Qingdao

Red roofs, green trees, blue sea and sky: a seaside resort city in northern China with a German-style old town, Zhanqiao Pier and Laoshan, plus a beer festival and fresh seafood.

Qingdao sits on the southern Shandong Peninsula on the Yellow Sea coast, and is northern China's most famous seaside resort city. Leased by Germany for 17 years from 1897, it retains a German-style old town of "red roofs, green trees, blue sea and blue sky." It is also home to Tsingtao Beer, the "sailing capital" of China, and the host of the sailing events of the 2008 Olympics. The municipality covers 11,300 sq km, and its urban core includes Shinan (the old town and the front-sea strip), Shibei (the Beer Museum and Taidong), Laoshan District (Stone Old Man and Laoshan), Licang and Huangdao (Golden Beach on the West Coast). The climate is temperate monsoon, moderated by the sea. June–September is the seaside escape season, with July–August having the best water temperatures for swimming. The Qingdao International Beer Festival takes place in August (at Golden Beach and Laoshan), and September–October is crisp and clear with plump seafood, the best time to visit. From November to March the sea winds are cold, and the old town can still be visited but it is not a time for swimming. Sea fog is common from April to June. The main areas fall into four zones. First, the old town front-sea strip (west Shinan): Zhanqiao Pier, Little Qingdao Island, Lu Xun Park, the Naval Museum, St. Michael's Cathedral, Zhongshan Road, Signal Hill, the former German Governor's Residence and Daxue Road, the best of the German architecture and old neighborhoods. Second, Badaguan, Taiping Corner and No. 1 Bathing Beach, with international architecture and seaside promenades. Third, the new eastern city: May Fourth Square, the Olympic Sailing Center, the Fushan Bay light show and Stone Old Man Beach. Fourth, Laoshan (called the "number one mountain by the sea," with three scenic areas: Yangkou, Taiqing and Jufeng) and the West Coast's Golden Beach and Beer City. Getting there: Jiaodong International Airport is about 40 km from the city, around 1 hour on Metro Line 8. Qingdao Station (in the old town next to Zhanqiao Pier, on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed line and the Jiaoji line) and Qingdao North Station (the main high-speed station). The city has several metro lines, with Lines 1 and 3 running through the old town and the east and Line 11 reaching Yangkou at Laoshan. Within the old town, walking plus buses is the most convenient. We suggest 3 days. Day 1: Zhanqiao Pier, Little Qingdao Island, the cathedral, Signal Hill, the Governor's Residence and Daxue Road. Day 2: Badaguan, No. 1 Bathing Beach, the Beer Museum and the Taidong night market. Day 3: Laoshan (Yangkou or Taiqing), or May Fourth Square and Stone Old Man. Tips: at seafood stalls, check that prices are clearly posted to avoid being overcharged. During the beer festival, accommodation is tight and should be booked early. At the beach in summer, wear sunscreen and watch for jellyfish. Each Laoshan scenic area requires a separate ticket, which can be reserved online in advance.

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