The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area is located on the north side of Binhai Avenue in Penglai District, Yantai City, Shandong Province, bordering the Yellow Sea. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. With the myth and legend of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" as its core theme, the scenic area combines classical garden architecture with coastal natural scenery to create a highly mythical "fairyland" landscape. Its feature lies in using Eight Immortals culture as the thread and reproducing legendary scenes through sculptures, architecture, gardens, and other forms, allowing visitors to immersively experience the charm of mythological stories. The scenic area covers an area of about 55,000 square meters, of which water area accounts for about 40%, and building area is about 12,000 square meters. The overall layout is in the shape of a treasure gourd, symbolizing "both fortune and prosperity," echoing the artistic conception of the legend of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea." Within the garden, pavilions, terraces, and towers are arranged in picturesque disorder, surrounded by seawater, fully displaying the elegant and spiritual air of a "mountain of immortals on the sea."
Historical Culture
The legend of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea originated in the Northern Song Dynasty. After a thousand years of transmission, it has become one of the most influential mythological stories in Chinese folk culture. In the legend, after drinking wine at Penglai Pavilion, the eight immortals Tieguai Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi, and Cao Guojiu each crossed the sea relying on their own magic treasures. From this came the idiom "The Eight Immortals cross the sea, each displaying their own divine powers." This legend was not only recorded in classics such as Journey to the East, but also widely spread through opera, painting, folk stories, and other forms, becoming a symbol of the wisdom and courage of the Chinese nation.
Relying on this profound cultural heritage, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area officially opened to the public in 2000. Although it is a modern newly built scenic area, it strictly follows the thread of the legend and traditional architectural style, integrating mythological elements with historical culture. A large number of sculptures, inscriptions, and couplets preserved in the scenic area are all themed on the legend of the Eight Immortals, many of them created by famous masters. They not only continue the inheritance of mythological culture, but also provide visitors with tangible carriers for understanding folk legends and Taoist culture, enabling the cultural symbol of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" to be concretely presented.
Main Attractions
Eight Immortals Archway
The Eight Immortals Archway is the entrance archway of the scenic area. It is 9 meters high and 12 meters wide. It is an antique-style building with four pillars, three bays, and seven roofs. The carving is exquisite. The four large characters "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" on the archway plaque were inscribed by a famous calligrapher. The two sides of the archway are carved with patterns of the Eight Immortals' magic treasures, corresponding respectively to Tieguai Li's gourd, Han Zhongli's fan, Zhang Guolao's fish drum, and so on, symbolizing the divine powers of the Eight Immortals. It is the first cultural landscape upon entering the scenic area, both highlighting the theme of the scenic area and containing auspicious meaning.
Wangying Tower
Wangying Tower is one of the landmark buildings of the scenic area. It is 38 meters high and has five floors in total. It is an octagonal pointed-roof pavilion, with an observation platform on each floor. The building has painted beams and carved pillars and is magnificent. Ascending the tower, one can look far into the vast sea view of the Yellow Sea and overlook the entire scenic area. Inside the tower are murals and wood carvings of the legend of the Eight Immortals, telling the story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea in detail. Among them, the large mural Picture of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea on the third floor is 15 meters long and 3 meters high, with brilliant colors and vivid figures, and can be called an artistic masterpiece.
Eight Immortals Shrine
The Eight Immortals Shrine is the core place for worshipping the statues of the Eight Immortals. Its building area is about 600 square meters, and it is a single-eave xieshan-style building. In the center of the shrine, colored statues of the eight immortals are arranged in order, about 2 meters high, with different expressions and lifelike appearances, reproducing the classic images of the Eight Immortals. On the walls on both sides inside the shrine are engraved poems and allusions related to the Eight Immortals. In the courtyard outside the shrine is a Bagua array, where visitors can feel the integration of Taoist culture and mythological legends. It is a popular place in the scenic area for praying and making wishes.
