Weihai 威海

About Weihai

Offshore, Liugong Island preserves naval buildings and exhibitions connected with the Beiyang Fleet and the war of 1894–95. To the northwest, the International Bathing Beach follows a broad sandy bay backed by a coastal road and green spaces. Combine history and seaside time as separate outings, allowing for the island boat connection instead of treating the whole waterfront as one continuous beach walk.

The area was originally inhabited by Dongyi peoples, with settlement recorded from the middle Neolithic. Under the Han dynasty it was organized as Buye County, part of Donglai Commandery, and in 568, during the Northern Qi dynasty, Wendeng County was established there. In 1398, during the Ming dynasty, a garrison called Weihaiwei was set up to guard against pirate raids, taking the name Weihai from the phrase 'weizhen haijiang' (威震海疆), meaning to overawe the maritime frontier.

Weihai lies at the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, bordering Yantai to the west and facing the Yellow Sea to the north, east and south, with the Liaodong Peninsula opposite to the north and the Korean Peninsula to the east. Low hills and hills together make up more than two-thirds of the land, with plains accounting for 27.56 percent, islands 0.28 percent and tidal flats 4.01 percent. The coastline runs 985.9 kilometers along a jagged, bay-type coast, and the city covers a total area of 5,698 square kilometers, including a 769-square-kilometer urban district.

What to look for

• Liugong Island’s surviving naval complex and wartime museum displays.
• The long sandy bay and coastal greenway at the International Bathing Beach.

Location & getting there

Getting to Weihai

Choose the arrival area for your planned outing. Liugong Island boats depart from the tourist wharf at 101-2 Haibin North Road; the International Bathing Beach is reached from North Huanhai Road. Weihai and Weihai North are separate railway stations, so arrange the final transfer for the correct coast.