Seaside or city streets: some places you won’t want to miss
Print Edition
IF you are a first-time visitor in Qingdao, there are two routes you can take to see Qingdao’s most popular sites. One follows the seashore; the other threads through the city proper.
The seaside route:
Eight Great Passes — Zhanqiao Bridge — Shilaoren — the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
Badaguan or Eight Great Passes is a cluster of large villas built in different styles. Located in the north part of the Huiquanjiao scenic zone, it is named after eight important mountain passes of ancient times. Akin to the Bund, this area possesses some very old, stately architecture. Among the 200 villas, Huashi Building is the most popular. It is a former residence of Kuomingtang leader Chiang Kai-shek.
The 440-meter-long Zhanqiao Bridge is considered by many as Qingdao’s most outstanding landmark. It is also well-known because it is featured on the label of Tsingtao beer. The bridge was originally built in 1892, at a width of 10 meters and a length of 200 meters. It served as a military pier in Qingdao.
Standing near the coast is a 17-meter-high stone that has the shape of an old man sitting by the waves. It is called Shilaoren by locals. Legend has it that an old man stood at the seaside to await the return of his daughter, who was snatched by the evil Dragon King. A spell was cast on him, and the father turned to stone. Actually, the rock has been weathered by sea and wind into its present shape, but who wants to dispel a charming old legend?
The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center is famous as the setting for aquatic events of the 29th Olympic Games. It was a great sporting event that still lives on in memory at the site.
The city route:
The German governor’s palace — the Prison Museum — Scholars’ former residences — the Tsingtao Brewery Museum
The German governor’s palace was built in 1903 by a German architect. The 19th-century architecture of the building dominates this 7,500-square-meter site. The exterior is covered in granite, with a red rooftop. The site was originally built for the German governors of Qingdao when the city was a colonial enclave and was later used by the late Chairman Mao Zedong as a holiday house. Historic photos in the conservatory and original furnishings and fittings capture this history. A lovely restaurant in the basement serves authentic German food.
The Prison Museum is a typical castle-style structure built by the Germans. It covers 8,220 square meters and originally housed non-Chinese prisoners seized by the Germans. Later it was used to incarcerate Chinese prisoners under Japanese occupation. The interior of the building has a creepy atmosphere evoking the hardships of past prisoners.
Qingdao is also the cradle of famous literature. Chinese writers Lao She and Liang Shiqiu lived here. Liang Shiqiu (1903-87) was a renowned educator, writer and translator. He is now chiefly remembered as the first Chinese scholar who translated the complete works of Shakespeare into Chinese, a project he began in Qingdao. Documents and books, file photos and rare video records of both men can be found in their former residences.
And, of course, what would a trip to Qingdao be without sampling its most famous product — Tsingtao beer. If you want to know the fascinating history of this brewery, head to the informative Tsingtao Brewery Museum. You can also observe the brewing process and sample some of the beer at the end of the tour.
Where to stay:
Himalayas Qingdao Hotel
The design of Himalayas Qingdao Hotel helps it stand out from the crowd in Qingdao. Designed by Hassell Studio Australia, the decoration of the hotel incorporates fengshui elements, such as the use of natural magnetic lodestones from nearby Laoshan Mountain, to enhance the comfort and wellbeing of its guests. The hotel offers an Audi limousine pick-up service, paper-free electronic check–in, iPod dock and complimentary Wifi for a modern and comfortable stay in the hotel.
Opened in March 2014, the hotel has great views of the sea. It offers 208 guest rooms, including 24 deluxe suites. The hotel also has nice venues for a romantic seaside wedding, meetings or other special events.
The hotel is a mere 10-minute drive to Shilaoren Beach, and a 25-minute drive to both Qingdao Liuting International Airport and Qingdao Railway Station. Qingdao International Convention Centre, the Qingdao Beer Festival site and the Grand Theater are right at the hotel’s doorstep.
Address: 880 Tong’an Rd, Laoshan District, Qingdao
Tel: (0532) 6672-9999
Website: www.himalayashotels.com
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