Qingdao (qīng dǎo 青岛), also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city in eastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Yantai (yān tái 烟台) to the northeast, Weifang (wéi fāng 潍坊) to the west and Rizhao (rì zhào日照) to the southeast. Lying across the Shandong Peninsula while looking out to the Yellow Sea (huáng hé 黄河), Qingdao today is a major seaport, naval base, and industrial center. It is also the site of the Tsingtao Brewery. The character 青 (qīng) in Chinese means "green" or "lush", while the character 岛 (dǎo) means "island". Qingdao is administratively at the sub-provincial level. In 2008, Qingdao was named China's 7th-most livable city.

Geographic location and natural environment
Qingdao is an eastern Chinese coastal city located between latitude 35°35' to 37°09' and longitude 119°30' to 121°00'.The city faces the Yellow Sea on the east and south, and adjoins the cities of Yantai、Rizhao and Weifang to the northeast, southwest and west respectively. The total area of Qingdao is 10,654 square kilometers while the urban area totals 1,102 square kilometers.

Qingdao is a hilly city. A downward slope from south to north characterizes the topography of Qingdao. There are three major mountain ranges: the Daze (dà zé 大泽) Mountains which lies to the north, the Jiaonan (jiāo nán 胶南) mountains to the south and the Xiaozhu (xiǎo zhū 小珠)mountain peak which is 724.9 meters above sea level. The Lao Mountains are in the southeast with the main peak 1132.7 meters above sea level.

Qingdao has a northern temperate zone monsoon climate with the characteristics of a marine climate, such as moist air, abundant rainfall and four distinctive seasons. It is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. The annul average temperature is 12.2° C. The hottest month is August with an average temperature of 25° C and the coldest month is   January when the temperature average is 1.3°C.                               Click to Enlarge                                                                             

Historical Culture and Euro-Asian Area
The many cultural relics lying amongst charming natural scenery record Qingdao's century old history and the abundance of a combination of eastern and western cultures. There are many good tourist attractions here including Zhanqiao Pier (zhàn qiáo 栈桥), Xiaoqing Island (xiǎo qīng dǎo 小青岛), Xiaoyu Hill (xiǎo yú shān 小鱼山), Lu Xun Park (lǔ xùn gōng yuán 鲁迅公园), the Aquarium, the Marine Products Museum, the Navy Museum, Zhanshan Temple (zhàn shān sì 湛山寺), the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Prefects Mansion, the Perfects House, the hundred-year old Badaguan (bā dà guān 八大关) Villa Area and fine many beaches.

The western part of Qingdao is the old city proper, where the traditional red-roofed buildings, green trees, blue sea and clear sky can still be seen, while the eastern part of Qingdao is the newly developed area of the city and has many modern buildings. The contrast between the old and the new city gives Qingdao its cosmopolitan Euro-Asian characteristics.

The Flourishing Eastern Tourist Area of Qingdao

May Fourth Square (wǔ sì guǎng chǎng 五四广场)
May Fourth Square depends on the Qingdao Municipal government office block, south near Fushan (fú shān 浮山) bay, total area 10 hectares. The square main body sculpture "May Wind" the height 30 meters, the diameter 27 meters, use the screw upward steel body structure combination, soars “the wind” take the pure neat modeling element arrangement combination as revolving the modeling, has fully manifested the national strength which the May 4th Movement of 1919 anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism patriotism main key and makes widely known soars. May Fourth Square symbolic sculpture “May wind”, by the screw rise wind modeling and the fiery red color, manifested “the May 4th Movement of 1919” to oppose imperialism fully the national strength which, the anti-feudal patriotism main key and made widely known soars. In the opposite sea has may spurt in the height hundred meters water the eruptive fountain, the entire scenic area atmosphere appears tranquilly elegant, comfortable auspicious. Here has become one of new century Qingdao's symbolic landscapes.

Bus Route: Take bus No. 31,224,228,316 and get off at The City Hall

Zhanqiao Pier (zhàn qiáo 栈桥)
Zhanqiao Pier, built in 1891, is the symbol of Qingdao. After several restorations, from being a simple military harbor, it is now open to tourists. The pier is 440 meters long. There is an octagonal pagoda of distinctive Chinese style, “Huilan (huí lán 回澜) Pagoda” at the end of the pier. From the top, tourists can fully view the magnificent sea. Along the shore is the beautiful Pier Park, which is a pleasant and quiet place for tourists to rest or enjoy the scenery of Little Qingdao Isle and its white tower.

