Qingdao itineraries

Pier to Beer Street in a day

Walk the red-roofed old town in the morning, drink unfiltered beer straight from the brewery after lunch, stroll the villa lanes of Badaguan and finish at the Taidong night market. The one-day order most trip reports agree on.

Two days from the old town

Drop your bags on Zhongshan Road. Day one follows the red-wall lanes and the seafront promenade to the May Fourth Square light show; day two rides the cable car up to the TV Tower, visits Zhanshan Temple and ends on the pier.

Sea, Laoshan and old town

From a seafront hotel at May Fourth Square: day one is a marina cafe and the light show, day two climbs Laoshan and ends with the sunset at Shilaoren Beach, day three covers the old town and the Beer Museum, then souvenir shopping in Taidong before the airport.

Festivals & seasons

• 1 — Gulls on Zhanqiao Pier
• 2 — Spring Festival temple fairs
• 4 — Zhongshan Park cherry blossom
• 4 — Wild azaleas on Dazhu Mountain
• 5 — Zhanshan Temple Buddha's Birthday fair
• 7 — Rainy season and peak beach weeks
• 8 — Qingdao International Beer Festival
• 8 — Qingdao International Sailing Week
• 9 — Dazeshan Grape Festival
• 9 — The best walking weather
• 10 — Chrysanthemum show and Badaguan ginkgo
• 12 — Winter off season

Souvenirs

• Tsingtao unfiltered beer and bag beer
• Beer Museum souvenirs
• Beer-yeast bread and beer ice cream
• Laoshan green tea
• Dried squid, clams and sea cucumber
• Clothes and accessories in Taidong
• Brand shopping at MixC