Introducing Qīngdǎo
A breath of crisp sea air for anyone emerging from China’s polluted urban interior, Qīngdǎo is hardly old-school China – parts of town resemble Bavaria – but its effortless blend of German architecture and modern city planning puts Chinese white-tile towns to shame. Its German legacy more or less intact, Qīngdǎo takes pride in its unique appearance: the Chinese call the town ‘China’s Switzerland’. The beaches may be overhyped, the local Putonghua carries a thick accent, and a metro system wouldn’t go amiss, but the dilapidated charms of the hilly old town are captivating and the port city is hosting the sailing events of the 2008 Olympics, prompting a further investment gale into the prosperous town. Wander at will round cobbled, higgledy-piggledy alleys, poke around stone-clad Teutonic vestiges, quaff the famous local brew (Tsingtao) and ditch the diet: Qīngdǎo has some of the best kebabs and seafood in north China.
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Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Re: Hiking Companion in Tiger Leaping Gorge
by nureia 13 September 2011
Hi there, I got a cheap plane ticket from Chengdu to Zhongdian on the 30th September, so my plans have changed. It seems I will stay…
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Re: Hiking Companion in Tiger Leaping Gorge
by nureia 04 September 2011
Hi there, thanks for your reassurance :) I guess I prefer to have company. Someone to complain to. Actually, if I do it by myself, I…
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Hiking Companion in Tiger Leaping Gorge
by nureia 02 September 2011
Hi there, I will be travelling around Sichuan and Yunnan from the 24th September until the end of October Festival (I have to be back…
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