Located on the Shandong Peninsula, and facing the Yellow Sea, Qingdao is a historic, seaside city that has a mild climate, beautiful coastlines, and diverse architecture. The city is also famed for its popular brand of beer, Tsingtao, and its wonderful festivals.

A German architectural influence left over from colonial days can be seen throughout the town, alongside its traditional Chinese pavilions and temples. Much of the town's original planning has been retained, and it has lush wooded avenues and some of China's best parks.

Since the late 1970s, Qingdao has served as a major manufacturing base. A host of Fortune 500 companies have set up shop in Qingdao, attracted by its strategic geographic location and its general competitiveness (Qingdao ranks 11 on this scale among all Chinese cities). Tourism also plays an important role in the local economy. The local government organizes a number of high-profile festivals, including the Qingdao International Beer Festival, the Bar Culture Festival and the Qingdao Cherry Blossom Festival.

Qingdao also has the honor of hosting 29th Olympic Sailing Regatta and the Paralympics Games in 2008. The Regatta will be held at the Qingdao International Marina Olympic Sailing Center. The opening ceremony of the Sailing Regatta of the 29th Olympic Games will be held at Huiquan Square on August 8, 2008.

Qingdao has mild winters and warm summers, attracting tourists year round. It also has a wide range of attractions, as well as white, sandy beaches, to keep its visitors occupied. The Small Qingdao Islet is just across from Zhanqiao Pier, the icon of Qingdao. Then there is Badaguan, with its luxurious, early 20th century villas.

Laoshan Taiqing Palace is located approximately 12 kilometers outside the city center on Mount Laoshan. The area exudes mysticism, and is known as the birthplace of Taoism. The mountain has a number of sites, with the highlight being the temple and its three major relics. Wusi Square, May 4th Square was erected as a tribute to the 1919 movement led by Chinese intellectuals. Also popular among visitors is the Qingdao Lutheran Church, a legacy from the German colonial days.

Many visitors are drawn to Qingdao for its white, sandy beaches, but the city also has other institutions worth visiting including the Qingdao Municipal Museum, which was the headquarters of a charity group called the Red Swastikas, the Qingdao Marine Product Museum, the Naval Museum, and the Qingdao Beer Museum in the Tsingtao Brewery.

Qingdao has a great selection of restaurants, where visitors can enjoy a wide range of wonderful cuisines from home and abroad. The city also has an exciting bar-street, where the youth of the city often dance into the early hours of the morning.

Qingdao has won the "China Human Settlements and Environment Award", and is an important national base for the research of marine science.

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