viki-qingdao

Hello, everybody, I am Viki, who was born and growing in Qingdao. As a typical native, I would like to invite all you guys to visit my hometown with my warm hospitality. Hope all you will enjoy the time in Qingdao.

The following paragraphs I am going to show you the places where I prefer to go.

where to Eat

Seafood should not be missed in Qingdao. Qingdao seafood has unique flavors, fresh and light, popular with tourists. Every tourist city has its gourmet street; Qingdao is no exception. This kind of streets includes the Yunxiao Road Gourmet Street, Minjiang Road Gourmet Street and Maidao Seafood Street. Because Qingdao is very close to Japan and South Korea, many Japanese and Korean restaurants can also be found on those streets.

Restaurants on these roads serve fresh seafood such as Fried Spicy Clams, Seafood Wonton, and Roasted Sleeve-Fish. In addition, barbecue, hotpots and dishes from other parts of China are offered here.Taishan road has became a professional barbecue street, you can even smell the barbeque flavor when you on the other side of city, haha…kidding.

Beer

Qingdao is the home of Tsingtao beer. Tourists can enjoy its unique taste at its place of origin. And you will be surprised that Qingdao people use plastic bag to hold the beer and walk on street. Yes, because the beer is the freshest just made from beer factory.  

TIPS:

The Qingdao characteristic flavors are on those gourmet streets but not in luxury hotels.

 Where to Buy

If you intend to shop in Qingdao, try Zhongshan Road. With its bewitching night scene, big shopping malls on Zhongshan Road such as Parkson Department Store deserve a visit.

On Hong Kong Middle Road are two big shopping centers, Jusco and Carrefour, recommended for typical Qingdao food, including dried seafood.Opposite the Carrefour is the Sunshine Department Store, the high-level shopping center in Qingdao. Starbucks and Haagen-Dazs ice cream shops are also in the area. Near Jusco is an upscale shopping center that includes LV, Prada, and Gucci. High-level of course with high price.

Taidong Pedestrian Street provides visitors not only a broad shopping and entertainment area, but also a place in which to enjoy outdoor mural paintings. Great muralists from other parts of China create outstanding public art to lure visitors to Taidong Pedestrian Street.

Jimo Road Small Articles Wholesale Market has become the must-go place for tourists to buy souvenirs for friends and relatives. This market earns its fame for its approachable prices and good quality.  

Korean City

Products abound in Korean City, including clothes; there is a garden for leisure and a children's entertainment garden. All the facilities and goods here reflect the unique Korean culture.

TIPS:

Whenever you shop, pay attention to the quality of the goods. Before making a purchase, compare the goods with those in other shops. In Qingdao, you will find it hard to bargain with local people. One reason is that the products are offered at low prices; the other is that Shandong people do not like to barter. A word of warning: don't take fresh seafood with you, as it is difficult to keep it fresh all day.

Nightlife

To young people, one thing that should not be missed is the bar life. The Qingdao entertainment district is located in the downtown area of the east part and the Stone Old Man (Shi Lao Ren) Tourism Holiday area. Although the nightlife in Qingdao is becoming more active every year, it is more subdued than in other major cities.

Coffee House

A coffee house in the old city area, it is decorated with antiques, such as an American wireless radio from the 1940s, Irish copper coffee pots, a shabby straw-hat-shaped lampshade, and the graffiti left by customers. All these decorations remind one of a street corner in a European city.

KTV

With fashionable and deluxe decorations, the KTV house attracts a large number of customers. It has its own pub, supermarket, and small rooms for private entertaining.

Disco club

It is the hottest place among young people.

Night Market

Qingdao's nightlife ends a little earlier than some other coastal cities in China. So does the night market. At about 10 pm each night, the night market closes. So if you like to wander through the night market, please go there early. Those on Yan'an Er Lu and Taidong Pedestrian Street are recommended.

Beer Street

Located in the Dengzhou Road of Shibei (north of the city) District, the street features beer from all over the world. The beer street starts from the Yan’an Er Lu at the east and ends at the Guangrao Road at the west.

The Cinema

The Huiquan underground cinema is highly recommended. This cinema is near the seaside with very good facilities. Inside the cinema are the famous Korean BBQ restaurant, Tudari, and also a KFC.

Travelling Tips:

Neighboring the Yellow Sea (Huang Hai), Qingdao city has a temperate monsoon climate with distinct marine features.All four seasons in Qingdao are mild without extreme cold or hot temperatures. Generally the golden travel period is from the end of March to early November. The last ten days of August are the best times for seaside traveling due to the mild seawater temperature. Qingdao air is temperate and humid with abundant rainfall, and the temperature differences during a day are slight. The hottest season is in August with the average temperature of 25.1 C (77.2 F) and the coldest in January with the average temperature of 0.9 C below zero (30.4 F). Autumn and winter in Qingdao are windy; in winter the temperature drops below zero centigrade, although the sea does not freeze. Winter swimming challenges the courageous.

Packing Essentials:When traveling in Qingdao, take the following:

•       A portable cup, skin care products, a multiple-use knife and common medicines such as medicines for colds, diarrhea, wounds, carsickness, and mosquito bites, etc.
•       Clothes: even during summer, take long-sleeved clothes for the cool climate here and also a swimsuit and shorts for swimming in the sea.
•       Shoes: Boots are convenient for mountain climbing or hiking a long distance. Slipper sandals are also necessary.       Suntan items: suntan oil and sunglasses

FestivalEstablished in 1991, the Qingdao International Beer Festival has been held 15 times, beginning the second weekend of August and lasting 16 days. During the festival, the whole city is in great revelry. Beer drinking competitions, parties, entertainment and trade exhibitions stimulate interest. Dozens of beer companies from all over the world join the festival. Beer products and cultures from Germany and Korea are introduced into China, and interaction which enriches the Chinese beer market and enhances the cooperation of Chinese and foreign beer companies.

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