Notes on a Seaside Summer Self-Drive Trip
From July 17 to August 1, 2013, I spent 16 days self-driving through Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and other areas, covering a distance of 1,925 kilometers, and successfully completed my seaside summer road trip.
Travel Route:
Beijing (S50-G2 Beijing–Shanghai Expressway) – Tianjin (G18 Rongwu Expressway) – Huanghua (G18) – Dongying (G18) – Jimo (G2011 Qingdao–Xinhe Expressway) – Rushan Nanhuang (S24 Weiqing Expressway-S206 Provincial Road) – Shan Yi Yue Hai Yuan – Rushan Nanhuang (S206 Provincial Road-S24 Weiqing Expressway) – Wendeng (S24) – Rongcheng (G309 National Road) – Chengshantou Scenic Area (S301-S302 Provincial Roads) – Liugong Island Wharf in Weihai City (S302 Provincial Road) – Penglai City (G18-S213) – Penglai Pavilion – Penglai City (S213-G18) – Laizhou (G18) – Dongying (G18) – Huanghua (G18) – Tianjin (G18 Rongwu Expressway) – Beijing (G3-S50).
Actual Route Taken:
Day 1 (July 17): Beijing to Rushan, Shandong — 871 km traveled. At 9:10, I set off with my mom in the car, taking the West Fifth Ring, South Fifth Ring, and East Fifth Ring to get onto G2 Beijing–Shanghai Expressway. Near Tianjin, we switched to G18 (Rongwu Expressway), passed through Huanghua, and stopped for lunch at 12:50 at the Wudi Service Area in Shandong. The buffet cost 30 RMB per person but was terrible. We filled up with gas for 340 RMB (93-octane gasoline priced at 7.16 RMB per liter). Following GPS directions, we turned onto G2011 Qingxin Expressway at Guojiafu Junction heading toward Qingdao, then transferred to S24 Weiqing Expressway toward Weihai at the Puwandong Junction near Jimo. Passing through Haiyang, we arrived in Rushan. The Weiqing Expressway runs close to the coast, and even while resting, the humidity was noticeable. I exited at Rushan Nanhuang, took S206 Provincial Road, and arrived at Yulong Apartment in Shan Yi Yue Hai Yuan at 19:15. After checking in, we had dinner at a restaurant outside the community and moved our luggage to the room. It’s a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment where you can cook your own meals. The residence is a 10-minute walk from the beach, and the sea is visible from the balcony — very cool. We planned to stay here for 14 days to escape the heat.
Days 2 to 14 (July 18–30): My mom and I enjoyed the seaside. In the morning, my mom took a walk in the garden and cooked mixed bean porridge. I woke up at 7, had breakfast, watched TV, and surfed the internet. At 11:30, we went out to eat at a local restaurant, usually ordering fish. In the evening, we either ate out or made noodles ourselves. After dinner, I accompanied my mom for a 40-minute walk, returned to watch TV, took a shower, and rested. Life was very regular. For the first six days, there was overcast weather, fog, and very cool sea breezes, though rather humid — clothes didn’t dry easily. Later, the sun came out, and while it was hot in direct sunlight, there was a gentle breeze, and it felt nice in the shade. We lived on a high floor, so there were no mosquitoes, and we never needed to use air conditioning. At night, we even needed blankets.
Day 15 (July 31): Rushan Nanhuang – Rongcheng – Chengshantou Scenic Area – Liugong Island Wharf in Weihai – Penglai City, traveling 409 km.
7After checking out, I departed at 7:30, driving along S206 Provincial Road to Rushan Nanhuang, then getting on S24 Weiqing Expressway. I exited at Wendeng and drove toward Rongcheng on G309 National Road. Arriving in Rongcheng at 9:30, I took S301-S302 Provincial Roads and reached Chengshantou Scenic Area at 10:40. I found the place just okay. Then I headed toward the Seal Island Wharf in Xixiakou. At 11:00, I bought tickets and ferry tickets for 100 RMB per person, boarded the boat at 11:15 to Seal Island — a small island about a 15-minute ferry ride from the mainland. The island is home to numerous black-tailed gulls, with circular boardwalks and stone stair paths for hiking. The whole loop takes about 30–40 minutes, and boats run every 30 minutes. At 12:25, we drove along S302 Provincial Road toward Weihai City, covering 45 km to reach Liugong Island Wharf. My mom didn’t want to visit Liugong Island, so I drove out of Weihai City, took G18 and then S211 toward Penglai City. After 165 km, I arrived in Penglai City at 17:00. It took quite some time to find a hotel with parking. I checked in at Nanhai Hotel, located east of Penglai Pavilion Street, at 18:30.
Day 16 (August 1): Visiting Penglai Pavilion – Penglai City – Laizhou – Dongying – Huanghua – Tianjin – Beijing, traveling 705 km.
6We got up and arrived at Penglai Pavilion at 7:00, buying tickets for 140 RMB per person and walking up to the pavilion itself. At 9:00, I left Penglai City, took S213 Provincial Road, and after 23 km switched to G18 Rongwu Expressway. Passing through Laizhou and Dongying, I refueled for 430 RMB at a service area (93-octane gasoline at 7.42 RMB per liter). Between 14:10 and 15:00, we encountered heavy rain within Shandong, with wipers on full speed and visibility barely manageable. I drove at around 40 km/h. Near Tianjin, I got on G3 Beijing–Tianjin Expressway back to Beijing, then transferred to S50, arriving home at 18:30. This marked the successful completion of my seaside summer road trip.
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