Qingdao travel info

Climb to the pavilion on Xiaoyushan hill, look west, and you see straight away why Qingdao doesn't look like other Chinese cities. Red-tiled roofs step down through the trees, the twin spires of St Michael's Cathedral poke up between them, and almost all of it dates from the German concession a century ago. Beyond, Zhanqiao Pier runs out into the bay with a little octagonal pavilion at its tip.

Walk down into the lanes at dusk and the smell takes over. Clams hiss on street-stall griddles with chili and garlic, and outside corner shops men fill plastic bags with draught beer straight from the keg. Yes, people really do stroll the seafront sipping beer from a bag through a straw. In summer the beaches are packed and the beer festival stages stay lit late into the night.

Since September 2026 Metro Line 8 has run from Jiaodong airport straight to May Fourth Square downtown. Get Alipay set up before you fly and you can be piling up clam shells in the sea breeze on your first evening.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO)