Mt. Laoshan

Facing the Yellow Sea, Mt. Laoshan is located to the east of Qingdao. The tall and majestic Mt. Laoshan is famous for its marvelous mountainous scenery and coastal landscape. It also holds significant importance in Taoism. Mt Laoshan is the most recognized mountain of all mountains on the coast of China. Thus it is a must to see when traveling in Qingdao. As the most famous mountain on the coast Mt. Laoshan caters well for tourists. Three lines lead the visitors to 220 scenic spots including historical and natural points of interest. The Southern Line On the first line there are not only marvelous landscapes but also sacred Taoist Palaces. Significant points of interest include the Taiqing Palace, Xufu Islet and Longtan Waterfall (Dragon Pond Waterfall). The Taoist culture and temples of Mt. Laoshan are very famous. At the peak of Taoism, it was said that there were nine palaces, eight Temples and seventy-two nunneries. The number of Taoist had reached above one thousand. While later many buildings were destroyed, amongst those still remaining the Taiqing Palace is the largest. The Taiqing Palace also has the longest history of these buildings spanning more than two thousand years. Covering an area of 30,000 square meters (about 7 acres), the Taiqing Palace has 155 rooms. It has been well preserved and holds the typical architectural style of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). This form of architecture is quite rare in religious architectures in China. Route: Bus 304 at the railway station and at the ferry from 6:30 to 17:00; Bus 106 at Licun (a village) from 7:15 to 16:20. The Central Line The second line mainly focuses on Beijiushui. The name Beijiushui derives its meaning from the mountain that has nine crooks, thus making the river turn nine times. The river starts from the north side of the Ju Peak (the highest peak of Mt. Laoshan) and flows into the valley. So many beautiful things are on this line that it is called 'the Jiushui Gallery'. At every corner, totally different sights can be found. The current here is rather swift while further on the river flows very slowly. The flowers, trees and odd rocks on both sides of the river emphasize the elegant beauty of the water. The most famous sight of Beijiushui is Chaoyin Waterfall. During the rainy season the waterfall is quite majestic. The water crashes against the rocks, producing a huge sound similar to waves crashing against the seashore. Route: Bus 311 at the railway station and at the ferry from 6:45 to 16:40; Bus 107 at Licun (a village) from 8:00 to 16:00: the tour bus at Huaneng Square from 7:00 to 10:30. The Eastern Line The third line includes the Taiping Palace, the Lion Peak, Huayan Temple, Naluoyan Cavern and other sights. Naluoyan Buddha Cavern is one such scene. It is located in the Naluoyan Hill to the east of Mt. Laoshan. It is a natural granite cavern 7 meters (about 23 feet) wide and 15 meters (about 49 feet) high. More than 100 people can stand inside at one time. Its structure is quite unique. The smooth walls and flat ground are just as they were pared. On the wall of the cavern protrudes a thin stone, like a Buddha niche. At the top of the cavern is a round and smooth hole. It was said that the hole was made by the supernatural power of Naluoyan Buddha. Through this hole sunlight can enter thus lightening the whole cavern.

Zhan Bridge (Zhanqiao)

0.3 miles from Qingdao Railway Station, Zhan Bridge (trestle in Chinese), a Qingdao landmark, welcomes travelers at their first stop in this beautiful coastal city. Originally built in 1891 as a naval pier, Zhan Bridge is 440-meter (1444-foot) long and 10-meter (33-foot) wide with giant granite supports. Lotus-shaped lamps provide illumination and decoration. At the south end of the bridge is a Chinese style octagon pavilion standing in contrast to European buildings in the background. Qingdao Bay is crescent shaped; like an arrow, the bridge shoots into the broad sea. Standing afar, a white lighthouse braves the waves and wind, while the Small Green Island (Xiao Qind Dao) is a serene platform for exuberant trees. Dynamic and static scenes meld. No. 6 Beach west of the bridge and Zhan Bridge Park around the bridge invite visitors to enjoy the beauty of Qingdao Bay.

Qingdao Number One Bathing Beach

Reputed to be the largest sandy beach in Asia, the No.1 Bathing Beach is situated on Huiquan Bay in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Also called Huiquan Bathing Beach, this beach is noted for its clear water, mild waves and soft sand. The beautiful scenery with its European ambience can compete with Hawaii, Bali or Samet Island in Thailand. The beach was first built in 1901 by the Germans after they invaded Qingdao. At that time, it was a famous entertainment place in East Asia but it was only open to foreigners. In 1984 and 2003, the local government repaired and expanded the place on a large scale. The beach took on a new look: it was enlarged and more public service facilities were constructed. At present, the beach covers an area of 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres) and is well equipped. Colorful chalets built in various shapes lead visitors into a fairytale world. More than 900 showers are provided. Restaurants, ballrooms, bars, cafes and temporary chalets are all available. Emergency life-saving equipment has been improved. A security monitoring system covers the whole beach. Combined with the broadcasting, lighting and background music systems it ensures the security of visitors. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the beach is like the pearl of Huiquan Bay. The gentle slope and mild waves make the place a comfortable play area. Visitors can sunbathe here and swim near the coast, relaxing by playing volleyball or running on the sand and even dining on the beach. The region's comfortable weather makes it a good choice to avoid the summer heat. Even in winter this place is crowded with keen swimmers. The bathing beach is divided into a swimming zone and non-swimming zone. July, August and September is the best time to visit. The neighboring spots include Huiquan Square, the Naval Museum and Lu Xun Park.

