Weihai Huaxia City Scenic Area is located in Huancui District, Weihai City, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of about 2,700 mu. With "Chinese civilization" as its theme, the scenic area integrates natural landscapes, cultural attractions, folk experiences, and large-scale live performances. It is a large cultural tourism complex that combines sightseeing, leisure vacations, and cultural experiences. The scenic area contains antique-style building complexes such as the Huaxia First Archway, Xia Garden, Yuwang Palace, and Taiping Zen Temple, with a total construction area of about 180,000 square meters, of which the core scenic spots have a construction area of 86,000 square meters. The scenic area is characterized by combining traditional culture with modern tourism functions. By restoring historical scenes and performing classic stories, it presents the development of Chinese civilization. It also has rich ecological landscapes, with a greening coverage rate of over 70%. It is a landmark scenic area for cultural tourism in Weihai City.
Historical Culture
Although Weihai Huaxia City Scenic Area is a modern reconstructed cultural scenic area, it deeply explores and displays the historical context of Chinese civilization. With time as its axis, from ancient legends to modern civilization, the scenic area systematically presents the development process of Chinese culture through architecture, sculpture, performances, and other forms.
Yuwang Palace is one of the core cultural buildings in the scenic area. It is based on the historical legend of Yu the Great controlling floods. Inside the hall, there are reliefs showing scenes of Yu the Great controlling floods and ancient flood-control tools, reproducing Yu the Great's spirit of dedication in "passing by his home three times without entering," echoing the early history of the Chinese nation governing nature and creating civilization.
The history of Taiping Zen Temple can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. It was originally named "Taiping Monastery" and was once an important Buddhist activity site in the Weihai area. It was later damaged due to historical changes. The scenic area rebuilt the temple near the original site, preserving cultural relics such as the original inscriptions and continuing the local Buddhist cultural heritage. The Tang-style buildings and Buddha statues in the temple display the religious art characteristics of the High Tang period.
The large-scale live performance "Legend of Divine Travel" is an important carrier of cultural display. Through six chapters, it connects important historical events and legends in Chinese civilization, such as Pangu creating the world, Nüwa creating humanity, and the Silk Road. It uses modern lighting, sound effects, machinery, and other technologies to allow the audience to immersively experience the profound heritage of Chinese culture. Since its launch in 2013, this performance has become an important calling card showcasing the charm of Weihai's cultural tourism.
Main Attractions
Huaxia First Archway
The Huaxia First Archway is the landmark entrance building of the scenic area. It is 21 meters high and 86 meters wide, adopting a five-bay, six-pillar structure. The top of the archway is covered with glazed tiles. The beams and columns are carved with auspicious animal patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilin, as well as reliefs of historical stories related to Chinese civilization, with a total of 175 carved patterns and 12,000 glazed tiles used for decoration, creating a magnificent momentum. The front of the archway is inscribed with the three large characters "Huaxia City," and the back is inscribed with "Divine Journey to the East." It is currently one of the largest archways in China, symbolizing the long history of Chinese civilization.
Xia Garden
Xia Garden is located in the central part of the scenic area, covering an area of about 18,000 square meters. It is themed around the history and culture of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties and consists of an worship platform, totem poles, and a bronze ware exhibition area. In the garden stand 12 totem poles, each 6 meters high, carved with ancient totems such as the sun, dragon, and phoenix, displaying the primitive worship of the ancestors. The bronze ware exhibition area displays replicas of representative bronze wares such as the Houmuwu Ding and Four-goat Square Zun, restoring the bronze civilization of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The water landscape project in the garden covers an area of about 3,000 square meters, creating a lively garden atmosphere through fountains, cascading water, and other landscapes.
Yuwang Palace
Yuwang Palace is a palace-style building built to commemorate Yu the Great's flood control. It covers an area of about 23,000 square meters. The main building is 36 meters high and adopts the architectural style of Ming and Qing palaces, with vermilion walls paired with yellow glazed tiles, solemn and majestic. In the center of the hall is a 9.9-meter-high statue of Yu the Great. The large murals on the surrounding walls depict the entire process of Yu the Great controlling floods, with a total mural area of 580 square meters. The exhibition halls on both sides display ancient water conservancy project models, flood-control documents, and other materials, systematically introducing the development of ancient Chinese water conservancy civilization. It is a core attraction in the scenic area for displaying the early history of Chinese civilization.
Taiping Zen Temple
Taiping Zen Temple covers an area of about 12,000 square meters. It is a Tang-style building complex consisting of the mountain gate, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, and Sutra Library. The Mahavira Hall is 25 meters high. Inside the hall are three large Buddha statues: Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Medicine Buddha. The statues are 8 meters high, carved from camphor wood, and are resplendent in gold. The temple preserves a Tang Dynasty "Taiping Monastery" broken stele, with clearly legible inscriptions, which is an important witness to the temple's history. Trees such as pines and cypresses are planted around the temple, creating a quiet and serene religious atmosphere. It is a place for tourists to experience Buddhist culture.
