A guide to QingDao 青岛, ShanDong province

Explore this east-China coatal city with CCTV's Travelogue ...

Qingdao, located in the eastern part of China's Shandong Province, is a beautiful coastal city known for its European-style architecture, stunning beaches, delicious seafood, and vibrant cultural scene. Here's a guide for tourists visiting Qingdao:

Beaches: Qingdao is famous for its golden sandy beaches. The most popular ones include the No. 1 Bathing Beach, which is located near the city center and offers various water activities such as swimming and jet skiing. Golden Beach and Silver Beach are also worth visiting for their picturesque scenery and clean waters.

Tsingtao Beer Museum: As the birthplace of Tsingtao Beer, Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Beer Museum. Visitors can learn about the history of beer brewing in Qingdao, see vintage brewing equipment, and enjoy beer tastings.

Pier and Zhanqiao: Zhanqiao Pier is one of Qingdao's most iconic landmarks. Visitors can walk along the pier, which extends into the sea and offers panoramic views of the coastline and nearby islands. The nearby Huilan Pavilion is a great spot for taking photos.

Laoshan Mountain: Located just outside the city, Laoshan Mountain is a scenic area known for its Taoist temples, lush forests, and hiking trails. Visitors can take a cable car to the mountaintop for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

Qingdao Underwater World: This aquarium is home to thousands of marine creatures, including sharks, dolphins, and colorful tropical fish. It's a great place to visit, especially for families with children.

German Architecture: Qingdao has a unique blend of Chinese and European architecture, reflecting its colonial past. The Badaguan Scenic Area is famous for its tree-lined streets and well-preserved villas built during the German colonial period.

Local Cuisine: Qingdao is known for its delicious seafood, particularly its fresh oysters, clams, and prawns. Be sure to try local specialties such as seafood hotpot, grilled squid, and seafood pancakes.

May Fourth Square: This expansive public square is named after the May Fourth Movement and features the iconic May Wind sculpture. It's a popular spot for leisurely strolls and people-watching.

Island Hopping: Qingdao is surrounded by several small islands, including Zhangqiu Island, Huangdao Island, and Dayang Island. Visitors can take boat tours to explore these islands, relax on their beaches, and enjoy water sports.

Qingdao International Beer Festival: If you happen to visit Qingdao in late summer, don't miss the annual International Beer Festival held in August. It's one of the largest beer festivals in Asia, featuring live music, cultural performances, and of course, plenty of beer.

Whether you're interested in history, culture, outdoor activities, or simply relaxing by the sea, Qingdao offers something for every type of tourist to enjoy.

ShanDong map

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A fascinating, hour plus documentary by CCTV's Travelogue (from the English language CCTV9 channel). Dali is a four and a half hours drive from KunMing, the provincial capital of YunNan in south China, or forty minutes by air. By rail it is also connected to nearby LiJiang. We haven't posted a Travelogue for a couple of years, but are very happy to say that it is back to its best - intelligent presenter and beautiful cinematography. Highly recommended. Inhabited predominantly by the Bai and Yi ethnic groups. 1 : Dali Old Town 1/1 In this segment, presenter Katrina Yu tours the artistic cobblestone streets of the Old Town, meeting adventurous travelers along the way -- and shows where you can party with musical locals at night. 1/2 Katrina sails across the serenely beautiful ErHai Lake, enjoying a taste of ethnic Bai culture along the way. She also gets a lesson in an ancient handcraft and peeks inside a luxurious lakeside guesthouse. 1/3 Katrina strolls through the surrounding grounds of Dali's iconic Three Pagodas, and shows audiences the breath-taking view from the top of the soaring CangShan Mountains. 2 : The outskirts of Dali 2/1 Katrina hikes the holy paths of JiZu Mountain, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in China, and discovers the historic temples which have given the area the nickname of "scented wonderland" 2/2 Katrina visits the traditional ethnic Bai village of XinHua. Join her as she is treated to a colorful 'Eight bowl' Bai banquet and gets a lesson in an age-old handicraft from a master silver maker. 2/3 Katrina wanders through the ancient town of ShaXi. Join her as she savors the sights and tastes of the bustling weekly market, and finds out how this age-old center has succeeded in becoming a modern tourist destination while maintaining its old-world charm. 3 : The 'thousand year old' village of NuoDeng, deep in rural Dali 3/1 Katrina and the crew arrive at the hillside village. They get a taste of Nuodeng's famous salted ham and meet a local man whose character is just as interesting as the temple he guards. 3/2 Katrina visits a unique family museum, and has her pulse checked at a guesthouse where the owners offer holistic health treatments as well as accommodation. 3/3 Katrina plays teacher and student for a day, getting a lesson in local culture at Nuodeng's lively primary school.