Qingdao 青岛

1

The 1892 pier and Huilan Pavilion, symbol of Qingdao on every beer label.

2

Eight named avenues of cherry, ginkgo and German villas.

3

1903 brewery with fresh unfiltered beer and drunch tokens.

4

Taoist peaks dropping into the sea; tea terraces and waterfalls.

5

Military pier built in 1892 by General Zhang Gaoyuan of the Qing Dynasty: The pier is 444.5m long extending into Qingdao Bay. Huilan Pavilion (built in 1933 as an octagonal pavilion) is a landmark symbol of Qingdao.

6

White lighthouse built by Germany in 1899 (commissioned in 1900, still in use for navigation): The island is shaped like a zither, hence the name "Qin Yu" (Zither Isle). "Qin Yu Piao Deng" (Zither Isle Floating Light) is listed among Qingdao's Top Ten Scenic Spots. The rotating tower light at night is a classic image of the old city coastline.

7

A German signal tower built in 1899: marked by three red mushroom buildings, the rotating observation tower offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the red-tiled, green-treed old city—the "red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and blue sky" cityscape is most complete here.

8

The German Governor's Residence (Governor's Building) built from 1905 to 1907: European castle-style palace architecture, blending Wilhelmine style with Jugendstil decoration, with luxurious interior crystal chandeliers, fireplaces, and stained glass; Sun Yat-sen stayed here in 1924.

9

A twin-tower Gothic cathedral built from 1932 to 1934 (56m high): designed by Balthasar Permoser, it is the only benediction church in China, with exquisite facade sculptures and colorful rose windows; the Zhejiang Road Square viewpoint is a holy land for wedding photos (dozens of couples queue for shots during peak season).

10

A German castle-style church built from 1908 to 1910: the clock tower is 39m high, and the mechanical clock has been running for a century (chimes on the hour), with quaint and solemn stained glass and granite walls.

11

A scenic area composed of ten roads named after passes: Shaoguan Road, Jiayu Pass Road, Zhengyang Pass Road, etc., crisscrossing with over 200 villas of various national styles known as the "World Architecture Exposition"—Huashi Building (1932 granite castle, Chiang Kai-shek's residence), Princess House, Butterfly Building (former home of film star Hu Die) are representative famous buildings.

12

The Shanhaiguan Road beach within Badaguan: combines a reef beach with fine sand, the only beach within Badaguan, open for a fee during the swimming season.

13

The three-story octagonal "Lancha Pavilion" is built on the hilltop: it offers a panoramic view of the old city's red-tiled roofs and the bay, capturing the "Qinyu Floating Lights" and the pier perspective. It is considered the first observation deck in the old city in the hearts of photography enthusiasts.

14

Lao She's residence in Qingdao from 1935 to 1937: "Camel Xiangzi" was completed here. The museum displays manuscripts, first editions, and a Camel Xiangzi rickshaw model. It is China's first literary museum named after a person's book.

15

Kang Youwei's residence in Qingdao (Tianyou Garden) from 1923 to 1927: Kang Youwei settled in Qingdao in his later years and died here. His famous quote "Red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and blue sky" originated from his praise of Qingdao.

16

European-style prison complex built by Germany in 1900: The Ren character cell, water cell, and prison factory are well preserved. The exhibition on modern judicial history in Qingdao covers the German occupation, Japanese occupation, and the Republic of China periods. The "castle-style prison" architecture itself is the exhibit.

17

Former site of the German Imperial Post Office in Kiaochow (Jia'ao) from 1905: A wall of century-old telephones showcases the evolution of communication history. A slow mail service allows you to write a letter to your future self.

18

A bookstore with the lineage of the Republic-era magazine "Liangyou": Located in a 1901 tower building, it combines literary exhibitions, old magazine reproductions, and a coffee space. It is a cultural landmark in Qingdao.

19

A commercial street opened in 1898 (German name: Fiedler Street): A century-old commercial street witnessing the starting point of Qingdao's urbanization. Pichai Courtyard is a snack street in the old courtyard of Jiangning Road (Tofu brain, potstickers), and the renovated area of 'liyuan' architecture (Guangxingli, etc.) recreates the 'Qingdao liyuan' residential form.

20

"The corner of Daxue Road red wall glazed tiles" is Qingdao's first internet-famous photo spot: Century-old ginkgo trees paired with red walls and yellow tiles, queuing for photos in autumn.

21

A cultural small road where Lao She's former residence is located: Quiet slopes lined with cafes and studios, tree shadows and red tile walls suitable for slow walking.

22

Qingdao's largest commercial circle night market: Colorful building murals (Taidong 3rd Road murals) are the city's art business card, with dense snack stalls and beer houses, where the Qingdao characteristic of 'dispensed beer in plastic bags' is most common.

23

A characteristic street where 'beer walks with the street': Rows of beer houses, Qingdao Beer Factory original factory dispensed beer paired with grilled squid, malt aroma wafting through the street.

24

Old factory buildings built by British and German merchants in 1903 to build the Qingdao Beer Factory: Hall A displays 100 years of history and old advertisements, Hall B features real production lines (can see filling lines), original wort and pure draft tasting are included in the ticket (the drunken house interaction is interesting), it is a National First-Class Museum (Industrial category...).

25

Asia's largest beer festival since 1991: Held annually from mid-July to August, with the Golden Beach venue in the West Coast New Area as the main site (Laoshan venue is the historical site). World beer brands and domestic beer tents party all night, accompanied by performances and fireworks.

26

Completed in 1999, commemorating the May Fourth Movement (the Qingdao issue was the spark): The "Wind of May" red spiral sculpture is 30 meters high, serving as a landmark of Qingdao spirit and a backdrop for the Fushan Bay light show.