Huixian Pavilion
Huixian Pavilion is located on a small island in the middle of the scenic area and is connected to the main scenic area by a sea-crossing bridge. It is 26 meters high and is a four-story pavilion-style building. Inside the pavilion are statues of the Three Pure Ones of Taoism and various immortals, showing the scene of "a gathering of immortals." From the top of Huixian Pavilion, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the sea and garden scenery. The field of vision is wide, making it an excellent location in the scenic area for viewing the sea and enjoying the scenery. On the square in front of the pavilion is a large group sculpture of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, 5 meters high and 10 meters long, vividly depicting the moment when the Eight Immortals each displayed their powers while crossing the sea. It is a landmark landscape for tourists to take photos as souvenirs.
Seal Island
Seal Island is a natural interactive landscape in the scenic area. It is located in the sea area in the northeast of the scenic area, with an area of about 800 square meters. Dozens of spotted seals live on the island. Visitors can observe the seals' living conditions up close through the sea-viewing corridor and can also participate in feeding interactions (under the guidance of staff). The establishment of Seal Island not only enriches the touring experience of the scenic area, but also adds the fun of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and is especially loved by parent-child tourists.
Food
Eight Immortals Banquet
The Eight Immortals Banquet is a highly distinctive themed banquet in the scenic area. Inspired by the legend of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea," each dish corresponds to one immortal and their magic treasure, cleverly combining seafood with local ingredients. For example, "Zhongli Treasure Fan Shrimp" uses shrimp balls to simulate the shape of a fan, "Guolao Riding a Donkey Pastry" uses dough to shape Zhang Guolao riding a donkey, and "Xiangu Jade Dew Soup" is a sweet soup made with white fungus, lotus seeds, and other ingredients. The entire banquet is not only beautifully shaped and auspicious in meaning, but also incorporates the freshness of Penglai seafood. It is an excellent choice for experiencing Eight Immortals culture and local cuisine. The Wangying Tower Restaurant in the scenic area can provide this banquet.
Nearby Food
Penglai Small Noodles
Penglai Small Noodles are a local traditional noodle dish with a history of more than a hundred years. They can be found everywhere in noodle shops around the scenic area. The noodles are made by hand from high-quality flour, thin yet chewy, and paired with broth made from sea fish such as red sea bream and mullet. The fresh flavor is rich. Common ways to eat them include "clear soup noodles" and "thick gravy noodles," garnished with chopped scallions and cilantro for aroma, offering a rich taste. They are the first choice for breakfast for Penglai people. Among them, the Penglai small noodles at "Jianxing Noodle Shop" are especially well known.
Steamed Swimming Crab
Penglai is located in the Bohai Bay. The swimming crab has tender meat and rich nutrition. Steamed swimming crab is the most classic local way to eat it. Fresh live swimming crabs are selected, washed, and directly steamed. After being taken out of the pot, they are eaten dipped in ginger vinegar sauce, preserving the original flavor of the crab to the greatest extent. Seafood stalls near the scenic area mostly offer it. Autumn (September-October) is the season when swimming crabs are fattest and most delicious, and the taste is best when enjoyed at this time.
Tickets：
Tickets are 70 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" on WeChat to obtain the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
The opening hours of the scenic area are adjusted according to the seasons: from April 1 to October 31 is the peak season, with opening hours from 7:00 to 18:00; from November 1 to March 31 of the following year is the off-season, with opening hours from 8:00 to 17:00. During holidays, opening hours may be appropriately extended, such as during the Spring Festival and National Day. It is recommended that tourists check the latest information through the official website or telephone before traveling.
