Qingdao Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Qingdao 青岛 (also Tsingtao), with a population of more than 7 million, is one of the most beautiful and clean cities in the People's Republic of China and the largest city in Shandong Province. The name "Qingdao" in Chinese means "The Green Island".
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Understand
Qingdao is a city steeped in China's 20th century history. An ancient city, Qingdao was taken as a German colony in 1897. During their 17 year colonial period, the Germans left a distinct mark on Qingdao's architecture that can still be seen today in its historic center and train station. It is a kind of 'Bavaria-on-the-East-China-Sea', where they even sell Bratwurst on the street. And in no other place in China people drink as much beer as in Qingdao. In 1903, the world-famous Tsingtao brewery was established by homesick Germans. In August, Qingdao has a Beerfest as well. During World War I, the Japanese took over the city; they were ousted during the 1918 May 4th Movement but retook the city in 1938.
In 2008 Qingdao will play host to the sailing events of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Qingdao's climate ranges from very hot and humid in the summer to snowstorms in winter. Qingdao is the ideal destination if you want to combine sea-side fun with your trip to China.
Get in
By boat
There are also twice-weekly connections to Shimonoseki, Japan on Orient Ferries ([1]). The trip takes over 24 hours and 2nd class one-way costs 1200Y.
By air
The Qingdao Liuting International Airport is located 32 kilometers from the city itself - about a half hour cab ride. Flights to Shanghai are very quick and convenient, and not to expensive.
By train
There is a daily sleepertrain from Beijing and one from Shanghai as well. From Beijing it takes 12 hours, from Shanghai 18.
By bus
Especially if you are travelling from within Shandong province going by bus is probably the easiest way. Especially now with the new excellent and fast expressways linking Qingdao with other cities in the province. There are several buses per day to Jinan, Taian, Qufu, as well as Yantai and Rizhao on the coast. They leave from and arrive to the bus station just outside the train station, but also from the new bus station north of town, which can be reached by local bus number 5 in 20 min.
Get around
TAXI Take one of the plentiful taxis. The drivers practically run each other over trying to get fares. Just 7 RMB for short haul. You can get across town for about 30 RMB.
BUS The bus network is quite well put together and useful once you figure out the routes. Bus Number 501 and 26 run from the railway station along the coast and all the beaches to the modern eastern part of town, where bars and cafes are located.
CYCLING Cycling is a great way to get around the city. The old part of town is hilly so a good condition is required, but cycling along the flat coast is the best way to discover Qindao's 15 kilometres of downtown beaches, bays, peninsulas and all the different parts of the city along it.
See
Tsingtao brewery. In parts this sight is to enhance the profile of the brewery but there are also some interesting exibhits and the bottling plant is particularly interesting. Of course the ample free samples of beer are likely to persuade you this place is worth a visit.
The famous Pier near the train station and Catholic church. Makes it look a bit like Chinese Brighton.
The old German Governor's residence; a Bavarian-style castle where Mao stayed as well. Also the observatories on the hills around it are interesting for good views and museums.
ZhanShan Temple. Situated at the foot of ZhanShan Hill and to the east of TaiPing Hill, this temple was built in 1945. It has five halls and a pagoda, with an area of 20,000 square meters. The temple boasts a large collection of skillfully carved statues of Buddha and Buddhist scriptures. There are tens of thousands of people at ZhanShan Temple from 8th to 10th in April on the lunar calender every year.
Do
The Qingdao International Beer Festival is held in August every year (in 2006, from August 12-27th). The event is a raucus celebration of Qingdao's brewing heritage. During the daytime, there are official ceremonies that celebrate Qingdao's heritage as well as carnival type rides, food and games. In the evening, the event really picks up as crowds flock to huge tents set up by each beer company with a presence in China. One can sit down and order beer or snacks and watch (or participate in) various performances such as karaoke, concerts, auctions, or comedy.
The Qingdao Municipal Museum[2] is housed in a three story building at 27 MeiLing Lu. It includes exhibts of the art and antiquities of ancient to modern Qingdao. Open every day except Mondays; admission is RMB 20. Housed in the same building is the Haier Science Museum, a seperate museum especially geared towards children; admission RMB 10.
The Qingdao Underwater World / Qingdao Aquarium [3] 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 #1 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 #1, #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.
Buy
There are three main ares for buying stuff. The best is Taidong Buxingjie (Taidong Pedestrian Street). Very 'renao' (bustling), especially at night when the peddlers come out and you can buy all manner of trinkets, clothing, household wares, etc... Just north of here are a bunch of north/south streets lined with brothels pretending to be beauty salons.
To provision yourself, head out to the Carrefour / Jusco / Book City section of town where Hong Kong Middle Road and Nanjing Road intersect.
And don't miss Jimo Lu retail market. A warren of tiny mostly clothing shops. Get your knock of Gucci, Prada, Louis Vitton here. But don't drop your cigarette. The place is a tinderbox with no clearly marked emergency exits.
Avoid Zhingshan Road near the pier. It's over-rated.
Eat
There are the usual fast food chains around the station as well a Chinese eateries along Hong Kong Rd. Sushi was spotted along this road also. As there are many Koreans in Qingdao, Korean food is also easy to find. Many Chinese restaurants are in the nightlife area near the business district, some 10 kilometres east ot the old town.
Drink
Tsingtao is China's best-known brand of beer. The brewery was founded by Germans during colonial times and still today brews according to the German purity law. Every August there is a beer festival. Many European breweries participate.
Sleep
Qingdao Kaiyue International Youth Hostel. Quiet but large and very nice hostel in the old town near the train station and the Catholic church. Good place to meet other foreigners.
Get out
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