石老人海水浴场, Shilaoren Bathing Beach is about 18km east of the Qingdao high-speed train Station and is the most popular surf spot in Qingdao. The bottom is sand, which provides a decent beach break once swell comes in. Surf season usually starts in around May and lasts until around the end of November. The best season is August to October, and you can sometimes enjoy 2-3ft waves if you are a good surfer during the period.
Around the noon, a local longboarder enjoys the ride.
As the picture shows, we were lucky to be there on one of the epic days in October 2, 2017. The water temperature was still 23 degree warm on the day, and 2mm long sleeve upper and surf shorts just worked.
Other than Shilaoren Bathing Beach, if the condition meets, 第一海水浴场, the First Bathing Beach would be a spot, too. The First Beach is just 3km away from the Qingdao high-speed train Station. As the surf culture is evolving year by year in the city, we would expect more of other spots to be found mainly by local surfers.
LINK:
Here is an useful map link to the Shilaoren Bathing Beach and the First Bathing Beach.
A bigger set is coming in on the surf break.
There is a group of cool guys who are teaching how to surf at the Shilaoren Bathing Beach. They are mostly belonging to a local and at the same time, now a nationwide surf club that is called “戒浪·不”冲浪俱乐部, Jalenboo Surf Club.
The club was originated in and already has ten year history surfing in Hainan. Good news is that their Qingdao Brunch has opened a physical outlet where you can get a rental surfbord as well as if it is open, change your cloth etc just across the street right in front of the beach. Wax and leash could be also asked for depending on the availability.
You see a signboad saying “戒浪·不”冲浪俱乐部.
Another cool guy, Mr 胡子 pictured in the link below also runs a surf club called OMG青岛冲浪俱乐部, OMG Surf Club. One of great things about the club is that they have a nicely decollated surf cafe in the Shilaoren town, where things llike rental surfboard is availabe as well. Please click here to see where the cafe is located.
LINK:
Here is a quick introduction of the 海南“戒浪·不”冲浪俱乐部青岛分店 on their official website. Also, you can find a contact, surf lessons, and other information about the OMG青岛冲浪俱乐部 on their website.
The picture shows a whole view of the Shilaoren Bathing Beach and the town facing the ocean.
If you have an enough budget and would definitely need a luxury space for some reasons, 青岛鲁商凯悦酒店, Hyatt Regency Qingdao is the choice for you. The hotel is located right on the Shilaoren Bathing Beach and is literaly within three minute walk to the main surf break. While the point in front of the hotel is also surfable, you can find fewer surfers there. You face the ocean, and walk to the left for three minutes. Then, most of guys are surfing there.
Otherwise, 青岛桔子酒店桔子酒店精选海尔路, Orange Hotel Select Qingdao Hai'er Road is absolutely the closeset to the beach and would be sufficiently an afordable selection for the majority of travelers.
Booking is also available on the Ctrip.
While the street in front of the Orange Hotel Select Qingdao Hai'er Road seems blocked by a subway constraction at a glance, there is a hidden pathway coming straight to the beach. Please click on the link here to find the entrance of an access from the 香港东路 to the beach.
LINK:
Hyatt Regency Qingdao - hotel website.
Orange Hotel Select Qingdao Hai'er Road - hotel website.
A small to flat condition sometimes lasts for a while until the peak season comes in August.
As all the waves and swells are different, it would be much helpful for you that we share more links to the movies and pictures taken on every good day, poor day, and great day in the Shilaoren Bathing Beach and some other nearby surf spots. In that sense, the QSA, Qingdao Surf Association is the destination to visit as they stock lots of moments captured for the recent three years.
Another flat day is seen even in the early October.