The coastal city of Qingdao emerges as a top destination during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. [Photo/Guanhai News]

Qingdao emerged as a top destination during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, ranking among China's top 10 extended-stay destinations.

Qingdao was the only Shandong city to be included on the list, seeing an 18 percent year-on-year increase in tourism bookings, solidifying its status as the leading coastal resort in northern China. Travelers from Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou accounted for over half of all visitors, while international platforms noted Qingdao's growing popularity among foreign tourists.

The city blended tradition with innovation through immersive experiences. Moonlight concerts aboard floating cruises at Fushan Bay offered majestic nighttime views, with 4,106 trips carrying nearly 187,900 passengers.

At Tsingtao Beer Museum, interactive theater programs and nighttime drama shows drew large crowds, with the museum attracting about 90,000 visitors in total, including 4,000 international visitors — a 130 percent surge. South Korean tourists were the dominant group, accounting for over 80 percent of all foreign visitors.

Cultural landmarks buzzed with energy. The retro streets of Dabaodao Cultural and Leisure Block hosted a traditional market featuring over 20 traditional crafts, while Qingdao Shanhaijian Nightless Town amazed visitors with mermaid performances, Hanfu parades, and fireworks. Not to be outdone, the "mini beer festival" at Qingdao's Golden Beach Beer City breathed new life into the city's signature beer culture with food, sports, and live events.

Wedding tourism also flourished, while film-inspired travel thrived too. Yangjiashili village, a filming site for TV dramas, welcomed over 7,000 visitors in a single day.

From moonlit bays and traditional brews to romantic heights and reel-worthy countryside views, Qingdao's vibrant holiday offerings set a new benchmark for cultural and coastal tourism.