About Qingdao
What to see and do in Qingdao
Weather in Qingdao
Airport in Qingdao
Visa
Qingdao (Wade-Giles: Ching-tao), best 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 to the northeast, Weifang to the west and Rizhao to the southwest. Lying across the Shandong Peninsula while looking out to the Yellow Sea, Qingdao today is a major seaport, naval base, and industrial center. It is also the site of the Tsingtao Brewery.
The name "Qingdao" means "The Blue/Green Island".
Pier, (Near the train station). The famous pier makes it look a bit like a Chinese version of Brighton, England.
Catholic church.
Tsingtao Brewery. The brewery has some interesting exhibits and the bottling plant is fascinating. Of course the ample free samples of beer are likely to persuade you this place is worth a visit.
German Governor's Residence, (If you want to find it, ask for the Qingdao Guest House). A Bavarian-style castle where Mao stayed as well. Also the observatories on the hills around it are interesting for good views and museums.
Zhan Shan Temple, (Situated at the foot of ZhanShan Hill and to the east of TaiPing Hill). 8AM-5PM daily. 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 the 8th to the 10th of April on the lunar calender every year. RMB 8.
Qingdao Municipal Museum, 27 MeiLing Lu. Open Tu-Su. Includes exhibits of art and antiquities of ancient to modern Qingdao. RMB 20.
Haier Science Museum, 27 MeiLing Lu (In the same building as Qingdao Municipal Museum). A separate museum specially geared towards children. RMB 10.
Qingdao Underwater World/Qingdao Aquarium, (Located next to the #1 beach). Aquarium open daily. 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. A day at the aquarium and a late afternoon at the beach make for a great summer day. RMB 100.
Polar Ocean World. An aquarium focusing on polar animals, including polar bears and penguins. Newer and more modern than the Underwater World. It also has a well known beluga whale show. RMB 120 per adult.
Beaches
Qingdao has some famous (within China) beaches worthy of visiting. Unfortunately, litter is a problem at all of them, ranging from the occasional cigarette butt to having to wade through a flotsam 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 slightly less crowded on summer weekdays. Again, these can be packed full of people during the weekends. Bring sunscreen, while you can buy beach toys, food, drinks, and knick-knacks at any of Qingdao's beaches, surprisingly no one sells sunscreen 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.
Laoshan Beach, (Just at the entrance to Laoshan National Park, about a 30 minute drive east of the city limits). Laoshan beach is one of the best in town.
Old Stone Man Beach (Shilaoren), Donghai East Road and Haikou Roadm get there by bus 125 or 321. 24 hours. One of the best beaches within easy striking distance of the city. It is cleanish, very long and broad, with the highest waves. Tables, chairs, tents, boats, shower, changing facilities etc. are available for rent. Admission free; RMB 5 for shower and changing facilities.
Beach #1, Nanhai Road (RMB 15 - RMB 20 in taxi from the center; busses #6, #15, #26, #31, #202, #206, # 214, #219, #223, #228, #231, #302, #304, #306, #311, #312, #316, #317, #321, #501, #604, #605, #801 stop at near by bus stop Hai Shui Yu Chang. 24 hours. Clean and full of amusement for children but often crowded. Very basic shower and changing facilities available. Surrounded by restaurants and hotels. Admission free. RMB 5 for shower and changing facilities.
Beach #2 , Shanhaiguan Road (RMB 10 - RMB15 in taxi from the center; buses #26, #31, #202, #206, #214, #223, #228, #231, #304, #316, #317, #321, #501, #604, #801 stop at bus stop Wu Sheng Guan a bit north of the beach). Quiet beach. Entrance RMB 2 in summer, else free.
Beach #3 (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).
Beach #6 (Muscle Beach). Not very clean. Very basic shower and changing facilities available. RMB 5 for shower and changing facilities.
Qingdao International Beer Festival, held at the end of August every year, is a 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.
Huang Dao. Take a boat from Qingdao harbour to the nearby "island" of Huang Dao, a new and upcoming area.
Seafront walk. Walk along the sea front in the evening from beach 2 back into town to 6.
Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and temperate weather. Parks, beaches, sculpture and unique German and modern architecture line the shore. For more information head over to the Qingdao Information Centre for International Visitors located on Mid-Hong Kong Road(Xianggang Zhong Lu).
Historical Euro-Asia Area
Zhan Qiao (Pier)
Little Qingdao Isle
Tian Hou Temple, Qingdao Folk Museum
Ba Da Guan (Eight Great Passes), the older area of town with some surviving German and Japanese architecture.
Lu Xun Park, named after Lu Xun, a famous modern Chinese writer and critic, who lived and taught in 1930s.
Zhongshan Park, named after the style name 'Zhongshan' of Sun Zhongshan, a famous modern Chinese politician.
