I visited Laoshan Scenic Area with one goal in mind: skip the cable car and hike up instead. For me, that made the experience much more rewarding, as the trail winds through forests, rocky slopes and mountain scenery, with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the views over the coastline. The climb can be tiring, particularly on the steeper sections and stone steps, but the sense of achievement at the top makes it worthwhile. I also enjoyed the contrast between the natural scenery and the Taoist temples scattered around the mountain. If you have reasonable fitness and enough time, I would definitely choose the hiking route over simply taking the cable car—it turns Laoshan from a sightseeing stop into a proper mountain adventure. Do buy your tickets online to save time queueing. If you want to climb Jufeng, it is a separate ticket.