Toasting Tsingtao in Qingdao: China's beach-lined beer city

The city is called Qingdao. Its beer is called Tsingtao. And here are seven reasons why you should enjoy both this month.

Probably the most-frequently mispronounced Chinese city in English, Qingdao was China's default beach resort before Hainan started making waves two decades ago.

But Qingdao -- which was briefly a German colony at the turn of the 20th century -- has one thing Hainan can’t offer: beer, good beer, barrel upon barrel of it.

With the opening of Qingdao International Beer Festival (August 11-26), this is the season to enjoy both Qingdao and Tsingtao.

We sought out the best of “China’s Munich.”

1. Drinking frenzy at Qingdao International Beer Festival

The 16-day festival is the closest thing to Oktoberfest in China. During last year's beer bacchanal, some 3.8 million visitors downed nearly 1.1 million liters of the amber nectar.

Brews from Japan, Czech Republic, the United States, Germany and China are poured into pitchers, mugs, steins and even plastic bags.

Beer tents compete to lure patrons with blaring music and gyrating performers. Semi-sober drinkers can sing karaoke on the public stage for a modest fee.

This year’s Qingdao International Beer Festival takes place in the Laoshan District in eastern Qingdao.

The square can get crowded at night and hot during the day, so pacing alcohol intake and timing your visit are keys to enjoying this annual highlight.

The 22nd Qingdao International Beer Festival (青岛啤酒节), Qingdao Beer Passion Square, Shiji Square, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市崂山区世纪广场青岛啤酒激情广场, 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m., August 11-26.

Ticketing hotline: +86 133 0532 1665, www.qdbeer.cn. Admission: RMB 10 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.), RMB 20 (3 p.m.-10:30 p.m.)

2. Swimming at No. 2 Bathing Beach



This beach was once reserved exclusively for top officials of the Communist Party of China.

Mao Zedong came to Qingdao in July 1957 with his wife Jiang Qing, their two children and his closest political advisors for a conference with provincial and municipal Party secretaries.

Meetings were held on No. 2 Bathing Beach in straw huts, where the future of the country and the Party were discussed.

Mao apparently liked Qingdao a lot -- he swam at this very spot five times in 1957.

Mao’s swim in the ocean set a precedent for subsequent Party leaders, including Deng Xiaoping, who visited in July 1979.

"What's unique about Qingdao is that the beaches are not only places of leisure but they also have political significance in Chinese history ..." says Qingdao-based American Edward Barrington, who is a Chinese political enthusiast.

"No. 2 Beach has ties to Mao and Deng ... even Chiang Kai-shek lived near there for a while."
The previously restricted beach is now open to the public.

Qingdao No. 2 Bathing Beach (青岛第二海水浴场) 6 ShanhaiguanLu, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市南区山海关路6号, +86 532 6657 7309

3. Walking along Daxue Lu



Daxue Lu in Qingdao is like the former French Concession in Shanghai -- both are the city’s most walkable area with a brew of colonial and Chinese buildings.

"When I first came to Qingdao [in 2011], I fell in love with Daxue Lu," says Peng Jingjing, a Chinese restaurateur who originally comes from Wuhan. "It really is one of the most beautiful streets in China."
The 1,300-meter-long street is named for its location adjacent to Qingdao's oldest college, Ocean University of China (formerly Qingdao University).

Daxue Lu, as well as Qingdao’s old town around it, has witnessed a certain gentrification in the past few years.

It’s now a tree-lined neighborhood with a craft brewery, numerous cafés, Qingdao Municipal Art Museum and historical period architecture, including the former residence of Chinese author Lao She (老舍), who wrote the classic novel “Rickshaw Boy.”

Overlooking Daxue Lu, Signal Hill affords scenic views over the old town and Jiaozhou Bay.

Qingdao Municipal Art Museum (青岛美术馆), 7 Daxue Lu, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市南区山大学路7号, +86 532 8288 8886, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., free entry

Strong Ale Works Craft Brewery, 12 Daxue Lu, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市南区山大学路12号 +86 136 0896 4700, reservation required for brewery tour and tasting

4. Exploring German architecture around Zhan Qiao Pier



Zhan Qiao Pier area is ground zero for Qingdao’s German architecture. The pier itself became famous as part of the Tsingtao Beer logo.

