Vacation in Qingdao China with Asian Vacations, Inc.

Located in the east coastal area of China; well-known summer resort and famous for its rich historical and cultural resources and numerous tourist resorts. Location: located between 120 east longitude and 36 west latitude, at the southwestern tip of the Shandong Peninsular, bordering the Yellow Sea on the east and south. Neighboring Areas: Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Hebei provinces. Physical Features: bounded on the southeast by the Yellow Sea, about half of the area covered by mountains and hills and the rest fertile plains. Population: 7.0 million. Urban Population: 2.3 million. Area: 10,654 sq. km. Nationalities: Han, Hui, Korean, Zhuang, Gaoshan, Uygur, Miao and Russian. Climatic Features: a temperate maritime climate, warm in winter and cool in summer, frost-free period of 251 days. Average Temperature: 12.2C annually 25C in August and 1.3C in January. Rainfall: average annual of 775.6mm. Mountains: Mt. Laoshan. Products: wheat, corn, yam bean, soya bean, millet, peanuts, cotton, tobacco, flowers, vegetables and fruits. Local Highlights: International Beer Festival.

Qingdao, an old port city situated on the Southern coast of Shandong, is a quaint and popular spot for travelers and sun seekers alike. At first sight the city seems almost a small town, a quick stroll around the railway area, close to the Old German Concession and the seafront, can be a deceptive image of the city proper, a deception that thankfully tends to stick with most of her visitors. With a total area of 10.645 sq. km and a total population of 6.95 million (2.27 million in the urban district), Qingdao is in fact one of China's most important economic cities and is the nation's fourth largest port. A German concession taken in 1897 and ceded for a total of 99 years, the city retains much of its colonial architecture and charm. The city has changed hands many times since then (the Japanese took the port in 1914, formerly ceded to them by the Treaty of Versailles in 1921, it returned to China in 1922, was then taken back by the Japanese in 1938 and finally returned to its present owners during World War II, 1945), but the dislocations of these changes have left little mark upon the city proper. Qingdao lies between mountain and sea, a well chosen coastal port with clear deep waters and a comfortable climate. The mountains provide a collection of interesting sights, centered around the mystical Laoshan, while the sea provides relaxation, gentle waves, bared rocks, and some golden beaches forming what is probably China's best northern beach resort. The historical culture, variety of religion, civil traditions, village customs, and holiday celebrations all add to Qingdao's rich culture. The German influence in Qingdao extends beyond impressive architecture to many other areas; from town planning, creating lush wooded avenues and some of China's best parks, to local customs. Of particular interest to many of her visitors is, of course, the Tsingdao beer, produced locally from the pure Laoshan water, and whose origins lie in the first brewery, established in 1903. For those so inclined, the Beer festival (August 12-26) is a great time to visit.

History: the original place of the China's ancient culture 6,000 years ago, administrated by Qi Kingdom during East Zhou Dynasty (1027 or 1022 - 221 BC) and become a prosperous city in Qin dynasty; In the 19th Century, once under control of imperial invaders; thereafter, set up as a municipal city of the PRC in 1949.

Shandong cuisine, tracing its roots back to the Spring and Autumn Period 2,500 years ago, presents its food (usually deep-fried, braised, roasted or stewed) with a strong emphasis on soy sauce, shallots, and garlic. Qingdao, often regarded as "the cradle of Shandong Cuisine", puts a spin upon the usual Shandong dishes with it concentration on seafood (sea cucumber, scallop, conch, prawn, and red porgy). Well-known dishes include "sea cucumbers stewed with shallots", "stewed salted fish" and "celery with creamy soup". Made in simple style, these dishes are available in most restaurants. The best way to enjoy Qingdao cuisine is probably to head down to any of the many little seafood restaurants on the shore or around Laiyang Lu. For a better (and more pricey), atmosphere the hotels are a good way to taste seafood with less of the language barrier problems. The Qingdao Seafood Restaurant, on Qingyu Road, is also a more expensive, but better quality, seafood provider. Qingdao also has a fairly large Muslim population and a couple of Muslim places are scattered about, most noticeably the Donglaishun restaurant (Donglaishun fandian) and the Qinghai Muslim Restaurant (Qinghai musilin fanzhuang, on Dexuan lu), as well as numerous meat stick (Chuanrou) sellers.

Travel:

As an important harbor and industrial base in Shandong Province, Qingdao is well connected to other cities in China and destinations around the world. By Air: From almost all the major cities in China, Qingdao is easily accessible by air. The city is also connected with some international destinations, mostly in Japan and Korea. The Qingdao Airport is located 33km north of the city proper and there are buses available from the airport, transferring visitors to the city within 30 minutes. Most large hotels have airline ticket offices, as well as transport to and from the airport. By train: The city has a railway connection via the Jiaoji Railway. From here, trains run daily directly to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Tianjin and many more. To destinations within the province, such as Tai'an, Ji'nan and Yantai, there is at least one train available per day. The train station is located just to the east of the bottom of Zhongshan Lu, just up from the Number Six Beach. By Bus: Thanks to the sophisticated express- way in Shandong Province, it is extremely convenient to travel to and from Qingdao by bus. From Ji'nan, Tai'an, Yantai, Weihai and many cities in other provinces, there are regular buses available. Buses depart from the Long Distance Bus Station (Changtu qichezhan) near the railway station. By Boat: Qingdao is an important harbor city in Shandong, so boats from Qingdao not only go to domestic destinations such as Shanghai, but also to international cities like Inchon in Korea and Shimonoseki in Japan. Booking all of these destinations can be done from the Passenger Ferry Terminal on Xinjiang Road or from most five star hotels.

Climate:
Qingdao enjoys a temperate, semi-humid climate. The best time for travelers is from June to September, when the temperature stays between 20 and 28C. In late August, in particular, the seawater is warm, the prime time for swimming and sunbathing on the coast (and participating in the Beer Festival, August 12-16). Out of peak season, the city can get a little windy so bring a coat, although at such times the crowds will be much diminished and you get the chance to smile at the Y-fronted old men daring the brisk water!

Qingdao City Tour I	1/2 Day Tour	Covering the Tsingtao Beer Brewery, Naval Museum, Christian Church and The Small Qingdao Island. See Notes
Qingdao City Tour II	Full Day Tour	Covering the Tsingtao Beer Brewery, Naval Museum, Christian Church, Xiaoyushan Garden, The Small Qingdao Island, Qingdao Pier, Ba Da Guan Scenic Area , Zhongshan Road, City Museum, TV Tower with lunch. See Notes