"Legend of Divine Travel" Live Performance Venue
The "Legend of Divine Travel" live performance venue is located among the mountains and waters in the eastern part of the scenic area, covering an area of about 45,000 square meters. It adopts a rotatable audience seating design. The audience seating has a diameter of 65 meters and can accommodate 2,000 spectators at the same time. The performance uses natural mountains and waters as its background and combines lighting, fireworks, water screens, and other special effects to create an immersive performance experience. The performance is divided into six chapters, including "Creation of Heaven and Earth," "Seeking Ancestral Origins," and "Harmony Between Heaven and Earth." It lasts 60 minutes and, through the performances of more than 300 actors, displays the development process of Chinese civilization. It is one of the most distinctive cultural experience projects in the scenic area.
Weihai Shenyou Ocean World
Weihai Shenyou Ocean World is adjacent to Huaxia City Scenic Area and covers an area of about 55,000 square meters. It is a large aquarium integrating marine life display, science education, and interactive experiences. The museum has more than 10 exhibition areas, including a tropical rainforest area, underwater tunnel, and polar animal hall, displaying more than 300 species and over 20,000 marine organisms, including beluga whales, penguins, and sharks. Among them, the underwater tunnel is 100 meters long, and visitors can watch marine life swimming through acrylic glass. The penguin exhibition area in the polar animal hall is controlled at a temperature of -5°C, restoring the living environment of Antarctica. It is a popular attraction for family trips and complements the cultural landscapes of Huaxia City.
Food
Special Foods Inside the Scenic Area
The "Huaxia Flavor Restaurant" inside the scenic area specializes in Weihai local seafood and Shandong cuisine. "Weihai Prawns Braised with Chinese Cabbage" is a classic local dish. It uses fresh prawns from Weihai Bay and braises them with Chinese cabbage. The shrimp meat is tender, and the cabbage absorbs the umami of the shrimp. One dish costs about 68 yuan. "Scallions Braised with Sea Cucumber" uses sea cucumbers from Bohai Bay and is braised with Zhangqiu scallions. It is soft, glutinous, and flavorful. One portion costs about 168 yuan and is suitable for banquets or sharing among several people. The restaurant also offers a "Seafood Platter," including seasonal seafood such as scallops, clams, and oysters. One portion costs about 120 yuan, satisfying tourists' desire to taste seafood.
Jiaodong Large Steamed Buns
Jiaodong large steamed buns are a traditional staple food in Weihai and surrounding areas and can be tasted at the "Folk Snack Street" inside the scenic area. This kind of steamed bun uses flour as the main ingredient and is kneaded and fermented with milk, eggs, and other ingredients. After steaming, it is large in size and soft in texture. Common shapes include round buns and fish-shaped buns. Among them, fish-shaped buns symbolize "abundance year after year." One costs about 8 yuan. It can not only be used as a staple food but also, because of its beautiful shape, has become a favorite souvenir for tourists.
Spanish Mackerel Dumplings
Spanish mackerel dumplings are a specialty food of the Jiaodong Peninsula. The "Fisherman's Dumpling Restaurant" inside the scenic area features freshly wrapped and freshly boiled dumplings. Fresh Spanish mackerel is selected, bones are removed, and the fish is minced, then mixed with chives to make the filling. The dumplings are wrapped in crescent shapes, with thin skin and generous filling, full of freshness. One portion (20 dumplings) costs about 45 yuan. The dumpling restaurant also offers seafood snacks such as cuttlefish dumplings and sea urchin steamed egg, satisfying different tourists' tastes.
Surrounding Food
About 3 kilometers from the scenic area, Weihai Economic Development Zone Food Street gathers more local specialty foods. "Weihai Clear Soup" is a traditional local breakfast. It uses pork bone soup as the base and adds fresh meatballs, cilantro, seaweed, and other ingredients. One bowl costs about 15 yuan. It is light and refreshing. "Rushan Happy Cake" is a specialty of Rushan City. It is baked from flour, eggs, and sugar. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with moderate sweetness. One costs about 3 yuan. It can be bought at the "Old Brand Happy Cake Shop" on the food street and is suitable as a snack or souvenir.
Tickets：
Ticket 99 yuan/person (including the glass bridge). Ticket 160 yuan/person (including Shenyou Ocean World).
You can search for the official WeChat public account "Weihai Huaxia City" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
Opening hours: April-October 8:00-17:30; November-next March 8:30-17:00.
"Legend of Divine Travel" live performance time: April-October every evening at 19:30 (may be suspended in rain or special weather, please check in advance). The performance lasts about 60 minutes.
Weihai Shenyou Ocean World opening hours: April-October 8:30-17:30; November-next March 9:00-17:00.
