Qingdao Travel Guide 2026: Flights, Hotels & Visa Tips

Preparing for Your Trip to Qingdao, China​

How to Snag Cheap Flights to Qingdao

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So, where are we off to on Eunsu's latest adventure?

I was itching to travel, but I'd used up all my annual leave already...

Still, I really wanted to squeeze in a short trip abroad before the year ended.

That's when a place came to mind – one I'd visited before

and absolutely loved: Qingdao!

Since it's so close and perfect for even a quick 2-night, 3-day getaway,

I've put together all my tips for scoring cheap deals on everything from

Qingdao flights with a 3% discount to hotels, all in one go!

Table of Contents

1. Trip.com Discount Code (October)

2. Why Qingdao is a Must-Visit

3. Flights & Hotels All-in-One: Trip.com

4. Wrapping Up Our Adventure

1. Trip.com Discount Code (October)

While Trip.com often releases hotel coupons,

flight discount codes are a rare find.

I even used this code to book my flight for a December trip to China.

Details	Value
Discount Code	3HAFLT3
Discount Rate	3% (Maximum ~$9)
Minimum Spend	None
Booking Period	October 1, 2026 – October 31, 2026 23:59
Travel Period	Until December 31, 2027

This code WON'T apply simply by adding it as a discount code.❌

​

It only works if you book directly from the screen you access via the dedicated link.⭕

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⭐ How to Apply the Discount Code

>> Trip.com Discount Code Exclusive Link

① Head to Trip.com via the exclusive link above.

② On that very screen, select your Qingdao flights.

③ Before payment, enter

3HAFLT3 in the code input field.

If you open the app separately or close the window and then try to pay,

the code won't apply. ❌

If you see a message prompting you to book via a promotion page,

simply return to the link. ⭕

⭐ The discount is 3% of your payment amount. So, a ~$151 round trip will save you ~$5,

and for bookings of ~$302 or more, you'll get the maximum discount of ~$9.

It's even more beneficial to book tickets for your travel companions

at the same time rather than just your own.

2. Why Qingdao is a Must-Visit

After spending a month exploring Weihai, Yantai, and Qingdao,

I found Qingdao to be the perfect fit for shorter trips.

⭐ First, you can arrive in just 1 hour 30 minutes!

The flight time from Incheon to Qingdao is

only about 1 hour and 30 minutes,

and there's only a one-hour time difference!

Since Christmas falls on a Friday this year,

you can enjoy a 2-night, 3-day weekend (Friday-Sunday)

without even using any annual leave!

With direct flights operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, T'way Air,

Shandong Airlines, and Qingdao Airlines,

you have plenty of departure times to choose from.

⭐ Second, attractions are close by!

On a short trip, travel time

is precious exploration time, right?

In Qingdao, the main attractions are all close to each other,

making it easy to visit several spots in one day.

⭐ Third, Shandong cuisine is incredibly palatable!

Many travelers hesitate because of Chinese food,

but the cuisine from Shandong Province, where Qingdao is located,

is generally very appealing to Korean palates (and many others!),

so I never had to worry about my meals.

⭐ Fourth, it's visa-free if you go within this year!

Based on current announcements, Koreans can enter visa-free

Entry is permitted until December 31st of this year.

Since it's based on the entry date, you can travel

without a visa until the Christmas holidays.

If you're departing next year,

make sure to check if it's been extended.

⬇️⬇️

Get Flight Discounts Now!

Discount Code: 3HAFLT3

3. Flights & Hotels in One Go: Trip.com

From a month-long stay in Shandong Province

to trips in Chongqing and Shanghai,

I've always booked my China travels through Trip.com.

Since it's a platform operated by a Chinese company,

the selection of local accommodations is vast,

so I never had to look for other apps.

⭐ Coupons automatically appear after flight payment!

When you pay for your flight, exclusive coupons

are automatically added to your account's coupon box.

Category	Benefit
Accommodation	Up to 25% off
New Member Accommodation	Up to ~$10 off
Airport Pick-up & Drop-off	10-12% off
Tours & Tickets	5% off
Car Rental	5% off
Accommodation Cancellation	Free upon flight schedule change

Since these are discounts for accommodations and airport transfers that you'd pay for anyway,

the perceived value is even greater.

⭐ Trip Coins accumulate too!

Every time you book flights, accommodation, or tours,

Trip Coins accumulate, and for your next payment,

100 coins are deducted as ~$1.

If you haven't decided on your Qingdao accommodation yet,

log in with the account you used to pay for your flight

and compare prices with coupons applied.

Depending on the accommodation, prices can drop by up to 25%.

4. Concluding the Travelogue

Qingdao remains in my memory as a city where there was little need to travel far,

allowing me to focus solely on sightseeing and dining.

If you want to travel abroad at the end of the year

without using up your annual leave,

Qingdao might be one of the easiest places to visit.

The discount code is valid until October 31st,

and visa-free entry is until December 31st.

So, if you're thinking of traveling to China this year,

make sure to check flights this month.

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Planning a trip to Qingdao?