Badaguan Scenic Area

Badaguan Scenic Area is a famous picturesque sanitarium area in China, located in the east of Qingdao city, Shandong Province. This place used to have eight avenues that were named after eight famous passes in China. Thus, it was named Badaguan, which means eight passes. After the People's Liberation, two more avenues were built in the area and there are now actually ten avenues. However, its name still remains the same. Luxuriant trees growing along each avenue provide a pleasant shade in Badaguan Scenic Area. Moreover, there is a vast array of different flowers, which form a quiet, clean and beautiful environment all year-round. Each of the ten avenues has different flowers and trees. The flowers also bloom in different seasons and give this area its other beautiful name, Hua Jie, which means a flowery area. What makes Badaguan so popular is not just its natural scenery, but also its garden-like villas and foreign-styled buildings. Badaguan Scenic Area used to be a place where people from more than twenty countries, such as Russia, Britain, France, Germany, the United States of America, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Japan and etc., constructed buildings in each of their unique national styles. After the People's Liberation, the government repaired the entire area and its buildings, symbolizing Badaguan's significance as one of the most important sanitaria in China. Many leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and foreign friends of China have stayed here for rehabilitation or simply, for pleasure.

The Small Qingdao Island

The Small Qingdao Island lies to the southeast of Zhan Bridge, in Qingdao Bay, and is an important resort of the Qingdao Coastal Scenic Area. It is a great place to enjoy ocean views and to soak up an island atmosphere. At one time Small Qingdao Island was an isolated island about 720 meters (787 yards) off shore but in the 1940s a seawall was built, connecting it to the mainland. The island is shaped like a qin (an ancient Chinese musical instrument), and when the waves 'slap' the shoreline, the sound is similar to that of the instrument being played, leading to its local name of 'Qin Island'. The island is famous for its unspoiled natural scenery, which includes steep rocky outcrops, and a variety of trees, such as cherries, pomegranates and hibiscus. Visitors can either walk along the coastline to enjoy the gentle ocean breeze, and to admire the incredible scenery, or sit on the beach to watch and listen to the gentle waves roll in. There are also statues and pavilions that can be viewed at various locations. This all makes for a delightful island to visit. Another famous island attraction that adds to the glamour of Small Qingdao Island is the 'beacon'. It was built by the Germans in 1900 and stands 15.5 meters (51 feet) tall. It is built in the shape of an octagon and constructed from white marble. In the sunlight, the tower shines as white as snow while at night the light at the top sparkles like a ruby, guiding ships safely into the bay. When viewed from the sea, the beacon's light flickers and appears to be floating on the waves. The local people consider it to be one of the ten top scenes of Qingdao and call this view 'Floating Light on the Qin Island'. To visit Small Qingdao Island, visitors can take the bus to Luxun Park bus stop where they will find the entrance to the island not far from Luxun Park.

Qingdao International Beer Festival

Qingdao is a romantic city with an advantageous geographical position and a long history in beer-production. It is said that the city has a heroic spirit, stemming from a combination of the surrounding sea, its people and its beer. In recent years the Qingdao International Beer Festival has become a major event in the calendar of this beautiful city. The first Beer Festival took place back in 1991. It is now held once a year on the second weekend of August, and lasts for 16 days. Qingdao is the largest beer production base in China and the Beer Festival provides a great opportunity to show-off the city's unique characteristics. With a 16-year history, the Qingdao International Beer Festival is now a nationally recognized event, and successfully combines together aspects of tourism, culture and sport, while also playing a valuable role in promoting the economic interests of the city. As one of the most important festivals of China, it has a worldwide reputation and attracts millions of people to take part every year. In April of 2006 the Qingdao International Beer Festival was praised as the No.1 on the board of 'Top Ten Festivals in China' in the Exhibition and Conference Annual Meeting of China. Qingdao International Beer Town (No.195, Hong Kong East Road) is the Beer Festival's primary location. It is here that many of the festival's performances take place. The area also contains a number of shops and restaurants, catering for a variety of tastes. In 2006 two other venues - the Huiquan Plaza and Dengzhoulu Beer Street - were added in an attempt to bring the celebrations to a wider audience. The festival begins with the opening ceremony, followed by 16 days of beer tasting, evening entertainment and drinking competitions, concluding with the final ceremony. The slogan for the Qingdao International Beer Festival reads: 'Qingdao-Ganbei (cheers!) with the World!', indicating the scale of the event. While the 195-year old Munich Oktoberfest primarily focuses on local breweries, the Qingdao International Beer Festival is open to both Chinese and foreign groups. More than 100 beer brands from all over the world have successfully participated at the event over the past 16 years. Every year daily performances are given at the Beer Town's Center Theatre, where colorful fountains, hi-tech laser shows and dramatic audio effects wow audiences. However, performances are not strictly limited to the Beer Town, with 200 such events taking place across the city. Whether walking on the roads, shopping in the local stores or even when catching a ride in a taxi, you will constantly hear people talking about the festival. It is obvious to see that after 16 years of development, the Beer Festival has become part of the Qingdao people's daily lives. We recommend that you sample the buzz on its streets for yourself.