Bus Route: Take bus No.5,6,202,320,321,316 and get off at  Zhanqiao Pier

Little Qingdao (xiǎo qīng dǎo 小青岛)

Little Qingdao Isle: Little Qingdao Isle, Whose shape is like an ancient violin, is also called “violin Isle”. Germany built the white lighthouse on the isle at the beginning of this century. Its light reflected on the sea makes quite a spectacle at night, so much so that it has become known as “floating light of Isle”.
Ticket: 10 for low season (11-1 to 3-31),15 for midseason (4-1 to 10-31)
Bus Route: Take bus No.26,202,316,311 and get off at  Lu Xun Park (lǔ xùn gōng yuán鲁迅公园)

Xiaoyushan Park (xiǎo yú shān 小鱼山)
Xiaoyushan Park: Built in the Chinese classical style, the hill-top park is named after the Yu Hill. The designers and architects made use of the local landscape and their imagination in laying out the park. The 18-metre-high three-story and eight-cornered “Seeing Waves Tower” bears an inscription by Wu Zuoren, a famous calligraphist.

Ticket: CNY 15
Bus Route: Take bus No. 6,26,316,220,321,231,304,202,223 and get off at The First Bathing Beach

Badaguan (bā dà guān 八大关)
Badaguan (Eight Great Passes): Lying between Huiquan(huì quán 汇泉) Cape and Taiping Cape, Badaguan faces the rippling Taiping (tài píng 太平) Bay. In Badaguan area, more than 200 villas of exotic style are scattered among the flora and fauna. There are so many villas that the scenic spot is called a World Architecture Museum. Crossing the scenic area are ten roads built in 1931 and lined with many varieties of trees such as peaches, crabapples, pine trees and ginkgoes. Eight of the roads are named after the eight great passes of the Great Wall, and thus the area was named “Badaguan”.
Bus Route:  Take bus No.15,26,31,202,228,604,316 and get off at Wu Sheng Guan Road (wǔ shèng guān武胜关)

Olympic Sailing Center 
In 2008,Qingdao,as one of the host cities, held the competition of sailing boat. And Qingdao Olympic sailing base became a feature spot since then. For the embodiment of Green Olympics, Hi-tech Olympics and Humanistic Olympics, the center was designed and constructed in a world-class way. It covers an area of 45 hectares, including Olympic village, Player’s center, Administration Department, Media center and general affairs center. Every department works divisions as well as cooperation to make the center go on well. It deserves to visit and you won’t be disappointed.

Bus Route:  Take bus No.317 and get off at Donghai (dōng hǎ i东海) Road
Ticket: CNY 10

Qingdao Beer Museum (Tsingtao Brewery)
In August 1903, GermanBeer Company Qingdao Branch, China’s first beer factory that built by European technology, was born in Qingdao. After a hundred years of vicissitudes, it has been developed into Tsingtao Brewery Company, a world-famous manufacturing enterprise special in Qingdao Beer production. At present, it owns 55 beer factories and malt factories in 18 cities and provinces in China. The one-hundred-year old Qingdao Beer has created its own history and culture.

Situated at No.56, Dengzhou (dēng zhōu 登州) Road, Qingdao City, the Qingdao Beer Museum is built on the site of German Beer Company Qingdao Branch. Being the first museum of its kind in China, the construction of the museum provides a spectacular showcase for Qingdao beer to oversea tourists, and has become the pride of the people of Qingdao.

Summing up the many merits of beer museums in many developed countries, the museum was designed by an outstanding architect and designer utilizing both Chinese and western culture. The project started in 2002 and completed in 2003, and was presented as a gift to the Qingdao Brewery Factory upon its 100th anniversary. Utilizing the century-old German architecture and equipment, the museum integrates the history, development and modern brewing techniques of Qingdao beer, making it a world-class one.

The museum is an Occidental two-storey red building constructed in 1903 by Germans and is one of a few typical Gothic constructions within the city. In the museum, one can see historic sepia and black & white photographs; appreciate the cultural relics from both home and abroad and see samples of Qingdao beer kept from different eras. The four huge copper brewing vessels are kept in the museum and were manufactured in Germany and were in use until their decommissioning in 1995. Historical artifacts donated by the descendants of both German and Japanese staff of the Qingdao Brewery are especially precious and absorbing. Here, you will have the opportunity to get close to the mysterious origins; the long history of beer and instruments used.

In the manufacturing and technology area, the historic buildings, facilities and the original workshops and scenes of production brings the museum to life. Beer-making ingredients like barley, brown malt and hops are also on display. Sculptures of staff in the workplace vividly represent the beer making process. The first floor of this multi-functional space can comfortably accommodate more than 100 visitors, providing both wine-tasting and shopping opportunities. Visitors can also sample the various freshly brewed beers and buy a great variety of souvenirs.

