“Apple Bus” Heading for a “Happy Life”
“I never expected to have authentic Yantai apples and gain so much knowledge on my first day of university!” On September 13, 2025, Yantai Railway Station welcomed a group of special passengers – the incoming Class of 2025 freshmen of Yantai University. Among them, Wang, a freshman from Henan Province, embarked on the “Magical Bus, Full of Apple Power” Yantai Apple-themed Happy Bus campus fantasy journey for the new school season.
This was an immersive experience integrating delicious food, beautiful scenery, historical culture, and urban vitality. Listen: the brand value of Yantai apples has reached 16.437 billion yuan, ranking first in China Fruit Regional Public Brand Value for 16 consecutive years. Chaoyang Street, at the foot of Yantai Mountain, carries the century-old memory of the port city’s opening to foreign trade and has been designated a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster. The “Genghai No.1” marine ranch, which complements Fisherman’s Wharf, resembles a “gem necklace,” embodying the vivid practice of “storing grain in the sea and technology” for the “Maritime Shandong” initiative... Upon first encountering Yantai, one is captivated by its visual charm and distinctive flavors, gradually embracing its unique character and allure.
Yantai is a well-known “university city” across China. Higher education has become a key driving force for Yantai’s scientific and technological innovation and the building of a city strong in education. According to data released at the recent press conference on the Regulations of Yantai on Promoting Scientific and Technological Innovation, the city currently has 23 higher education institutions (including research institutes and industry-university-research bases), with approximately 330,000 students. In 2024, Yantai University was successfully approved as a doctoral degree-granting institution, with doctoral program authorizations in Law, Mathematics, and Pharmacy,
marking a further enhancement of Yantai’s higher education capacity to support local scientific and technological innovation. This year, six municipal vocational colleges have optimized and upgraded their program offerings based on industrial needs. They now have 118 enrollment programs, including 12 newly established programs and 8 discontinued programs, promoting the alignment of distinctive disciplines with regional development.
This is a “Happy Life Bus” and “Striving Bus” heading for youth and dreams. Step into the “field of hope,” where five wheat varieties of “Yannong 15,” “Lumai 14,” “Lumai 21,” “Yannong 19,” and “Yannong 21” have each been promoted on an area of over 100 million mu (approximately 6.67 million hectares). Wander along the more than 1,000-kilometer fairyland coastline, where treasures like sea cucumbers, abalones, and prawns are abundant, and 22 national-level marine ranches have been established. Look up at the sky: the Oriental Aerospace Port has achieved 18 consecutive successful sea launches, building a comprehensive industrial chain for commercial aerospace characterized by “satellites in the sky, rockets on land, ships at sea, and networks in the air.” This vibrant land for innovation and entrepreneurship provides a broad stage for young people to dedicate their youth and realize their dreams.
Autumn brings refreshing air and bountiful harvests of fruits. The Yantai Apple-themed Happy Bus, guided by sweetness and connected by culture, not only delivers surprises to freshmen for their enrollment but also deeply conveys the city’s warmth and industrial charm. As the wheels roll forward, the “Apple Bus” is heading for a “Happy Life,” unveiling a new picture of Yantai, a city fragrant with fruit aroma and bursting with vitality.
(Author: Wu Yong)