Tour Route：
After entering the scenic area, visitors first visit the Eight Immortals Archway at the entrance to learn about the symbolic meaning of the Eight Immortals' magic treasures, which takes about 15 minutes; then follow the main road forward to the Eight Immortals Shrine to view the statues of the Eight Immortals and the Bagua array and experience Taoist culture. This section takes about 40 minutes; next, go to Huixian Pavilion, climb the pavilion to look far into the sea view and view the large group sculpture of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. The visit takes about 1 hour; at noon, you can taste the Eight Immortals Banquet or a simple meal at the Wangying Tower Restaurant in the scenic area. In the afternoon, cross the sea-crossing bridge to Seal Island to observe the seals and participate in interactions, which takes about 40 minutes; finally, climb Wangying Tower to overlook the panoramic view of the scenic area and enjoy the murals, ending the tour. The whole journey is recommended to be arranged for 3-4 hours. If you want a deeper experience, you can appropriately extend your stay.
Transportation：
Bus: Within Penglai District, you can take buses No. 2, 5, and 6 to the "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area" station and walk about 5 minutes to reach the entrance of the scenic area; departing from Yantai city area, you can take the intercity bus from Yantai to Penglai (fare 25 yuan), get off at Penglai Bus Station, and transfer to bus No. 2 to go there.
Self-driving: Departing from Yantai city area, drive along the Rongwu Expressway (G18) toward Penglai. After getting off the expressway at the Penglai exit, drive straight along Binhai Avenue for about 8 kilometers to reach the scenic area. The parking lot of the scenic area charges 5 yuan per hour for small vehicles and 10 yuan per hour for large vehicles.
Taxi/ride-hailing: Taking a taxi from Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area to the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area takes about 10 minutes and costs about 15 yuan; taking a taxi from Penglai Bus Station takes about 15 minutes and costs about 20 yuan.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Eight Immortals Shrine: With a building area of about 600 square meters, it contains statues of the Eight Immortals and displays of related allusions. It is the core attraction for understanding the legend of the Eight Immortals. The Bagua array outside the shrine adds interactive fun.
Huixian Pavilion: A four-story pavilion 26 meters high. From the top, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and garden. The large group sculpture of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea in front of the pavilion (5 meters high and 10 meters long) is a landmark landscape of the scenic area, with great ornamental and photo value.
Wangying Tower: The tallest building in the scenic area (38 meters high). The mural Picture of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea inside the five-story pavilion can be called an artistic masterpiece. Climbing the tower and looking far into the Yellow Sea scenery offers a wide field of vision and magnificent scenery.
Travel Suggestions：
It is recommended to visit from May to September. At this time, the climate is suitable and the seawater temperature is moderate. Not only can you enjoy the sea view, but there is also a relatively high probability of seeing the "fairyland" scene of thin sea mist lingering in the early morning or evening.
The scenic area is mostly visited on foot, and some sections are near the sea. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes, carry sun protection items, and prepare a light jacket in summer to resist the sea breeze.
When visiting, you can rent an electronic guide device (rental 20 yuan per unit), or participate in the free guided tour in the scenic area (one session each day at 9:00, 11:00, and 14:00) to gain an in-depth understanding of the cultural connotation of the legend of the Eight Immortals.
If time permits, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Scenic Area can be combined with the adjacent Penglai Pavilion and Sanxianshan Scenic Area for a linked tour. Buying a combined ticket (about 220 yuan for the three scenic areas) saves costs while allowing a comprehensive experience of Penglai's "fairyland culture."
Precautions：
Smoking, littering, and climbing ancient buildings and sculptures are prohibited in the scenic area. Please protect the environment and cultural relics during the visit.
The coastal area is windy, especially in winter and in the evening. Attention should be paid to windproofing and keeping warm, and avoid approaching coastal edges without protective railings.
When participating in the feeding interaction at Seal Island, you must follow the guidance of the staff. Feeding non-designated food without permission is prohibited to avoid harming the animals.
Commodity prices in the scenic area are relatively high. Tourists can buy snacks, drinking water, and other items in Penglai city area outside the scenic area for better value.
During holidays, there are many tourists. It is recommended to travel at off-peak times (such as entering the scenic area before 8:00 a.m. or after 16:00 p.m.) to avoid crowding and improve the touring experience.