Since its opening, the museum has received countless domestic and foreign tourists, including both national and international statesmen. The superb environment, high quality of service and distinctive charm has made the museum a leading light of domestic industrial tourism.

Admission Fee: CNY 50
Bus Route: Take bus No.205,217,221 or 604 and get off at Qingdao Beer museum.

Qingdao International Beer Festival

Qingdao is a romantic city with an advantageous geographical position and a long history in beer-production. It is said that the city has a heroic spirit, stemming from a combination of the surrounding sea, its people and its beer. In recent years the Qingdao International Beer Festival has become a major event in the calendar of this beautiful city.

The first Beer Festival took place back in 1991. It is now held once a year on the second weekend of August, and lasts for 16 days. Qingdao is the largest beer production base in China and the Beer Festival provides a great opportunity to show-off the city's unique characteristics. 

With a 16-yeaqingdao international beer festivalr history, the Qingdao International Beer Festival is now a nationally recognized event, and successfully combines together aspects of tourism, culture and sport, while also playing a valuable role in promoting the economic interests of the city. As one of the most important festivals of China, it has a worldwide reputation and attracts millions of people to take part every year. In April of 2006 the Qingdao International Beer Festival was praised as the No.1 on the board of 'Top Ten Festivals in China' in the Exhibition and Conference Annual Meeting of China.

Qingdao International Beer Town (No.195, Hong Kong East Road) is the Beer Festival's primary location. It is here that many of the festival's performances take place. The area also contains a number of shops and restaurants, catering for a variety of tastes. In 2006 two other venues - the Huiquan Plaza and Dengzhoulu Beer Street - were added in an attempt to bring the celebrations to a wider audience. The festival begins with the opening ceremony, followed by 16 days of beer tasting, evening entertainment and drinking competitions, concluding with the final ceremony.

The slogan for the Qingdao International Beer Festival reads: 'Qingdao-Ganbei (cheers!) with the World!', indicating the scale of the event. While the 195-year old Munich Oktoberfest primarily focuses on local breweries, the Qingdao International Beer Festival is open to both Chinese and foreign groups. More than 100 beer brands from all over the world have successfully participated at the event over the past 16 years.

Every year daily performances are given at the Beer Town's Center Theatre, where colorful fountains, hi-tech laser shows and dramatic audio effects wow audiences. However, performances are not strictly limited to the Beer Town, with 200 such events taking place across the city. Whether walking on the roads, shopping in the local stores or even when catching a ride in a taxi, you will constantly hear people talking about the festival. It is obvious to see that after 16 years of development, the Beer Festival has become part of the Qingdao people's daily lives. We recommend that you sample the buzz on its streets for yourself.

Bus Route: 311, 317, 321, 501

Qingdao Naval Museum

Qingdao Naval Museum, built in 1989, is the only military museum that features the complete development of the Chinese naval establishment. Located at No.8, Laiyang (lái yáng 莱阳) Road, the museum sits on the gorgeous seashore. It lies to the west of the famous Lu Xun Park and faces Zhan Bridge across the sea.

The museum, with a great collection of documents, photographs and precious relics of different periods, fully narrates the history and achievements of the Chinese navy. The museum consists of several exhibition areas which reflect the glorious history of Chinese navy in all aspects since its formation.

Navy Uniform Exhibition Hall displays the uniforms, military insignia and special duty apparel of different periods since the founding of the Chinese People's Navy in 1949. They reflect the process of modernization and normalization of the Naval Establishment. The dress uniform, office appliances and articles for daily use of Xiao Jinguang, the first commander of the navy, are also on display.

The Exhibition Hall of Presents shows more than 300 precious gifts which are a great feast for the eyes. Donated by the armies of over 60 countries, they attest to the diplomatic achievements of the Chinese People's Navy. Many are the army emblems and naval vessel signs of foreign navies. Some of them are highly significant, such as a Russian naval officer's sword presented by the Vice Minister of Russian Defense in 1957 and a gilt sword with black scabbard given by an American admiral in 1989.

The square of the court is the Weaponry Exhibition Area where ex-service weapons and equipment are on display. These are organized by category-naval vessel, aeroplane, guided missile, artillery, radar, underwater weapon, underwater tank and so on. Of the 150 exhibits, some are of crucial historical value since they served Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou Enlai, Xiao Jianguang and some international allies.

The Marine Exhibition Area, covering a water area of 4 hectares (10 acres), holds a retired destroyer, frigates and conventional submarines which had made great contributions in safeguarding the country.

