By the end of 2025, Qingdao had built 1,048 parks — 330 urban parks, 704 pocket parks, and 14 forest parks. Beyond this, residents have created their own micro-gardens on idle plots, with seeds and seedlings donated by local communities, costing the government nothing.

As the city now boasts a growing number of parks, ensuring that each one has its own personality has become a new challenge. To tackle this, Qingdao has encouraged public participation, believing that the best character of a park is often shaped by the people who use it.

The sea embraces Xiaomaidao Island, where blue skies, clear waters, green grass, and lush trees create a breathtaking coastal scene. But what truly captures visitors' hearts is the island's so-called "lonely tree". Standing alone on a grassy slope with the vast sea and sky behind it, the tree was nicknamed by netizens — and ever since, queues of people have formed to take photos beside it.

Yet the Lonely Tree is not really lonely. Nearby, two other trees leaning toward each other have become a favorite spot for couples. On sunny days, the blue sky, white clouds, green meadow, and distant sea blend into a picture so dreamy that some say it looks like a scene out of an animated film.

Parks also boost local life. Fushan's sports complex — built underground with a football field on top — has welcomed over 1,000 daily visitors since its opening. In 2025, Qingdao hosted 588 events across its parks, from craft beer festivals to coffee markets, attracting 126 million visits. As one visitor posted: "I used to come for the sea. Now I come for the parks. Qingdao feels young again."

With windows opening to mountains and sea and parks just steps from home, Qingdao builds a park city that brings ecological well-being within everyone's reach. [Photo/Guanhai News]