Qingdao is the largest city in Shandong, China. The city is known by various spellings including Tsingtao and Tsingtau, the original German name for the area ceded by the Qing dynasty government to Germany in 1898.

Qingdao can be roughly translated as “Green Island”. The city has been famously described as having “red-tiled roofs amongst greenery, the azure sky above the blue sea, a translation of the Chinese expression 红瓦绿树碧海蓝天.

Qingdao is also known as the home of Tsingtao Beer. How did this port city in Shandong province come to be known for a German style lager that is served in Chinese restaurants from Bombay to Brooklyn, Lima to London, and Soweto to Sapporo?

Qingdao has an intriguing backstory. Originally a naval fortification during Qing dynasty China, the area was ceded to Germany, and was built up during this colonial period that ended at the outset of WW1.

Geopolitical developments in the aftermath of the war led to Qingdao being administered by Japan, then by the Republic of China starting in 1922, then briefly back under Japanese control in the late 30’s, and ultimately became a part of P.R. China when Qingdao was liberated in 1949.

Check out this take on Qingdao’s history.

The international legacy in Qingdao begins with its German colonial past and also involves Japanese imperialism along with the cultural impact of hosting  foreign nationals including American, French, German, Russian, and British visitors and residents who continue to live, work, vacation, and study in and around Qingdao.

Qingdao became a trendy resort for expats in China after the Germans exerted control over the city from 1897-8. Those escaping the heat of Beijing and Shanghai came to swim and enjoy the beaches. Many stayed at the place formerly known as the Strand Hotel in Qingdao.

Links to more information on Qingdao history:
Kiautschou Bay Concession
History of Kiautschou
US Marines in Qingdao 1945-48

Qingdao is located on a peninsula that hooks west from the Laoshan mountains to form Jiaozhou Bay. This geographical feature is referenced by Qingdao’s largest local newspaper known as The Peninsula, or “Ban Dao“.

The westernmost tip of the peninsula is where the older (colonial-era) part of the city looks out on Huangdao and Xuejiadao, which are a part of the Qingdao Economic Development Technology Zone.

The Qingdao subway system is called Metro. The Metro, the Huangdao-Qingdao Tunnel and Jiaozhou Bay Bridge connects Qingdao city proper with surrounding areas, from Jiaozhou to Jimo to Yangkou and more.

The Port of Qingdao is one of the largest in China. The city’s economy is heavily influenced by shipping, shipbuilding, logistics, container yards, and warehouses.

Qingdao was the venue of the Sailing Regatta of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and is also called China’s Sailing City. Major sailing races involving Qingdao include the Clipper and Extreme Sailing. The first Chinese woman to circumnavigate the globe, Vicky Song Kun, came from Qingdao’s local sailing scene.

Major attractions, activities, and sights in the Qingdao area include:
May 4 Square
In the center of the new city, across from the City Hall, the red monument “Winds of May” symbolizes the WWI era reform movement known as the May Fourth Movement.

Old Stone Man Beach
Long sandy beach in Qingdao’s Laoshan district with a rock outcropping said to resemble an old man waiting for his daughter to return from the sea.

Laoshan
Home to Taoist and Buddhist temples. Source of Laoshan water used in Tsingtao Beer. Tourist areas include Bei Jiu Shui and Taiqinggong.

Huadong Vineyards
Winery tours available – check out the Huadong Winery website. Located in Laoshan near Beizhai and the 2014 International Horticulture Expo site.

Little Fish Pagoda
Called Xiao Yu Shan in Chinese, overlooks the Number 1 Beach and Ocean University. Great views of the old city.

Zhan Shan Temple
Largest Buddhist temple in Qingdao, in the city near Zhongshan Park.

Qingdao Olympic Marina Sailing Center
On the site of the former Beihai Shipyards, now the home of a marina, shopping malls, hotels, public square.

Homegrown Qingdao brands include:
Haier
Large multinational with products and services from refrigerators to TVs to air conditioning to real estate. Long term sponsor of NBA. Top white goods manufacturer in China.

Hisense
Top appliance seller in Australia. Often compared with Haier as a Qingdao multinational.

Tsingtao Beer
Oldest of Qingdao’s top 5 consumer brands.

Map of Qingdao: