Yantai's Yangma Island: Is This Hidden Gem Worth Visiting in 2026?

While still a relatively unknown spot for international travelers, Yangma Island is a hot destination among Chinese visitors, famous for its stunning coastal beauty.

Legend has it that this enchanting island was once where Emperor Qin Shi Huang raised his warhorses. With limited information available for foreign tourists, I initially hesitated to visit, but it turned out to be the most memorable and enjoyable destination during my Yantai trip!

Let me share my detailed experience of exploring Yantai's Yangma Island.

Yangma Island Location & Gaode Map

📌Yangma Island Location

养马岛

📌Yangma Island on Gaode Map

Yangma Island is approximately a 50-minute ride from Yantai city center by DiDi taxi. Since it's become quite popular, I recommend visiting early in the morning if you want to explore leisurely and capture some great photos without the crowds.

DiDi taxis cannot enter the island directly, so they will drop you off at the bridge leading onto the island.

Once you exit the taxi, just follow the crowds, and you'll find numerous electric scooter rental shops. Some taxi drivers might even drop you directly in front of a rental shop they know.

Renting an Electric Scooter on Yangma Island

There are three main ways to explore Yangma Island:

1. Electric Scooter

2. Licensed Car Rental

3. Shuttle Bus

For the **licensed car rental**, drivers typically try to fill all four seats, so they might suggest you join another group. I preferred to explore independently, so I skipped this option.

The **shuttle bus** allows you to hop on and off at designated stops near photo spots. You can purchase a 1-day ticket for adults at the tourist center for about ~$3. However, since the shuttle operates on a fixed schedule, I opted for the electric scooter for the freedom to explore at my own pace.

Rental costs vary depending on the type of electric scooter. A full-day rental typically ranges from ~$6 to ~$11, while a three-wheeled scooter is around ~$21. I rented mine for ~$7, plus a refundable deposit of ~$14. Don't worry, the deposit is returned when you bring the scooter back.

While there are rental shops further inside the island, I recommend renting from a convenient spot near the entrance if the price is reasonable. Bargaining in Chinese can be tiring before your adventure even begins, and you don't want to waste precious exploration time.

If you're new to electric scooters, the rental staff will provide simple operating instructions. The maximum speed is limited to about 15 mph, so there's no need to be overly concerned about safety.

Upon renting a scooter, you'll be given a map of Yangma Island, which you can use to navigate your way around.

Yangma Island Photo Spots

The amount of time you spend exploring Yangma Island varies depending on how many stops you make and how long you rest, but I recommend allocating at least 3-4 hours. I skipped a few photo spots and only visited one cafe, and my exploration took about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Finding your way around is quite straightforward. The island's main road circles the entire island, so you can simply follow the flow of people and scooters, and you'll naturally arrive at the popular photo zones. Crowds of people and scooters usually indicate a prime photo opportunity!

Yangma Island is dotted with numerous photo zones. Since the island gained popularity on Xiaohongshu (a popular Chinese social media platform), you'll often find Chinese tourists lining up to take photos at the most famous spots.

As you circle the island, you'll discover beautiful tree-lined roads offering expansive ocean views. Even just driving along these picturesque routes was a delight.

The feeling of cruising on an electric scooter, enjoying the refreshing breeze and panoramic views, is truly unbeatable!

Cafes on Yangma Island

Yangma Island boasts many ocean-view cafes. I stopped at a charming spot called Eastland.

It had the vibe of a large, stylish ocean-view cafe you might find in Korea, offering not just coffee and pastries but also a fantastic ambiance. The interior features beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows, and there's even a rooftop area.

The second-floor window area is a particularly great photo spot. However, keep in mind that the prices here are a bit higher compared to typical Chinese cafe costs.

An iced Americano cost around ~$4.

For me, Yangma Island was personally the most memorable spot during my Yantai trip. I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary!