops, as well as many computer outlet markets, clothing shops, furniture stores, and department stores.

French-owned Yantai-based Louis Wann makes wines and a good brandy.

Changyu Winery has also been around for over 70 years and their wines are pretty good. .

One French restaurant, one Irish restaurant, one American-Diner style restaurant, a few Japanese and Korean restaurants and lots of Chinese seafood restaurants (well, what do you expect, it is the seaside!) Jusco in Laishan District has a number of Japanese, Korean and Chinese restaurants as well as McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut. Notable local specialties include sea cucumber soup (海参汤 Hǎishēn tāng), the "Yantai" variety of apple (烟台苹果 Yāntái píngguǒ), and sweet cherries (甜樱桃 Tián yīngtáo）

  • Penglaichen. Penglaichun is over 100 years old, and some of the dishes are truly fabulous. The dining experience is quaint and very well tailored to a lone gentleman diner, a well-to-do family, or an intimate dinner date. The staff is very friendly and well-mannered, and they invite foreigners in with open arms.
  • Jackies Cuisine, Southeast Entrance of Orient Haitian Hotel, Laishan District, +86-0535-6881800. Serves great Western-style food in a nice hard rock cafe-style environment, with many Europeans, Americans, Australians, and Chinese businessmen and women. It is a good place to meet some fellow English speakers, and also to just sit at the bar, eat peanuts and drink some great imported beers. They serve quesadillas, burgers, fries, fajitas (beef or chicken), chili, chips and salsa, fish and chips, et al. Jackie keeps the only real cheese inventory in Yantai, so if your hankering is for cheese, drop by and pick up a brick. Jackie is kind and fun loving. The staff speaks English very well. The TVs are often buzzing with concert videos of Queen, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and other great Western musical acts.
  • Penglaichun Restaurant, No.13 Dingxi Rd. It is a time-honored restaurant and specializes in cooking seafood. It's said that the dishes are tasty but not too expensive. The Quanjiafu (Hotchpotch), soft-fried oyster and scrambled eggs with agarics are particularly good.
  • Xile Restaurant, No.52 Huanshan Rd. Recommended for its food but its service and environment are not so good. Menu items that are particularly good include the fish dumplings, garlic-style scallop, and fried leek dumplings.
  • Shunshui-renqing, No.34 Haibin Rd. Quite good environment as it is near the Golden Beach. Recommended food: dove soup and pumpkin pie.
  • Yantai Renjia Old Restaurant, No.32 Beima Rd. Good service and dishes are moderately priced. It is not so crowded. Recommended food: Soft-fried Shrimp Meat, Stir fried Crab, Fish Ball Soup, Penglai Noodles.
  • Juxiangyuan Casserole, No.7 Huamao Street. It specializes in casserole, a dish with soup cooked in the clay pot. It comes in many flavors, such as beef, chicken with mushrooms, and vegetable.
  • Jackie's Cuisine (Seaview) Yantai, No.25 Binhai Middle Rd, 2nd Floor Zhong Tian Sheng Shi Guanlan, +86-0535-6881800. 11AM-11PM. ¥150.
  • Mingtien Coffee Language, No.51 Shifu St. Serves coffee and western food.

Penglaichen. Penglaichun is over 100 years old, and some of the dishes are truly fabulous. The dining experience is quaint and very well tailored to a lone gentleman diner, a well-to-do family, or an intimate dinner date. The staff is very friendly and well-mannered, and they invite foreigners in with open arms.

Jackies Cuisine, Southeast Entrance of Orient Haitian Hotel, Laishan District, +86-0535-6881800. Serves great Western-style food in a nice hard rock cafe-style environment, with many Europeans, Americans, Australians, and Chinese businessmen and women. It is a good place to meet some fellow English speakers, and also to just sit at the bar, eat peanuts and drink some great imported beers. They serve quesadillas, burgers, fries, fajitas (beef or chicken), chili, chips and salsa, fish and chips, et al. Jackie keeps the only real cheese inventory in Yantai, so if your hankering is for cheese, drop by and pick up a brick. Jackie is kind and fun loving. The staff speaks English very well. The TVs are often buzzing with concert videos of Queen, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and other great Western musical acts.