Xiao Yu Shan (Little Fish Hill)
Qingdao Botanical Garden
Qingdao Zoological Garden
The twin-spired St Michael's Cathedral, one piece of the famous Neo-romanesque architecture in Qingdao, designed by German architect, completed in 1934
Flower-floor, the place for previous German governors to fish, hunt or rest.
Qingdao Underwater World, Qingdao Aquarium
Governor's House, the office for previous German governors, Former Municipal Government
Guest House, a classic German Castle
Signal Hill
Astronomical Observatory Hill
Tuan Dao Shan|Tuan Dao Shan (Dumpling Peninsula Hill)
Underground World of Chinese Mythology, life-size figures and groups depicting scenes from the Chinese mythology.
Qingdao Hill Fort ruins
Qingdao Naval Museum
The Protestant Church
Qingdao Bathing Beaches, there are 6 well-known beaches with complete facilities.
Flourish Eastern Area
May Fourth Square Coastal plaza with the Wind of May sculpture
Music Square, famous for the Sail of Music
Qingdao Seaside Sightseeing Path
Qingdao Beer Museum, on the site of the old brewery.
Qingdao International Beer town, the primary site of the annual Qingdao International Beer Festival.
Tsingtao Brewery, originally founded by Germans and the most exported beer from China.
Qingdao Sculpture Museum
Qingdao Etsong Natural Grass Ski Field
Zhanshan Temple, Qingdao's oldest Buddhist temple.
State-level Mount Lao Scenic Area
Lao Shan(Mount Lao), 40 km east of Qingdao, the most famous Taoist mountain with Taoist retreat - Great Purity Palace.
Jufeng (Huge Peak)
Nine Waters & Eighteen Pools
Kang Cheng Shuyuan (Kang Cheng Study House)
Yangkou
Yakou
Outlying Area
Qingdao Museum
Stone Old Man (Shi Laoren) Sightseeing Garden
Qingdao Polar Ocean World
Langya Observation Resort, located in the previous Qi State, Jiaonan City.
Great Wall of Qi
Chanzhi Reservoir, located 10 kilometres to the north of Laixi city, on the middle and upperreaches of the Dagu River.
Sanlihe Garden, Jiaozhou City
Jiaozhou Governor's Hall, former seat of the present and previous two governments.
Qingdao Forest Wildlife World
Laoshan - Located a 30 min. bus ride east of downtown, these mountains complete with Dao temple is a must see for the Qingdao area. Often credited with being one of the temples that gave birth to the Dao way of thought, the Laoshan temple is tucked just between the mountains and beach. You can wander the temples or take one of the many paths winding up and around the mountains to enjoy the view, see waterfalls or listen to the tales of the ancient snake and other phenomena that haunt the Laoshan area.
Qingdao city has a temperate monsoon climate with distinct marine features.
All four seasons in Qingdao are mild without extreme cold or hot temperatures. Generally the golden travel period is from the end of March to early November. The last ten days of August are the best times for seaside traveling due to the mild seawater temperature. Qingdao air is temperate and humid with abundant rainfall, and the temperature differences during a day are slight. The hottest season is in August with the average temperature of 25.1 C (77.2 F) and the coldest in January with the average temperature of 0.9 C below zero (30.4 F). Autumn and winter in Qingdao are windy; in winter the temperature drops below zero centigrade, although the sea does not freeze. Winter swimming challenges the courageous.
January 3 C to -4 C
February 4 C to -3 C
March 9 C to 2 C
April 14 C to 8 C
May 20 C to 13 C
June 23 C to 18 C
July 27 C to 22 C
August 28 C to 23 C
September 25 C to 19 C
October 20 C to 13 C
November 12 C to 6 C
December 5 C to -1 C
Qingdao Liuting International Airport (IATA: TAO, ICAO: ZSQD) is located in the city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China and serves as the main airport for the city. It is about 31km away from the city of Qingdao. Currently it has 14 international and 78 domestic routes in operation.
From 2004 to 2006, the airport underwent an expansion of its terminal as well as adding more parking spaces which was part of its initial 2010 goal to expand Liuting Airport to handle 5.2 million passengers annually or 2400 passengers and almost 120,000 tons of cargo hourly. The runway was also extended to its current length.
Qingdao Liuting International Airport is located in Chengyang District, Qingdao City, about 23 kilometers (about 14.3 miles) from the downtown area.
Brief intro: Set up in 1958, Qingdao Liuting International Airport is one of the most important air transit centers in China. The airport is very modern featuring 3,400 meters (about 3,718 yards) of runway, 184,000 square meters (about 45.5 acres) of parking lot, and 50,000 square meters (about 12.4 acres) for the international terminal complex. At present there are 96 national and international airlines, serving 48 destinations both at home and abroad.