Admission Fee: CNY 30 (April 1-Octover 31)
                       CNY 20 (Novemver 1-next March 31)
Opening Hours: 07:30-18:30
But Route: Take but No.6,26,202,214,223,228,231,304,311,312,316,321,501,802 and get off at Lu Xun Park.

Underwater World

The distinctive Qingdao Underwater World offers a breath-taking view of a marine world. Lying to the northeast of famous Luxun Park and to the west of Number One Bathing Beach, it is situated on Huiquan Bay in Qingdao, Shandong Province. By means of modern techniques and advantageous geological location, it combines the advantage of the Qingdao Aquarium, Qingdao Specimen Hall and Qingdao Freshwater Fish Center, becoming a hot spot for marine ecotourism.

The underwater world consists of several interesting underwater landscapes, including the inter-tidal zones, underwater tunnel, performance hall and exhibition areas. The inter-tidal zones are teeming with many special species, forming a particular ecosystem. Various algae, echinoderms, marine mollusks, arthropods and small amounts of fish are living here. Common marine life like starfish, sea urchins, sea turtles, octopus, crabs and small sharks can be seen; some bright-colored or odd-shaped varieties will bring you a unique and spectacular view! The underwater tunnel breeds thousands of kinds of halo bios which are from all over the world, among them are some rare species. Sauntering in the tunnel, you can see the sharks cruising leisurely in the water, shoals of fishes pulling on the reefs, and still some species staying quietly in the seabed.

Wonderful items, like the dances between human and sharks, sea-maiden exhibitions and underwater ballets are performed in the performance hall. If a new couple is willing to experience an underwater wedding here, they will undoubtedly have an unforgettable memory of this solemn and happy moment. In the large cylindrical exhibition chamber, the colorful corals, various beautiful seaflowers and gorgeous tropical pet fish will fully occupy your eyes. In addition, there are exhibition areas for sea horses, nautilus, lobsters, jellyfish and other marine life.

Qingdao Aquarium was the first aquarium of China. The magnificent main building followed the Chinese traditional fortress, and was reputed as one of the ten most imposing buildings of Qingdao City. Sea beasts like harbor seals, South American sea lions, Humboldt penguins are also kept in the Qingdao Underwater World and they will always present lively and artful performances to the tourists. Specimen Hall of Marine Life has the most abundant specimens in the world, displaying over 20,000 specimens of more than 1,950 rare marine lives of China and the world. As the only specimen hall featuring the marine life in China, it also keeps many specimens of endangered species.

The Freshwater Fish Center is a simulation of a tropical rainforest ecological environment. It exhibits many rare and endangered species and some tropical fish, including South American arapaima, precious angelfish, Chinese sturgeons, Yangtze alligators and giant salamanders. In addition, there is a special exhibition area for the jellyfish. Thousands of various gorgeous jellyfish swim in the water, resembling blooming flowers in the garden and bring you to an unforgettable dream world.

Qingdao Mount Laoshan (láo shān 崂山)

The Mount Laoshan scenic spot total area 446 square kilometers, in which long circles the mountain sea cliff line to amount to 87.3 kilometers, the prominent peak height 1,133 meters, may be called rises suddenly, stands. The Mount Laoshan climate is fresh and moist, the annual mean temperature is 12.6 degree Celsius, the winter average temperature is -0.2 degree Celsius, in summer the average temperature is 23 degree Celsius. The Mount Laoshan history is glorious, the historical site gathers together. Far in 140 million year ago cretaceous period early time, the Mount Laoshan namely has formed, 5000, 6000 years ago, the ancients have lived together in this live, have created the bright Longshan culture. << Historical Records of the Eastern Han dynasty Meets sprouts passes on >> (后汉书), << Nan Shi Ming Sengming passes on >> (南史) and so on to have the record.
Mount Laoshan natural landscape alone natural characteristic. The mountain sea is connected, a sea day color, the grand magnificent sight; In the mountain the group peak towers, the grotesquely-shaped jagged rocks, the level mountain range folds , the wall truncates like the knife, the gorge canyon , in each peak the vivid stone everywhere, differ in thousands of ways, is lifelike; The blue sea boundless, Shan Gaolin is dense, the cloud was mad the meeting and parting, the mist light fluctuates; The sea cliff line windingly winds, or broad lonesome and quiet, the smoke wave is vast, or startled Tao strikes the shore, Gu Yingshan cry.

