#Huanghekou Ecotourism Area Super Complete Play Guide (2026 Latest Edition) The Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area is a national 5A-level scenic spot, located at the mouth of the Yellow River in Kenli District, Dongying, Shandong Province. It has three world-class wonders of "river-sea intersection, new wetlands, and wild birds". It is the core ecological clock in the Yellow River Delta. The following strategy will help you have peace of mind and fun: ##1. Basic travel information ###1. Tickets & Opening Hours - ** Tickets **: 60 yuan/person in peak season (April-November), 30 yuan/person in off-season (12-March of the following year); must buy a sightseeing car in the scenic spot, 25 yuan/person (the scenic area exceeds 1,500 square kilometers, the scenic spots are scattered, and you must take a sightseeing car to visit) - ** Opening hours **: 08:30-17:00 all year round (stop entering the park after 16:30, it is recommended to reserve 4-6 hours for play) - ** Ticket purchase method **: You can buy tickets online in the official account of Meituan/scenic spot in advance, and directly enter the park with your ID card/QR code; people with special documents (soldiers, disabled people, 1.2-1 meters children, etc.) need to verify the purchase of tickets on site - ** Tel: 400-166-2158 (You can check the sailing status of the cruise ship in advance) ###2. Traffic Guide - ** Self-driving **: Navigate the "South Gate of the Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Zone", park in the South Gate parking lot for vehicles with 11 seats or less, and transfer to the scenic sightseeing car to enter the park; the parking lot is fully planned, and temporary parking spaces will be opened during the bird watching season - ** Public transportation/group **: Most hotels in Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Kenli District in Dongying City can sign up for a one-day tour (about 153 yuan/person, including transfers, tickets, and tour guides, suitable for car-free tourists), or you can take the scenic line bus to go - ** Transportation in the scenic spot **: The sightseeing car stops at all core attractions in a loop, and it is very convenient to go up and down ##2. Must-play core experience & route recommendation The scenic sightseeing car route basically covers all the essence points. It is recommended to play in this order without going back: ###1. First stop: Yellow River Delta Bird Museum - Free admission is included in the ticket, with a collection of more than 1,400 rare bird specimens (red-crowned cranes, whooping swans, etc.). It is the best first stop to learn about the bird ecology of the Yellow River Estuary. It is suitable for parent-child research. It is recommended to play for 30 minutes. ###2. Second stop: Bird Island Covering an area of 600 acres, there is a 1220-meter-long circular bird-watching wooden boardwalk, which is the core area for bird-watching during the migratory season (mid-to-early April, mid-to-late October). You can see a variety of water birds such as hemp ducks and mallard ducks. The bird-watching pavilion is an excellent location for shooting migratory birds in autumn and winter. It is recommended to bring a telescope/telephoto lens and play for 40 minutes. ###3. The third stop: the natural willow forest on the old road of the Yellow River The 888-meter wooden plank road shuttles through the Tamarix forest wetland, and you can see the old Yellow River road from 1976 to 1996 and the current Yellow River channel at the same time. The field of vision is very wide, with green reeds in spring and summer and golden in autumn. The photo production rate is extremely high, and you can play for 30 minutes. ###4. The fourth stop: Bird Science Park & Yanhu (must-see performance) - ** Crane Flying **: 4 games per day in non-winter: 10:00, 11:00, 14:30, 15:30, you can see the spectacular scene of red-crowned cranes and gray cranes flying in groups - ** Wild geese fly **: 2 games a day in non-winter: 10:30, 15:00, the scene of wild geese flying together is very shocking, pay attention to the performance time, don't miss it, two points play for 1 hour. ###5. The fifth stop: Yuanwang Building (clock in core) - Landmark buildings in the scenic spot, the viewing platform can see the Yellow River galloping up close, and this is also the boat point for the river-sea confluence cruise: - Ticket 169 yuan/person, the boat journey is about 100 minutes, and you can see the wonder of the "intersection of yellow and blue" - the turbid Yellow River water and the blue Bohai Sea water are distinct, like a dividing line splitting the sea - ⚠️ Note: The cruise ship is greatly affected by wind, tide, and the amount of water in the Yellow River. It is not possible to sail every day, nor can it see a clear dividing line every time. It is recommended to call in advance to confirm, or ask the tourists who have just disembarked before deciding whether to buy tickets - In addition to the cruise ship, you can also choose to take a helicopter to overlook the panorama of the Yellow River entering the sea (at your own expense), with a stunning perspective. ###6. Seasonal Easter Eggs - ** April-May **: 10,000 acres of locust forest blooms, the aroma is overflowing during the locust flower festival, and you can catch up with activities - ** September-November **: Suaeda wings turn red to form an endless "red carpet". At the same time, it is the migratory bird season. You can see spectacular "bird waves", which is the most beautiful time of the year. From September to November, you can also eat hairy crabs at the mouth of the Yellow River full of yellow fat - ** Summer **: The reeds are green, and you can take a wetland cruise to go deep into the reeds for sightseeing, the whole journey takes about 30 minutes Food and accommodation recommendations ###1. Must eat delicious food - Features of the Yellow River Estuary: hairy crabs in the Yellow River Estuary (best from September to November), Yellow River saury, isolated island fresh fish soup, and seafood in one pot (shrimp, swimming crab, and clams directly supplied by Hongguang Fishing Port are super fresh) - Local snacks: Lijin fried buns (crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, recommended for old streets and alleys), Guangrao food donkey meat (the most authentic in Cui's old store), Shikou roast chicken - Dining options: There are fishermen's courtyards and other agritainments near the scenic spot, or you can go to Kenli Hongguang Fishing Port to eat freshly caught seafood after playing, which is very cost-effective. ###2. Accommodation options - If you want to play in depth: you can choose the ecological wooden house at the mouth of the Yellow River in the scenic spot. If you push the window, it will be a wetland, and the experience will be full. - Cost-effective/convenient: live in Dongying City, recommend Blue Ocean Yuhua Hotel (five-star, with hot spring SPA, convenient transportation), or the oilfield-themed hotel in Gudao Town to experience local characteristics - Bird watching season benefits: Every autumn and winter bird watching season, there will be "free tour of the scenic spot in the hotel" activities, and a limited number of cultural tourism annual cards will be given. You can pay attention to the official account of "Dongying Cultural Tourism" to grab discounts. ##4. Precautions for playing 1. The scenic spot is very large, so you must wear comfortable sports shoes, take sunscreen and mosquito protection measures, and the seaside wind is strong. It is recommended to bring a windproof jacket. 2. Do not make loud noises or feed birds when watching birds to protect the ecology; drones need to be reported in advance to fly 3. If you want to take a clear "river-sea intersection", it is recommended to choose a high tide period to go, and the yellow and blue boundaries will be more obvious 4. There are not many dining options in the scenic spot. It is recommended to bring a small amount of drinking water and snacks. 5. If it is the autumn bird watching season, it is recommended to book accommodation and tickets in advance to avoid peak crowds If you have enough time, you can also arrange a one-day/two-day tour with the surrounding Gudong Seawall (see the Great Wall at sea, Shengli Oilfield drilling platform), Hongguang Fishing Port (shoot the sunrise at the fishing port, eat seafood), and the experience will be richer~