The neighborhood includes a concentration of Germanic buildings that once housed the British and American consulate buildings and German government offices.

The 101-year-old Zhan Qiao Prince Hotel, designed by the German architect Curt Rothkegel, is one of the remaining original structures on the coastal road.

It is said to have been named after German Emperor William II’s brother Prince Henry, who stayed at this hotel several times during Germany’s colonization (1898-1914).

Kiautschou Coffee in the lobby is operated and frequented by a group of nostalgic Qingdao residents, who are passionate about the preservation of the old buildings.

"I've lived in the old neighborhoods of Qingdao for nine years and Kiautschou Coffee is definitely a good place to learn more about the German past of the city," says John Herrington, an English teacher from the United States.

The coffee shop has a collection of historical publications, illustrations, and photographs of old Qingdao.

Zhan Qiao Prince Hotel (亨利王子饭店) 31 Taiping Lu, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市南区太平路31号, +86 532 8288 8666, nightly rate: from RMB 478

5. 'Getting hammered' at Tsingtao Brewery Museum



No. 56 Dengzhou Lu appears as the company address on every bottle of Tsingtao beer.

It is the site of the original Tsingtao Brewery, founded in 1903 by an Anglo-German brewery company. The compound continues to function as a factory for Tsingtao beer as well as a beer museum.

The 6,000-square-meter exhibition area includes displays of old promotional materials and bottle designs from the history of China's best-known beer.

There's even a “drunk room” to let visitors experience the feeling of “being hammered” (without the actual drinking).

The specially designed room simulates the different effects of alcohol, such as loss of balance.

Visitors can get a glass of beer -- free but small -- at the end of their museum tour.

Tsingtao Brewery Museum (青岛啤酒博物馆), 56 Dengzhou Lu, Shibei District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市北区登州路56号, +86 532 83833437, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., RMB 50

6. Sailing on the Yellow Sea



Qingdao was branded China's Sailing Capital after being named the host of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta.

Qingdao’s Olympic Sailing Museum showcases seafaring Qingdaonese’s passion for the sport (and the Beijing Olympics) with various exhibits like the sailboard, with which the Chinese athletes won the Beijing Olympic gold, and a sailing simulator.

Real go-getters can voyage with Sinan Sailing Club in Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center or charter boats at the Yinhai Marina for recreational fishing and day trips on the Yellow Sea.

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center (青岛奥林匹克帆船中心),121 Aomen Lu, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市南区澳门路121号,
Sinan Sailing Club (司南帆船俱乐部), 1 Jinwan Road, North Slipway, Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong 山东省青岛市市南区金湾路1号青岛奥帆基地北下水坡道, +86 152 8898 7909
Qingdao Yinhai Yacht Club and Marina (青岛银海国际游艇俱乐部), 30 Donghai Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong (山东省青岛市市南区东海中路30号, +86 532 8588 0000

7. Enjoying the weather



Qingdao's proximity to the water and a relatively mild climate are the main reasons for its renown as a resort.

Low temperatures and breezy nights lure visitors from other Chinese provinces and cities where it can be five to 10 degrees hotter in July and August. Average temperature for Qingdao’s summer is 25 C.

Also, the sandy beaches are right in town. This distinguishes Qingdao from another northern Chinese coastal city Dalian, where the coast is rocky and further from the city center.

A city of eight million, Qingdao was built right on the sea, so walking around downtown means one is never far from the ocean.

Getting there: Roughly midway between Beijing and Shanghai, Qingdao International Airport is linked to 12 international destinations -- including Tokyo, Seoul and Frankfurt -- and 82 cities in China. The airport is approximately 23 kilometers north of the city center.

Source: CNN Go By Steve Madiwen

Cheers to Qingdao

If you know anything about beer, you will have heard of Qingdao. The city on the shores of the Yellow Sea gives its name to China's best-selling international lager Tsingtao, the original brewery being set up in 1903, shortly after what was then a fishing village on the Shandong Peninsula became a German naval base and concession.

Now one of China's major ports with a population of about 8 million, Qingdao is known for much more than beer. It boasts the largest beach in Asia and the longest sea bridge in the world, but more importantly for visitors and residents alike, it is reputed to be one of the nicest places to live in China.

The German influence is still apparent in the architecture of the buildings in the old town, several of which now house public institutions. And the city still hosts an annual international beer festival. This year's begins on Aug 11.

