Weihai Travel Guide: Liugong Island, Chengshantou and the Bay
Weihai, at the eastern tip of Shandong, is a clean, breezy seaside city with one site of national weight. Liugong Island, a short ferry ride across the bay, was the base of the Qing Beiyang Fleet, China's first modern navy, which ended there in February 1895. Its war museum fills the old fleet headquarters. Give the island a full day (about ¥122 in 2026 listings for the ferry and entry), the waterfront an evening, and, if the weather is clear, a third day for sunrise at Chengshantou, the cape 60 km east that faces Korea. Fog and wind cancel ferries more often than visitors expect, so keep a spare day.
Getting in and where to stay
Weihai is on the Qingdao–Rongcheng intercity line, with fast trains to Qingdao and Yantai, and Weihai Airport has domestic flights. Taxis and buses reach the tourist pier on the downtown waterfront.
Stay downtown near the bay for an early ferry. The hotels along the Happy Coast promenade and the International Bathing Beach are better for summer swimming than for island logistics.
Places worth visiting
Liugong Island
The island, about 4 km long and 3.15 km², closes the mouth of Weihai Bay. From 1887 the Qing fortified it as the base for the Beiyang Fleet, which was formally established here in December 1888 under Admiral Ding Ruchang. In the First Sino-Japanese War the fleet was trapped in the harbour as Japanese troops took the forts around the bay. Ding killed himself, and on 17 February 1895 Japan took the island and the ten remaining ships. Britain then leased Weihaiwei from 1898 for four decades.
The First Sino-Japanese War Museum, a national first-grade museum, uses the fleet headquarters and other Qing buildings, plus a modern hall opened in 2008. Look for the twin main guns raised from the cruiser Jiyuan and the room where Ding died. Outside are the Longwang temple, Ding's residence, the T-shaped iron pier and the Huangdao, Donghong and Qiding Mountain forts; Qiding, at 153 m, is the highest point. Allow at least half a day after landing.
The ferry
Boats leave from the tourist pier downtown. Tickets come as a package of return ferry plus island entry, booked in advance under your real name; 2026 listings quote about ¥122. A cable car, an island bus with a submarine visit and a round-the-island boat are extras. Reported times put the last boat out in mid-afternoon and the last return around 18:00. A ¥31 autumn package for Weihai and Yantai residents ran in September–October 2026. Check the day's sailing notice before you go.
Chengshantou
About 60 km east, an hour by car, the cliffs of Chengshantou mark the eastern tip of the Shandong peninsula, 94 nautical miles from South Korea. It is promoted as the first place on mainland China where the sun rises over the sea: around 04:30–04:50 in summer and after 06:00 in winter. The scenic area has a sea-goddess temple with a shrine to Deng Shichang, the captain who died with the cruiser Zhiyuan in 1894, the area's first lighthouse, and sea stacks and caves. 2026 listings give about ¥148 for adults. For sunrise, sleep in Chengshan town; fog is common in June and July, and September–October is clearer.
The waterfront
The bay promenades, Happy Coast and the International Bathing Beach are free and are where the city spends its summer evenings. Many shop signs are in Korean as well as Chinese, a sign of the close links across the Yellow Sea.
When to come
May–June and September–October are the best months for walking and for clear views. Summers are milder than inland Shandong and are beach season, but sea fog and rain can stop ferries. Winters are cold and windy, and sailings may be cancelled. Bring a windproof layer for the island at any time of year.
Eating in Weihai
Seafood is the reason to eat here. Choose shellfish and fish from the tanks, and agree the price by weight before they cook. Sea cucumber is the luxury local speciality. Korean barbecue and cold noodles are easy to find.
How to arrange the route
- Day 1: arrive, walk the bay, early night.
- Day 2: first ferry to Liugong Island, museum and forts, seafood dinner.
- Day 3: Chengshantou by car (or sunrise if you slept there), then the train to Yantai, Qingdao or Weifang.
What to cut if short on time
With one day, do Liugong Island if the ferry is running; if it is not, walk the bay and visit Chengshantou instead. Chengshantou is the first to drop on a two-day trip.
Things to confirm before you go
- Ferry times and weather cancellations; book the package with the ID you will carry.
- Museum hours on the island.
- Chengshantou ticket, last entry and sunrise time.
- Seafood prices before cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need on Liugong Island?
Half a day for the museum and the main forts; a full day if you add the cable car and walks.
Can I see the sunrise at Chengshantou on a day trip from Weihai?
Only by leaving around 03:00 in summer. Stay near the cape instead.
Is Weihai worth visiting outside summer?
Yes. The island and museum are open all year, and autumn has the clearest air.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 16, 2026, and rechecked on October 21, 2026.
- Weihai https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weihai
- Weihai (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/威海市
- Beiyang Fleet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beiyang_Fleet
- 刘公岛 (Chinese Wikipedia) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/刘公岛
- Liugong Island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liugong_Island
- 中国甲午战争博物院 (Chinese Wikipedia) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/中国甲午战争博物院
- 成山头 (Chinese Wikipedia) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/成山头
- 2026 Liugong Island autumn offer (Weihai Municipal Government) https://www.weihai.gov.cn/art/2026/9/28/art_58820_6646085.html
- Chengshantou 2026 tickets and routes (Zhunaqu) https://www.zhunaqu.com/weihai/article/16719
Ticket prices and ferry times are 2026 listings; check the official notice before you go.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses; re-use requires attribution.
- weihai-liugong.jpg from File:View of Weihai Bay from Liugong Island.jpg, by Super Wang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- weihai-ferry.jpg from File:Ferries for Liugong Island (53993553070).jpg, by Scott Edmunds, CC BY 2.0
- weihai-port.jpg from File:Weihai.port de Liugong dao.jpg, by Popolon, CC BY-SA 3.0