This Shandong "Snow Hub" Rivals Northeast China, Trending Year After Year!

While many southerners still regard Northeast China as their top choice for snow viewing up north, snow-covered Weihai unexpectedly dominated social media trends, humorously dubbed the "real-life version of The Wandering Earth" and "Shandong's branch of Snow Town."

The popular check-in spot Huoju Eighth Street after snowfall.

Photo by Qin Tian Sunning (Xiaoxiao Tian Travel Diary)

From December 16 to 22, the snow in Weihai barely stopped for a week. When it finally ceased, the entire city was practically buried—no exaggeration, just a factual description! During this heavy snowfall, Weihai's urban area recorded a cumulative snowfall of 15.8 mm, six times that of Beijing's recent "once-in-three-years" snowstorm. In Wendeng, south of the city, snowfall reached 50.2 mm! The maximum snow depth of 74 cm even broke Shandong's snowfall record.

But for locals, this snowstorm that went viral online wasn’t particularly surprising: after all, Weihai’s heavy snow makes headlines almost every year, and 20-30 cm of snow is just routine—they’re long used to it!

Why is Weihai Shandong’s "snow nest"?

If Shandong’s territory is likened to a soaring eagle, Weihai sits right at its head, gazing intently into the deep blue sea. Abundant moisture from the ocean makes Weihai Shandong’s most humid city. Every summer, it even faces the same clothes-drying struggles as southern China’s "returning humidity" season.

Weihai’s urban area, closely adjacent to the sea.

In winter, the sea-surrounded Weihai becomes a "battleground" for clashes between cold and warm air currents. When Siberian cold fronts sweep southward, they collide with moisture-laden warm air over the ocean. With their low temperature and high density, the cold air sinks forcefully, pushing the lighter warm air upward into the frigid sky.

Weihai’s mountainous terrain further amplifies this effect, forcing warm moisture to condense abruptly into snow. With these ideal conditions, Weihai and Yantai—located north of the mountains and on the windward side of cold currents—become Shandong’s natural snow hubs. For comparison, Weihai’s December precipitation averages 30.53 mm over the past three years, while Qingdao, on the leeward side, sees just 1.23 mm—a difference of magnitudes!

So heavy snow isn’t news for Weihai, but this nationwide "flash freeze" brought an exceptionally strong cold front, making the snowfall unusually intense.

The dreamlike winter scenery attracts countless southerners eager for off-season travel. As Shandong’s rising "internet-famous" city, this small but boldly named town offers far more than just snow.

Shandong has led China in aquatic product output and value for over 20 years, with Weihai consistently topping the province’s fishery rankings. At the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, this sea-embraced city epitomizes Shandong’s maritime essence.

Snow-covered coastal beaches.

Where does Weihai’s bold confidence come from?

Weihai boasts Shandong’s only 270-degree "sea-view home": surrounded by sea on the south, east, and north, it’s the province’s oceanic heart. Its long, winding coastline fosters excellent harbors, stunning seascapes, and abundant resources.

In Weihai, low mountains and hills cover nearly 70% of the area, while plains account for less than 30%. The terrain peaks centrally, with east-west mountain ranges directing short rivers north and south into the Yellow Sea.

Weihai lies at Shandong’s easternmost tip, stretching into the sea.

Taibo Ding is also written as Taibo Peak.

The convergence of mountains and sea shapes the Shandong Peninsula’s mystical aura. Poet Li Bai, visiting Qingdao’s Laoshan, wrote, "I once roamed the eastern sea, dining on purple mists at Laoshan." Yantai’s Penglai became the legendary Eight Immortals’ paradise, while Weihai—deemed the "world’s end" by Emperor Qin Shi Huang—served as an imperial quest for immortality and a natural monument to unification.

The convergence of mountains and sea has also shaped the most蜿蜒曲折的一段海岸线 in northern China. Weihai boasts a 986-kilometer coastline, equivalent to one-third of Shandong's coastline and one-eighteenth of China's mainland coastline. Located at the easternmost tip of the peninsula, Chengshantou is known as "one of China's eight most beautiful coastlines" and has been regarded as the dwelling place of the sun god since the Qin and Han dynasties.

Originally a natural lagoon, it became an ideal habitat for many migratory birds due to its rare freezing and abundant plankton. Every winter, tens of thousands of swans, geese, and wild ducks come here to overwinter, making it one of the largest swan wintering habitats in northern China.

The swans in Swan Lake possess a certain "ethereal aura."

Photo by Qin Tian (Sunning) (Xiaoxiao Tian Travel Diary)

The sea is the most important geographical label of Weihai. Compared to the traditional, conservative, and Confucian first impression most people have of Shandong, the omnipresent ocean forms the most open and bold side of Weihai's character.

Weihai is one of the smallest and youngest cities in Shandong. It is a crucial stronghold guarding the Bohai Sea and a land bridge connecting East Asia. Here, the era of modern China's coastal defense was written, and it is also the most refined and happiest "daughter of the sea" among the three Jiaodong siblings.

In winter, Weihai offers a seaside charm entirely different from summer.

