Licun Night Market grew out of a bazaar that has existed for more than 400 years, back when Licun was a village and long before Qingdao was founded. Today it is one of the city's best-known night markets and an evening food hub of Licang District. The main stretch runs along Xiangyang Road for only a few hundred metres; Trip.com also counts the Leke City night market as part of it.
Expect a few dozen stalls rather than a huge market: grilled squid and scallops, noodles in broth, sweet fruit on skewers, Qingdao fried skewers, wheel cakes and dishes from other regions such as rice noodle rolls or stinky tofu. Visitors consistently praise the variety and the lively atmosphere. The guide is clear that this is a market for local residents rather than a tourist attraction, which is exactly its appeal.
- Hours: stalls open from 2 pm; in summer until midnight, in winter until 11 pm. The atmosphere peaks after sunset.
- Crowds: visitors note that arriving early means almost no queues; later in the evening it gets busy.
- Getting there: the market is reachable by subway, and an escalator leads down to a two-level underground shopping mall where you can keep eating and walk around.
- Bring: an empty stomach and cash or a Chinese mobile payment app; plan 1-2 hours.