Transportation
Shuttle Bus:
Route 1: Airport ' Haitian Hotel
Ticket Fare: RMB15
Single Journey (One-way): around 1 hour
Airport ? Haitian Hotel: From the first flight's arrival, the bus departs every 30 minutes
via the North Coach Bus Station, Tiantaicheng, Donglicun, Haier Road, Shuangshan,
Hongshanpo Housing District, Guangdian Building, the Maritime Geological Science Institute,
No.25 Middle School, Fushansuo, the World Trade Center.
Haitian Hotel Airport: from 06:00 to 21:00 every 30 minutes via
Fushansuo (CAAC Building) and Tiantaicheng.
Route 2: Airport ' Xiehe Huatian Hotel
Ticket Fare: RMB 15
Single Journey (One-way): around 80 minutes
Airport Xiehe Huatian Hotel: The bus departs at 08:00 and 09:00,
then hourly from 09:30 to 19:30. The route passes by Licunkou, the overpass (the Shandong Road),
Sifang Long-distance Bus Station (Sifang Hotel), Jinshi 100 Hotel, Electronic Information Town
(Dianzi Xinxi Cheng) located at the Liaoning Road, the Zhongshan Road (the Oriental
Trading Building) and the Railway Station.Xiehe Huatian Hotel Airport: Hourly from 05:30 to
17:30 via Gongmao Hotel and Sifang Hotel.
Route 3: Airport ' Sophia Hotel
Ticket Fare: RMB 15
Single Journey (One-way): around 50 minutes
Airport Sophia Hotel: Hourly from 07:20 to 18:20 every one hour via the Haier Road
(East gate of Haier Industrial Zone), Zhonghan, Beicun, Liaoyang East Station,
Yizhong Playground (Beer City) and the Exhibition Center.
Sophia Hotel Airport: The first bus departs at 06:20, then every hour on the hour
from 07:00 to 18:00, directly to the airport without stops.
City-bus
No.117 Chengyang District'Liuting Airport'Cangkou Park
Operating time: 05:50~19:20 (Chengyang District); 05:00~18:20
(Cangkou Park)
Fare: RMB 3
No.120 Banqiao Fang'Liuting Airport'Xi Da Yang
Operating time: 04:50~17:30 (Banqiao Fang); 05:45~18:20 (Xi Da Yang)
Fare: RMB 5
No.121 Banqiao Fang'Liuting Airport'Sun Xi
Operating time: 05:40~15:10 (Banqiao Fang); 05:45~18:20 (Sun Xi)
Fare: RMB 5
No.305 Liuting Airport'Si Fang'Zhongshan Road'Zhongyuan Haishang Square
Operating time: 07:00~20:20 (Airport); 05:40~19:00 (Zhongyuan Haishang Square)
Fare: RMB 4
No.306 Chengyang District'Liuting Airport'Stadium
Operating time: 06:40~18:30 (Chengyang); 05:00~17:00 (Stadium)
Fare: RMB 5
No.373 Chengyang District'Liuting Airport'Inner Mongolia Road
Operating time: 06:25~18:40 (Chengyang); 05:15~17:30 (Inner Mongolia Road)
Fare: RMB 4
No.374 Chengyang District'Liuting Airport'Yanerdao Road
Operating time: 06:55~19:05 (Chengyang); 05:35~17:45 (Yanerdao Road)
Fare: RMB 5
Facilities
Stores: The complex houses many retail outlets including drug stores,
book stores and even shopping centers.Restaurants: Coffee shops and
Chinese food restaurants are ready to serve the travelers.Drawing Room:
The drawing room provides special services to a variety of special passengers
including the old, the weak, the ill, the disabled, the pregnant and the very young.
Medical Center: There is a medical facility located near Gate 30 in Departures
Hall on 2 F.
Car Parks: There are 478 car parks, including three parks for the disabled.
Car type Per hour (RMB ) Per day (RMB)
Minitype 3 12
Big-sized 5 20
Note: If the car is parked for less than an hour it will be charged the full hour rate of RMB 3 or RMB 5 depending on the car type; if it is parked for more than four hours, it will be charged the daily rate of RMB 12 or RMB 15.
Service
Foreign currency exchange: Located in International Arrivals Hall, 1 F and
International Departures Hall, 1 F, the airport branch of the Bank of China will
provide you with foreign currency exchange services.
Tel: 0532-3789496 or 0532-3789497
Complaint: Any complaints may be lodged at the Information Desk near Gate 14
Tel: 96567
Other Services: The airport offers many other amenities including special elevators
for disabled individuals, a desk for boarding information, and an amusement
center for children.
To be able to travel to Qingdao you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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