Qingdao A lovely place to go

ust one hour by plane and you reach the seaside city of Qingdao in Shandong Province, bordering on the Yellow Sea and the Jiaozhou Bay. Qingdao has a colourful history-the result of this is an interesting architecture and culture. Qingdao has been a small fishing village until the first troops were garrisoned there by the imperial court of Qing in 1891. In 1897 it became a German concession and was later occupied by the Japanese (in 1914). In 1922 it was reverted to Chinese rule, but was occupied again by the Japanese during the Second World War. Today, Qingdao does not only boast a great beer but also lovely spots, great food, varied architecture and rich culture.

For lovers of architecture, history and scenic spots, there are many places to go. The 440 m long Zhanqiao Pier, built in 1891 and located in Qingdao Bay, is regarded as the symbol of Qingdao. Qingdao also offers some fine sand beaches along its long winding coast – but do not expect California-style beaches here! There are altogether seven beaches in the urban area.

The Protestant Church (Jidu Jiaotang, opposite the southwestern entrance of Xinhaoshan Gongyuan), also known as the Gospel Church, built in 1908, was designed by German architect Curt Rothkegel. Climb up the bell tower for a breathtaking view of the city. Twin-spired St. Michael'sCathedral (Tianzhu Jiaotan on Zhejiang Lu) features Gothic and Roman style. It was designed by German architect Pepieruch and was built in 1932. The interior of the church is worth a visit.

The scenic area of Badaguan (Eight Passes) is named after the eight passes of the Great Wall. It is conveniently located in the city centre and the passes are planted with a variety of trees. This area is also called the Architecture Museum as it has many buildings with different styles of Western architecture.

The Tsingtao Brewery (Qingdao Pijiuchang) was build in 1903 by the Germans and is also worth a visit. Tours should best be booked at CITS in Qingdao, otherwise it could be difficult to get in.

A bit outside of Qingdao is Mount Laoshan-a famous Taoist retreat with temples, waterfalls and hiking trails. You best go there by taxi, as the busses are really crowded in summer and take up to 2 hours. Laoshan has a long history and throughout the ages Chinese imperial rulers dispatched envoys to Mount Laoshan to search for the elixir of life. The Great Purity Palace (Taiqing Gong) is located about a third of the way up Mount Laoshan. This palace was established by the first Song emperor to perform Taoist rites. Mingxia cave is in front of Xuanwu Peak and is the highest and deepest temple in Mount Laoshan.

Take your time to enjoy Qingdao – there is so much to discover!

Useful tips

Taxis

When arriving at the airport, taxi drivers will already be queuing up for you. Make sure you do not pay more than 90 to 100 Yuan to go downtown (they might be asking for as much as 200!).

Getting around Qingdao

Taxis are the fastest and easiest means to get around. If you want to hire a taxi for a day, look for a nice driver who can speak English (unless you speak Chinese) and negotiate. The “official” price for a day is 500 Yuan, but you should be able to get one for about 300 Yuan – free guide included!

Shopping

If you are looking for pearls, you can find a great selection in the subway market near the Pier. Just go in and look around. Do not forget to bargain – it is hard to tell the best price, but I looked around and listened to the salesman and normally did not pay more than a quarter or a third of the initial price. The larger the quantity, the better the price. You can also find a nice selection of sea-shells and coral necklaces. Dried fish and tea are sold everywhere; just keep your eyes open.

Festivals

Qingdao hosts a few festivals, the best known is probably the International Beer Festival which takes place every year in August.

Accommodation

I personally love the Shangri-La, but others may find it quite expensive. Other nice places are the Ying Binguan on Longshan Lu or the Haitian Dajiudian on Xianggang Lu. Just check with your travel agent or book online.

Food

You will find food around every corner and the most difficult thing is to decide where to go. My favourite seafood restaurant is Yangguang Jiari Jiudian on Donghai Lu – great place, unfortunately I have met no one who speaks English but you just pick your food and nod to whatever the waitress says.