Granting Chinese people the "freedom of oysters" in winter

Located at the tip of the Shandong Peninsula, Weihai's cuisine is a fusion of several styles: the robust and bold flavors of local Shandong cuisine and the fresh, crisp tenderness of Jiaodong seafood.

Photo by Guo Junfeng, Image from Tuchong Creativity

Weihai's most proud seafood is undoubtedly Rushan oysters, which locals generally call "hai li zi."

From November to April each year is the season when oysters are at their plumpest. During this time, people eagerly await the succulent oysters, hoping to be the first to taste the freshness at the start of the year. There are countless oyster-producing regions, but in the eyes of Weihai locals, there are only two types of oysters in the world: Rushan oysters and other oysters.

Who wouldn't love the tender and juicy Rushan oysters?

Along the approximately 186-kilometer coastline from Rushankou in the west to Langnuan Kou in the east, Rushan has 500,000 mu of aquaculture areas meeting national Class I seawater quality standards, featuring excellent water conditions and abundant nutrients. The clean water, smooth currents, and calm waves, along with the rich nutrients brought by the Rushan River and Huangli River, make it an ideal "pasture" for oyster farming. Rushan oysters are known as "milk of the sea" for their superior quality and rich nutrition.

This得天独厚的地理环境 has made Rushan the "Hometown of Chinese Oysters," with its oysters bearing the national geographical indication certification. Besides oysters, sea cucumbers, scallops, abalone, conch, and mackerel are also famous local delicacies of Weihai.

Who wouldn't love the tender and juicy Rushan oysters?

Due to the high water quality, eating them raw is the highest praise for Rushan oysters. However, not everyone's stomach can handle it, so simple steaming has become the most common way to enjoy them.

The natural umami from the sea requires no additional seasoning. Just clean the Rushan oysters, place them in a steamer (with the concave side up to preserve the juices), and steam for five minutes after the water boils. Dip them in soy sauce or wasabi soy sauce, and savor these顶级威海鲜货 one by one.

Rushan oysters are exceptionally delicious, whether dipped in sauce or not.

Beyond steaming, a pot of oyster tofu soup with some greens can invigorate the whole body. Even more irresistible is fried oysters—coat the oyster meat in a batter of flour or starch, five-spice powder, and egg, then deep-fry. In households with many children, they’re eaten straight from the pan. Garlic-grilled or cheese-grilled, Weihai's oysters are incredibly satisfying.

Charcoal-grilled oysters with garlic or cheese.

Warm mixed bird clams, perhaps one of the most frequently seen cold dishes in Weihai. Simply remove the innards, blanch briefly in boiling water, and serve with or without vegetables—pure, original freshness.

Bird clams have strong foot muscles, allowing them to leap from the seabed.

Hence the name "bird clam," commonly known as "niao bei."

Photo / Food Photography Diary, Image / Tuchong Creative.

For mackerel, minced into filling, it becomes the "tall, rich, and handsome" of Shandong dumplings—mackerel dumplings. Dried mackerel, stewed with radish in winter, can make you devour two bowls of rice in one meal.

Mengzi shrimp paste is absolutely a Weihai delicacy worth waiting for—eaten raw or cooked, most commonly steamed with eggs for a delicious dish. Pair it with steamed buns for a seafood feast. Missing Mengzi shrimp paste is like missing the entire ocean.

Stir-fried sea sausage with leeks is so fresh it’ll make your eyebrows fall off—a must-try.

Photo / Untimely Observations, Image / Tuchong Creative.

Weihai people showcase a creativity blending land and sea: stir-fried sea sausage with leeks, braised pork knuckle with kelp, shrimp stewed with radish strips, and seafood dough drop soup—all uniting land and sea in one pot. The most famous might be the Shandong classic, braised sea cucumber with scallions, a proud contribution of Weihai. Often served as the "head dish" (first hot course) at banquets, it’s dubbed the "sea cucumber feast."

Of course, Weihai still carries distinct Shandong "genes." Jokingly called the "Shandong Diva," Rihanna’s hit "Where Have You Been" is humorously referred to as "Weihai Pancake" locally—a nod to Weihai’s classic Shandong-style pancakes and noodles.

Photo / Charming962, Image / Tuchong Creative.

Locals love salted fish with corn pancakes—simple, rustic cooking where pancakes are stuck to the pot’s edge. This method, once used on fishing boats, shares similarities with Northeast China’s "iron pot stew-everything" style.

Life-loving Weihai people are resilient and optimistic. After heavy snow, let’s anticipate the season of "facing the sea, spring blossoms," awaiting gatherings with friends over seafood and beer. Beyond its "majestic coastal" image, Weihai’s vibrant happiness is worth the wait!

A hometown flavor etched in memory.

Text | LUKE, ZXZ.

Text Editor | Flying Noodles.

Image Editor | YIRAN.

This article is original content from [Di Dao Feng Wu].

The tip of the tongue in Weihai is the perfect season for fruits‼ Golden Venus apples, with plump flesh and crisp texture; Wanglin green apples, sweet at heart despite their quirky looks❤ Dried figs made from fresh fruits, dust-free baked, concentrated in flavor. More seasonal fresh fruits from Weihai, click the image below to shop👇👇👇👇👇