Qingdao Aquarium

Qingdao Aquarium is a public facility with four exhibition halls connected by tunnels, positioned along Huiquan Bay near the Yellow Sea coast. The halls display thousands of marine organisms and are designed so visitors can move from one section to the next without stepping outside.

The facility was founded by educator Cai Yuanpei in 1930 and opened in 1932, making it China's first public aquarium. Its establishment marked an important step in sharing knowledge about marine biology across the country.

The building blends fortress-like architectural features from traditional Chinese design with spaces dedicated to showing marine life to visitors. The way the structure is laid out reflects how architects combined historical references with modern exhibition needs.

Access is available daily, and most visitors need two to three hours to explore all exhibition areas. The adjacent waterfront area provides space to rest and allows visitors to pace their experience comfortably.

The facility houses a collection with over 20,000 marine specimens representing more than 1,950 species, making it the only such specialized collection in China. This assemblage allows visitors to see otherwise hidden or rare ocean creatures in preserved form.