It is said that Penglai was the place that Emperor Qin Shi Huang looked for the elixir of life, and the place where the great Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24) paid his sacred visit. In addition, the legend of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea adds more mysterious atmosphere to the Penglai. The legend goes that the eight immortals crossed the sea using their special powers after they got drunk in the Penglai Pavilion. Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang were said to be the three divine mountains in the sea for immortals to live in.

Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area is perched on top of Danya Mountain at the northernmost part of Jiaodong peninsula, Yantai. The scenic area includes Penglai Pavilion, Penglai Water City, Penglai Pavilion Xiyuan, and so on.

Penglai Pavilion has been regarded as a 'Fairyland' since ancient times. It is a complex that includes Sanqing Palace, Lvzu Palace, Tianhou Palace, Longwang (Dragon King) Palace and Mituo Si (Amitabha Temple). In the pavilion, numerous calligraphic works by famous writers, couplets hung on the columns of the hall, and stone inscriptions can be seen everywhere, as it was once the gathering place for many renowned scholars and poets.

The Penglai Pavilion is a very good place to witness a magical mirage because it often occurs here, and it is also a good place to appreciate the magnificent scene of the sun rising in the morning.

Under the Penglai Pavilion is the Penglai Water City built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It has two gates, namely, the south Zhenyang Gate, and the north Water Gate. The south gate connects the land, serving as the gate for the entry of vehicles and horses; the north gate has a huge strobe that controls the entry of ships. Outside the north gate are two emplacements separately placed in the west and east. Water City is presently the most complete ancient military water base in China. In 1982 it was designated as a key national cultural relic along with the Penglai Pavilion.

To the east of Penglai Pavilion is a museum with an ancient style garden. It exhibits cultural relics, and is the second museum in China with ancient ships as its subject.

To the west of Penglai Pavilion is the Penglai Pavilion Xiyuan. This scenic spot is about one kilometer (about 0.6 miles) from the Penglai Pavilion, and embraces luxuriant trees, fresh air and a tranquil beach. Attractions include a fisher-folk village, yurts and a Shuilian Dong (water curtain cave), combining natural and man-made landscapes.

Besides enjoying seeing the area, visitors can experience local customs. Temple Fair is a traditional annual activity. January 16th by the lunar calendar is regarded as Tianhou's birthday, so local people from near and far go to Tianhou Palace to pray. At that time, locals present a wonderful performance.

Tips:
From Dalian and Lvshun, ships go to Yantai. From there you can take bus No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 to get to Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area.

Yantai Airport is about 50 minutes' ride from Penglai Pavilion. It connects with many major airports across the country, and also with Seoul, Macao and Hong Kong airports.

From Penglai to Yantai, a bus departs every 15 minutes from 6:00 to18:00 every day (around one hour, CNY 10).
From Penglai to Qingdao, a bus departs every 30 minutes from 5:10 to16:00 every day (around 4 hours, CNY 36-41).
From Penglai to Weifang, a bus departs every hour from 6:00 to17:00 every day (around 4 hours, CNY 26).

There are many hotels around the Penglai Pavilion, including Penglai Guesthouse and Phoenix Guesthouse.
Penglai abounds in apples, grapes, pears, peaches, cherries, gingkoes, and chestnuts.

Temperatures vary considerably from day to night, so it is wise to layer clothing to meet weather demands.