27

Venue for the 2008 Olympic sailing competitions (original site of Yan'erdao Mountain): The Lover's Wharf white cylindrical lighthouse and romantic pier are a holy site for proposals; Sailing experiences start around CNY 200, and the Olympic torch sculpture is a popular photo spot.

28

A light show involving over 50 buildings and the coastline: Themes change with the seasons. May Fourth Square and Lover's Wharf are the best viewing points, and the "Qingdao Window" light and shadow effects are the city's calling card.

29

Polar animal area (beluga whales, penguins, polar bears) and marine theater (dolphin shows): Beluga whale shows are the most popular; the underwater tunnel and polar scenery are realistic.

30

The largest bathing beach at the foot of Laoshan Mountain: The Shilaoren Sea-eroded pillar (17 meters high, the upper part collapsed naturally in the first half of 2022, the base remains, shape subject to on-site conditions) is said to be a fossilized fisherman's wife waiting for her husband.

31

China's first professional sculpture park: scattered sculptures on the seaside lawn, permanent exhibitions by the Qingdao Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sculpture, and the Donghai Road sculpture belt extending in a line.

32

"Number One Mountain on the Sea" (altitude 1132.7m): Taoist mountain — Taiqing Palace was built by Zhang Lianfu in the Western Han Dynasty; Pu Songling wrote "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" here; thousand-year ginkgo and dragon-head elms are famous trees in the palace.

33

Laoshan's only Buddhist temple (Huayan Nunnery built during the Qing Shunzhi reign): Narayana Cave is the cave described in the Huayan Sutra (Huayan Sutra Cave); the temple's collection of Buddhist scriptures and ancient trees are highlights.

34

"Asia's No. 1 Beach": fine sand, 3.5 km long, host venue for the Beer Festival, favorite photography spot for sunrise.

35

A quiet beach south of Golden Beach: silver-white sand, few people and peaceful, connected to the Phoenix Mountain scenic belt, suitable for zoning out and foraging for sea life.

36

Marine garden bay belt: wetland park and cycling paths surround the bay; Tangdao Bay is the sea area of the 1161 Song-Jin Tangdao Battle site — historical site of the naval battle where Southern Song Li Bao attacked the Jin fleet with fire.

37

68m sea-view Ferris wheel: Nighttime rotating lights by Tangdao Bay, with cabins offering views of the West Coast coastline and bay scenery.

38

The place where Qin Shi Huang visited three times during his eastern tours: The Langya Stele (Qin Dynasty stele) is a surviving witness to Li Si's calligraphy; legends of Xu Fu's eastward voyage originate here; the Qin Dynasty rammed-earth platform ruins and the Langya Terrace Exhibition Hall systematically display Qin history.

39

Ten thousand mu of wild azaleas (April 'Azalea Sea'): Shimen Temple (Sui Dynasty grottoes) and Zhushan Grottoes are early Buddhist art remains; the mountain is steep, and the summit offers views of the Yellow Sea.

40

Xiaozhu Mountain is the highest forest-covered point in Qingdao: The Wildlife World free-range area features a drive-through tour (close encounters with white tigers and giraffes), with a walking area featuring predator and primate halls.

41

Cangma Mountain International Tourism Resort: A combination of blueberry farms (summer picking), ski resorts (winter), and hot springs, with Cangmazhuang Folk Village as a supporting facility.

42

China's only military naval museum: Retired warships Shenyang and Changjiang (Mao Zedong once rode) can be boarded; the nuclear submarine Long March No. 1 can be entered (immersive experience); the weapons exhibition area features a complete sequence from coastal artillery to carrier-based aircraft.

43

Rebuilt in 1932: The underwater tunnel and shark-dancing show are the highlights. The old Qingdao Aquarium (founded with Cai Yuanpei's initiative) retains 1930s exhibition pools, emphasizing both history and exhibits.

44

A thematic museum on German occupation of Qingdao (1897-1914) and the 1914 Battle of Tsingtao: The only WWI battlefield historical display in Asia. The original underground command post of the Qingdao Hill Fort is accessible (German-built underground fortress), combining historical site with academic narrative.

45

An industrial art park transformed from State Cotton Mill No. 5 (a Japanese textile mill from 1934): Old textile machines and sawtooth-shaped factories preserve industrial memories, while graffiti walls and creative markets give it a youthful vibe.

46

The former Sailors' Club (one of China's earliest commercial cinemas): A cinema museum-style cafe featuring old film screenings and movie-themed exhibitions. The tower building itself is a German-style historic building.

47

A thousand-year-old city in Jiaodong: Rebuilt in 2017 with ancient city walls, the county government office, and the Confucian academy. The Jimo Old Wine Museum (Free) showcases the thousand-year-old yellow wine craftsmanship.

48

An ocean hot spring (bromide salt) resort area: Large-scale resorts like China Travel Service Haiguanwan provide ski facilities (in winter).

49

Jiaozhou Shaohai National Wetland Park: Ciyun Temple (Wanfo Pagoda) and Dagukou River Museum are located by the lake, and the ancient port site of Banzhen Town (Mizhou Banzhen Town, a major northern port in the Song Dynasty) recreates memories of the Maritime Silk Road.

50

A mountain and water route upstream of Laoshan Reservoir: Erlongshan Waterfall Group and primitive forest scenery, which is the water source for Laoshan mineral water.

Ocean-to-char scallops, clams and squid by the kg.

Local seafood restaurant row in Shinan district.

Old-town courtyard packed with Qingdao street food.