Recommended Tour Route：
Recommended one-day tour route (excluding Ocean World): Arrive at the scenic area at 8:30 a.m., visit the Huaxia First Archway (30 minutes); enter Xia Garden at 9:00 to learn about Xia, Shang, and Zhou culture (1 hour); go to Yuwang Palace at 10:00 to view murals and flood-control culture displays (1.5 hours); have lunch at Huaxia Flavor Restaurant at 11:30; visit Taiping Zen Temple at 13:00 to experience Buddhist culture (1 hour); taste snacks such as Jiaodong large steamed buns and Spanish mackerel dumplings at Folk Snack Street at 14:00 (1 hour); stroll along the scenic area's ecological trail at 15:00 and enjoy the mountain and water landscapes (1.5 hours); return near the scenic area entrance at 16:30 to rest and prepare to watch the 19:30 "Legend of Divine Travel" performance, ending the day's itinerary.
If Shenyou Ocean World is included, it is recommended to arrange a two-day tour. On the first day, visit Huaxia City Scenic Area and watch the performance. On the second morning, go to Ocean World (about 4 hours of play), and in the afternoon, you can go to seaside attractions such as Weihai International Bathing Beach.
Transportation：
Public transportation: In Weihai city, take buses No. 35, 41, or 58 to the "Huaxia City" stop and walk about 300 meters to the scenic area entrance; from Weihai Station (train station), take bus No. 41 directly to the scenic area, about 20 minutes, fare 1 yuan; from Weihai North Station (high-speed rail station), take bus K2 to the "Huaxia City" stop, about 40 minutes, fare 2 yuan.
Self-driving: From downtown Weihai (Huancui Tower), drive south along Qingdao Middle Road and turn onto Huaxia Road to reach the scenic area. The total distance is about 8 kilometers, and the drive takes 15 minutes. From Weihai Dashuibo International Airport, drive along Weiqing Expressway and turn onto Century Avenue to Huaxia City Scenic Area. The total distance is about 40 kilometers, and the drive takes 50 minutes. The scenic area parking lot charges 5 yuan/hour and has ample parking spaces.
Taxi/ride-hailing: From Weihai Station to the scenic area is about 5 kilometers, about 10 minutes by car, and the cost is about 12 yuan; from Weihai International Bathing Beach to the scenic area is about 15 kilometers, about 25 minutes by car, and the cost is about 30 yuan.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Huaxia First Archway: A large archway 21 meters high and 86 meters wide, with exquisite carvings. It is a landmark building of the scenic area and is included free with the scenic area ticket.
Yuwang Palace: A 23,000-square-meter palace-style building displaying the culture of Yu the Great controlling floods. It is a core attraction for understanding early Chinese civilization and is included in the scenic area ticket.
"Legend of Divine Travel" live performance: Starting at 299 yuan/person. A 60-minute immersive performance using modern technology to display Chinese civilization. It is a distinctive experience project in the scenic area.
Taiping Zen Temple: A 12,000-square-meter Tang-style temple preserving historical inscriptions. Experience Buddhist culture. Included in the scenic area ticket.
Weihai Shenyou Ocean World: 160 yuan/person. Displays more than 300 species of marine life and complements the cultural landscapes. Suitable for family trips.
Travel Suggestions：
The scenic area is large. It is recommended to spend 1-2 days. If watching the "Legend of Divine Travel" performance, arrange time from evening to night.
In summer (June-August), pay attention to sun protection when visiting. There are many shady trees in the scenic area, but it is still necessary to bring a sun hat and sunscreen. In winter (December-February), temperatures are relatively low, so pay attention to keeping warm. Some outdoor attractions may have their experience affected by weather.
Buying combination tickets is more cost-effective than buying tickets separately, especially for tourists planning to watch the performance or visit Ocean World. You can buy tickets in advance through the official public account to avoid queuing on site.
For the "Legend of Divine Travel" performance, it is recommended to enter 1 hour early and choose seats closer to the middle for a better view. Some scenes in the performance involve splashing water, so you may prepare a disposable raincoat in advance (available in the scenic area for 5 yuan/piece).
For tasting seafood, it is recommended to choose restaurants inside the scenic area or formal restaurants and check the freshness of the ingredients. Avoid buying from mobile vendors to prevent food safety issues.
Notes：
Some buildings in the scenic area have many steps. The elderly and children should pay attention to walking safety. Wheelchairs can be rented in the scenic area (50 yuan/day, with a 300 yuan deposit required).
The "Legend of Divine Travel" performance venue is an open-air theater. In case of rain, it may be canceled or postponed. Before traveling, be sure to check the weather forecast and follow official notices from the scenic area.
Some areas in Ocean World are dark and the floor is slippery. Tourists with children should keep an eye on them and avoid chasing and playing.
Pets, flammable and explosive items are prohibited in the scenic area. Smoking must be in designated areas. Please protect environmental hygiene and do not litter.
During holidays (May Day, National Day, summer vacation), there are many tourists. It is recommended to enter at off-peak times (8:00-9:00 a.m. or after 14:00 p.m.). If parking spaces are tight, choose public transportation.