Mount Laoshan famous spring holy water rich characteristic. The god spring, the saint spring, and so on spring, six second grades springs respectively leads coquettishly; Sound of the tide waterfall, Longtan waterfall and so on famous waterfall each charm. The famous Qingdao beer and Mount Laoshan mineral water depend on this Shui Niangjiu (shuǐ niàng jiǔ 水酿酒) to become.

The Mount Laoshan forest dark green is strongly fragrant, in the area only the precious flower has more than 110, some tree age reach as high as for more than 2,500 years. The mountain deep place, spring day Paris green, summer the thick shade blocks out the sun, autumn full valley golden yellow, the severe winter then the eucalyptus fine jade is everywhere colored.

Of the Mount Laoshan by its mountain sea marvelous sight, the profound lonesome and quiet beautiful scenery, "the deity hole dwelling", "the dwelling place of Buddhist immortals luck place" the fine reputation, doubles esteem the king military and political leader, , the famous road eminent monk. Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai (lǐ bái 李白) has left behind "me in this if in East China Sea, Mount Laoshan meal purple light" famous verse. The Qing Dynasty loose age has written << the Fragrant Jade >>  (xiāng yù 香玉)take Mount Laoshan local scenery as the content, << the Mount Laoshan Taoist priests >> (láo shān dào shì 崂山道士) and so on the masterpiece. In the mountain the Daoist temple temple hut spreads all over, is prosperous when has "the imperial palace eight view 72 huts" (jiǔ gōng bā guān qī shí èr guān 九宫八关七十二庵)saying.

In brief, fresh and moist air, glorious and bright historical culture, the humanities and the natural landscape, constituted the rich connotation which the Mount Laoshan travels.

Mt.Lao is divided into nine parts: Taiqing (tài qīng 太清) Area, Jufeng (jù fēng 巨峰) Area, Beijiushui (běi jiǔ shuǐ  北九水) Area , Yangkou (yǎng kǒu  仰口) Area

Taiqing Area

It is famous for Taiqing Temple, which is one of the most famous Taoist temples in China.
Admission Fee: RMN50, if you want to visit Taiqing Temple you have to pay extra RMB15
Bus Route: Bus No.104, 304, 802

Jufeng area

In this area, you can reach the peak of Mt.Lao, which is about 1131.7 meter. From the peak, you can see the sunrise, which is amazing.
Admission Fee: CNY 50
Bus Route: Bus No.104, 304, 802

Beijiushui Area

It is famous for its beautiful pools and streams.
Admission fee: CNY 30
Bus Route: Bus No.110, 112, 311, 365, 802

Hotels in Qingdao
As tourist development grows in Qingdao, the hotel industry flourishes more and more. It is very easy to find a hotel in Qingdao, ranging from 5 star hotels to youth hostels. Of course, it will be any traveler's first choice to stay in the city center due to the superior geographical location and the convenient transportation.
You can book the star rated hotels on the website http://www.ctrip.com (it has English version), which has very detailed information

Here we provide some information about youth hostel for you

Qingdao International Youth Hostel
Add: No7, Qixia (qī xiá 栖霞) Road, Qingdao
Tel: 0523-82865177, 0523-82865188
If you want to get more information, you can log on their homepage: http://www.youthtaylor.com/index_1.asp

Qingdao Kaiyue (kǎi yuè 凯越) International Youth Hostel
Add: No.31 Jining (jì níng 济宁) Road, Qingdao
Tel: 0532-82845450
If you want to get more information, you can log on their homepage:
http://www.yhaqd.com/

Local Food in Qingdao
Seafood should not be missed in Qingdao. Qingdao seafood has unique flavors, fresh and light, popular with tourists.

Fried Spicy Clams (là chǎo há lí  辣炒蛤蜊)

Roasted Sleeve-Fish ( kǎo yóu yú 烤鱿鱼)
 
Seafood Wonton (hǎi xiān hún tún 海鲜馄饨)

Food Street in Qingdao
Yunxiao (yún xiāo 云霄) Road Food Street
Bus Route: Bus No.26, 31,228,231,304,312,316,321 and get off at the Carrefour bus stop.

Huiquan (huì quán 汇泉) Food Street
Bus Route: Bus No.25, 26, 31,104,302,801 and get off at the Huiquan Square.

Tips
• Qingdao is a small city,walk is a good way to see it
• Please bring your camera with you wherever you go
• If you get lost,just ask,the natives are very friendly
• Better not come in winter,the wind can blow you away
• Take your slippers, so you can play on the beach
• If you bathe in the sea, don't be alone and be careful
• Be careful with the seafood, make sure it is crisp
• The tempereture is low at night,rememver to bring a coat

Have a good time in Qingdao!