Last year, the city recorded more than 50 million visitors, many of them staying in the 153 star-rated hotels. These are some of the highlights that may have made their trip memorable:

1. The Badaguan Scenic Area

This is the old part of town, built during the German concession and lying in the eastern part of the city in Shinan district. Badaguan means "eight passes" in Chinese, with the avenues named after mountain passes that intersect the Great Wall. Two more roads were added in the 1930s.

Called the "streets of flowers", the area is well known for its garden villas and Western-styled buildings.

The flowers are always out, no matter what season, making Badaguan perfect for strolling or driving around and sightseeing at any time.

2. No 1 Bathing Beach

Recognized as the largest sandy beach in Asia, and the best in Qingdao, the No 1 Bathing Beach is appreciated for its soft sand and clear waters.

Located by Huiquan Bay and surrounded by green mountains, the beach provides all the services that visitors and holidaymakers could wish for, from lockers to restaurants.

During the hottest months from July to September, many arrive from nearby regions and provinces, but No 1 is big enough never to feel overcrowded. There are rooms for 200,000 comfortably every summer.

Lining the beach are many changing huts and chalets of innovative designs and various styles. Some are round, some are square, and some have towers, all lending to create a fairy-tale atmosphere.

If you are curious about the quality of the maritime environment, it should be noted that Qingdao hosted the sailing events for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

3. Castles

Many of Qingdao's splendid old buildings can be seen in Badaguan. Ones to look out for include the Granite Castle, which according to the sign out front, was the villa of Russian aristocrats. It was built in 1931 but now serves as a very popular backdrop for wedding photography.

Not far away on Signal Hill is the four-story Qingdao Guest House, built in 1908 in the style of a German schloss and now a museum featuring its antique furnishings and ornaments. Originally the German governor's home, it was later used by Mao Zedong and hosted several other political leaders.

Elsewhere in the old town are the former Bismarck Barracks, now a fisheries college, and the Qingdao Art Gallery and Museum building, which used to be the headquarters of the Red Swastika Society.

3. Qingdao Beer Museum

Qingdao Beer Museum is located in Dengzhou Road, within the Tsingtao Brewery. The pavilion takes full advantage of the century-old German buildings to demonstrate the brewing technology and production of its famous brand. With an investment of about 40 million yuan ($6.28 million, 5.11 euros), it is also considered the only beer museum in China.

There are three areas to the museum. The first deals with the history and culture of Tsingtao beer. In the second, there is an exhibition of the old plant and equipment, placed to contrast with the modern production line and brewing methods. There are also reproductions of traditional workshops.

The third section is a multipurpose entertainment area for up to 200 visitors. Visitors can taste various kinds of Tsingtao beer and buy souvenirs.

4. Qingdao International Beer Festival

The first Qingdao International Beer Festival was held in 1991 and since then, the festival has become a major event for the coastal city. The festival begins on the second Saturday of August and lasts for 16 days.

This year's opens on Aug 11 at Century Square (renamed Tsingtao Beer Passion Square for the event) and will feature activities, including competitions, exhibitions, parties and parades. Beer fans can enjoy more than 200 varieties of beer from 20 brands and 13 countries.

The 21st Qingdao International Beer Festival last year attracted 3.8 million visitors who altogether consumed 1,100 tons of beer.

Eating and drinking

For first-time visitors, Pichaiyuan is the snack area where they can taste all kinds of traditional Qingdao snacks such as fried dumplings, tofu jelly and shrimp wontons. Situated in Zhongshan Road, Shinan district, the courtyard has about 40 restaurants.

Another street for food is the Qingdao Beer Street, which lies in Dengzhou Road of Shibei district. There are more than 50 bars and eateries on the street. You can't miss it - the road's painted green.

The popular bar area, Zhonglian Creative Square, lies in Nanjing Road. There is a group of about 10 bars sited on the tops of buildings and connected by bridges and clear-glass lifts.

There are quiet bars to chat with friends and also clubs where the music and dancing never stop.

Qingdao, a little slice of heaven

Stretching out across the Shandong Peninsula, Qingdao is a major seaport, naval base and industrial center of China’s Shandong Province. Translated as "Green Island," Qingdao is a place with splendid sea views, fresh breezes great seafood, and a Tsingtao beer



Source: china.org.cn