Qingdao Destination Guide

Tourist Tips

Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and excellent weather. Parks, beaches, sculpture and some unique architecture line the shore.

Qingdao International Sailing Centre:

This sailing marina located on the former site of the Beihai Shipyard by Qingdao's Fushan Bay is under construction for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Zhan Qiao:

Zhan Qiao pier is at the tip of Qingdao Bay off Zhongshan road. This 440 meter (1,443.6ft) strip that stretches into the sea and was the first wharf in Qingdao. An octagonal pavilion called the Billowing Back and Forth Tower (huilan ge) if loosely translated, stands at the end of the pier. The pier itself was built in 1891 during the German occupation of Qingdao. The pavillion at the end was built in 1930.

Zhanqiao pier is viewed in the eyes of many as the official symbol of Qingdao as it was made famous by being placed on the front of the Tsingdao Brewery beer can.

Also in the vicinity of Zhan Qiao Pier is the small Qingdao Island (Xiao Qingdao), the Qingdao Navy Museum, and many neighbourhoods featuring German colonial architecture. The coastline lights up at night with spotlights on nearby buildings and several neon billboards.

May Fourth Square:

May Fourth Square (Wusi Guangchang) is a large public square in Qingdao's Central Business District. Named after the nationwide protest movement that started in Qingdao, the square is best recognized by the large "May Wind" (Wuyue Feng) sculpture near the seaside. The square is a popular tourist destination, and is bordered by the city government to the north, the sea to the south, and residential and commercial buildings on either side. On pleasant days May Fourth Square fills with young couples on the ground and kites in the air.

Ba Da Guan:

Ba Da Guan (the eight passes) is a major tourist-attraction close to the coast of Qingdao. It's made up of eight streets named after the eight great military forts of the ancient times. Along the streets are many classic European houses built when Qingdao was occupied by the German army before the first world war. Its atmosphere is unlike any other place in China, with large, grassy lawns, wide streets, and minimal traffic. Many of its residents are retired Communist Party and military officials.

Ba Da Guan is bordered on the west by number one Beach on on the east by number three Beach. Hua Shi Lou, a stone, Russian-built home, is located on number two Beach in Ba Da Guan.

Ba Da Guan is one of China's great centres for wedding photography. On nearly any day one can see tens of newlywed couples being photographed along Ba Da Guan's shoreline and greenspace.

Jiaozhou Governor's Hall:

Jiaozhou Governor's Hall is a former government building in Qingdao, and was built from 1904 to 1906 and designed by German architect Mahlke.

It has a gross space of 7,500 square metres and originally served as the Jiaozhou Bay governor's office building. In 1914 it became the Japanese garrison headquarters, until 1922 when Qingdao regained sovereignty. In the second world war it was again occupied by the Japanese, and became the seat of their regime from 1938-1945. The government of the People's Republic of China was seated there from the time of Qingdao's liberation in June 1949 until July 1994.

Laoshan:

Laoshan is a famous mountain in Shandong province, which lies about 30 kilometres east of the city of Qingdao, and is an important tourist destination.

Laoshan has been an important centre of Taoism in China for many centuries. In 412 the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Faxian landed at Laoshan on his return from India.

One of the main reasons that both locals and tourists visit Laoshan is to see two specific temples located in the mountain. In one temple resides a goddess who is said to send a wife from heaven for any man that kneels before the altar and prays for one. Similarly, the other temple contains an altar to a male god who caters to hopeful females wishing to find husbands. A person's presence is not necessarily required in order to pray for a future mate: many hopeful mothers have been known secretly to visit the goddess's temple in hopes of finding the perfect daughter-in-law for their sons.

Many gamblers visit Laoshan for the famous tree located in the mountain, as it is said that three pats of the tree's trunk will bring instant luck for those seeking money.

Another popular tourist area is a pond located near the very centre of the mountain. It's said that if a person is able to place a paper dollar in the water and have it float on the surface of the water, the owner of the money will be blessed with good luck.

Tsingtao Brewery is made famous because its beer is said to be brewed with Laoshan spring water.

Qingdao Underwater World:

Qingdao is host to China's first public aquarium, opened in 1932. Today the "Underwater World" consists of four main areas on both sides of the street, and connected underneath the street itself. One highlight is the moving platform that takes visitors in a tunnel through the aquarium itself - one can look all around and see fish from every angle. Also, don't miss the ever-popular mermaid shows.

Located next to the number one beach; a day at the aquarium and a late afternoon at the beach make for a great summer day. Aquarium open daily; admission RMB 100.

Beaches:

Qingdao has some famous (within China) beaches worthy of visit. Unfortunately, litter is a problem at all of them - ranging from the occasional cigarette butt to having to wade through a flotsom of trash just to get into the ocean itself. Your experience will vary depending on the tides and the time of year you visit.

During summer weekends, Qingdao city beaches are very crowded, and sligtly less crowded on summer weekdays. Several beaches, including the number 1, number 6 and Old Stone Man beaches have very basic shower and changing facilities available for RMB 5; again, these can be packed crowded during the weekends. Bring sunscreen - while you can buy beach toys, food, drinks, and knick-knacks at any of Qingdao's beaches, suprisingly no one sells suncreen at the beach itself.

You can find bathing beaches all along the seaside from the Zhanqiao Pier to the Shilaoren Beach in the eastern suburbs. The best one is just at the entrance to Laoshan National Park, about a 30 minute drive east of the city limits.

Number 6 (or Muscle Beach) is not very clean. Number 1 beach is clean and full of amusement for children but often crowded. Accessing quiet beach number 2 necessitate a small fee (2 RMB). Number 3 (or City Beach) has a "plastic island" so you can swim far away and have a rest before coming back (but it is sometimes exhausting to swim in the waves). The best beach within easy striking distance of the city is Shilaoren (Old Stone Man). It's cleanish, very long and broad, with the highest waves. Get there by bus 125 or 321. And get some great Indian food at Trend 11 once you've had enough of a salt water soaking.

Walk along the sea front in the evening from beach 2 back into town to 6.

Other suggestions for sightseeing:

• Huangdong Winery
• St. Michael's Cathedral
• Bavarian style German Governor's residence
• Underground World of Chinese Mythology
• Xiao Yu Shan (Little Fish Hill)
• Lu Xun Park (named after Lu Xun, a famous modern Chinese writer.)
• Zhanshan Temple (Buddhist Temple facing the sea)
• Cable Car
• TV Tower
• Zhongshan Park
• Music Square
• Qingdao Mountain Park
• Kong Family Mansion in Qufu
• Confucious Temple Qufu

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