Penglaichun Restaurant, No.13 Dingxi Rd. It is a time-honored restaurant and specializes in cooking seafood. It's said that the dishes are tasty but not too expensive. The Quanjiafu (Hotchpotch), soft-fried oyster and scrambled eggs with agarics are particularly good.

Xile Restaurant, No.52 Huanshan Rd. Recommended for its food but its service and environment are not so good. Menu items that are particularly good include the fish dumplings, garlic-style scallop, and fried leek dumplings.

Shunshui-renqing, No.34 Haibin Rd. Quite good environment as it is near the Golden Beach. Recommended food: dove soup and pumpkin pie.

Yantai Renjia Old Restaurant, No.32 Beima Rd. Good service and dishes are moderately priced. It is not so crowded. Recommended food: Soft-fried Shrimp Meat, Stir fried Crab, Fish Ball Soup, Penglai Noodles.

Juxiangyuan Casserole, No.7 Huamao Street. It specializes in casserole, a dish with soup cooked in the clay pot. It comes in many flavors, such as beef, chicken with mushrooms, and vegetable.

Jackie's Cuisine (Seaview) Yantai, No.25 Binhai Middle Rd, 2nd Floor Zhong Tian Sheng Shi Guanlan, +86-0535-6881800. 11AM-11PM. ¥150.

Mingtien Coffee Language, No.51 Shifu St. Serves coffee and western food.

Chaoyang Street is known as the Bar Street among the expats is the place to be seen in Yantai! Although it has a slightly seedy reputation within the city, Chaoyang Street is most definitely the expats' first port of call when feeling homesick. Trendy locals and ex-pats mix along the street, and for many westerners its the only place where you can bump into other native English-speakers.

  • Bohemia Bar, Chaoyang Jie (on the corner of the northern, seaside-end of the street. A welcoming and relaxing western-owned joint to start an evening in.
  • Havana bar. It's midway down Chaoyang street, plays good western music and has a fantastic atmosphere after midnight if you want to dance (again, western staff).
  • Druid's Irish Pub & Restaurant. An Irish pub with typical Irish decor. With Guinness, Kilkenny, Magners Irish Cider, Strongbow, Stella Artois and Heineken on tap, good Irish music and soft rock, genuine wood interior, satellite tv, pool room, library with wireless internet, it is the place to go. Located midway down Chao Yang Jie, number 56. Has a great Western Restaurant downstairs as well.
  • Baby Face Club. It's downtown, and the only real clubbing experience Yantai offers. Baby Face Club has loud house music, laser lights galore, poor bar service, cover charge and cross dressing bartenders.

Bohemia Bar, Chaoyang Jie (on the corner of the northern, seaside-end of the street. A welcoming and relaxing western-owned joint to start an evening in.

Havana bar. It's midway down Chaoyang street, plays good western music and has a fantastic atmosphere after midnight if you want to dance (again, western staff).

Druid's Irish Pub & Restaurant. An Irish pub with typical Irish decor. With Guinness, Kilkenny, Magners Irish Cider, Strongbow, Stella Artois and Heineken on tap, good Irish music and soft rock, genuine wood interior, satellite tv, pool room, library with wireless internet, it is the place to go. Located midway down Chao Yang Jie, number 56. Has a great Western Restaurant downstairs as well.

Baby Face Club. It's downtown, and the only real clubbing experience Yantai offers. Baby Face Club has loud house music, laser lights galore, poor bar service, cover charge and cross dressing bartenders.

Consider getting yourself a local prepaid mobile phone number you are planning to stay in China longer than 3 days. Most mobile telecommunication providers have promotional rates for new SIM card number. ¥20 for ¥100 worth of talk time.

You can find some Internet cafes, just look for the word 网吧, and the price is generally fair. Note that only adults (in China, the age is 18) are permitted to enter Internet cafes.

Just like anywhere else in mainland China, most western websites are blocked due to the Great Firewall (防火长城) in Yantai.